Windows Widgets High CPU Usage: How to Fix it on Windows 11
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Key notes
- The most common reason for high CPU usage is that your computer is running too many applications at once.
- Windows 11 is a feature-packed OS and without enough memory, the widgets could end up consuming too much CPU.
- A simple reboot of your system can get rid of temporary files and solve the high CPU usage problem.
- If you notice that one particular app is using an unusually large amount of resources on your PC, then you should consider closing it or uninstalling it to make your PC run more smoothly again.
Windows 11 has a built-in widget platform and can contribute to high CPU usage. These widgets can be used to display the weather forecasts, sports scores, and clock.
Whereas they may be useful to some extent, some users complained that Windows 11 Widgets are using too much CPU. This widget issue is most common on Windows 11 devices, but older versions of Windows can also experience this problem.
The widgets are a useful feature that provides you with information at a glance. But, sometimes, when the Widget panel is open, it starts consuming CPU or memory and the system performance drops down.
The CPU is the brain of your computer. It performs all the calculations and processes that your machine needs to function, so if it’s running unusually slow, you may want to investigate the issue.
If a widget is using up most of your computer’s resources (CPU, memory, disk space, etc.) then you should turn it off because that means it is using up all of the resources that could be used by other processes, thus slowing down your computer.
There are several causes of high CPU usage. It may be that you have installed too many programs on your computer and they are taking up too much space. The best solution to this problem is to uninstall some of those programs from your computer.
It is also possible that there has been an infection on your system that has caused the files to become infected with viruses or spyware. This will cause the computer to run more slowly and use more resources than normal
Does Windows 11 use more CPU than Windows 10?
Windows 11 is more demanding than its older siblings. This is quite evident in the minimum system requirements.
The OS has also been designed with security in mind. It includes built-in antivirus and firewall protection, as well as a host of other security features.
The size of Windows 11 itself is demanding. Its download size is more than 4GB which means that you may need more hard drive space than you would with other versions of this operating system, which also leads to higher consumption of memory by default.
Another reason why Windows 11 uses more CPU is that it has several features that were not possible with Windows 10. The inclusion of new application programs has been designed for use only with Windows 11.
With the widgets on Windows 11, it is likely to take up more CPU than Windows 10. If you want to stop your CPU from using too much energy, you will need to turn off some of the features that cause it to do so.
For example, you can tweak the Power Management settings which allow the computer to turn off when it’s not in use.
Be sure to check out the differences and similarities between Windows 10 and Windows 11 to better understand the two operating systems..
What can I do to fix Windows 11 widgets high CPU usage?
1. Disable widgets from Task Manager
- Hit the Windows key and select Personalization.
- Scroll down and click on Taskbar.
- Toggle the widgets button off.
2. Update drivers
- Press the Windows key, search Check for updates, and click Open.
- Select Advanced options.
- Go to Optional updates.
- Select Driver updates and proceed to Download & install then restart your system.
You can also choose to go for convenience and use a third-party tool. With Outbyte Driver Updater, you don’t need to worry about making a mistake when installing. A wrong driver can cause serious system problems, but with Outbyte Driver Updater you don’t have to worry about anything. This smart software will do everything for you.
The tool also works in the background and keeps your drivers always up-to-date. It automatically scans your PC for devices and checks if there are new versions of their drivers available.
3. Run a system scan
- Press the Windows key, search Windows Security, and click Open.
- Select Virus & threat protection.
- Next, press Quick scan under Current threats.
- Wait for the process to finish.
4. Run DISM command
- Press the Windows key, type cmd on the search bar and click Run as administrator.
- Type in the following command then press Enter:
DISM /online /cleanup-image /scanhealth
- Restart your PC for the changes to take place.
5. Run SFC command
- Press the Windows key, type cmd on the search bar, and click Run as administrator.
- Type in the following command then press Enter:
sfc /scannow
How can I check for CPU usage in Windows 11?
At some point, the performance of your PC will prompt you to check what is consuming too much CPU so you can disable it.
There are many reasons why Windows 11 runs slow, and there are many possible solutions. For example, some programs may require more system resources than others. It is possible that your computer might be running slow because it has an outdated driver or software.
To get to the root of the problem, you will need to check the CPU usage. Here’s how to check your CPU usage in Windows 11:
- Hit the Windows key, type Task Manager in the search bar, and click Open.
- Select the Perfomance tab and click on CPU.
- The apps consuming too much CPU can be found at the top.
Do widgets drain battery?
Apart from CPU consumption, another common question that comes up often is whether widgets drain batteries.
Most obviously, if you run more software, the more work your computer will do, and so the faster its battery will drain.
If you are using a widget, it’s a good bet that the app that created it is running in the background, occasionally waking up to update itself.
Depending on what the widget does, and how often it does it, this can use up more battery than you want. If the widget is a clock, for example, the app might be waking up every couple of minutes to update its display.
While it isn’t necessary to delete all of your widgets, it’s best to keep only those that you absolutely need. If you have widgets for weather apps or social media apps that you don’t use very often, consider deleting them from your home screens.
You can also apply some of our recommended solutions to make your Windows 11 faster and more responsive.
We also have an excellent guide on software you can use to fix high CPU usage and save yourself some of these troubles.
If your widgets were consuming a considerable amount of CPU, we hope this article has offered efficient solutions and your PC’s performance has improved.
As always, we love hearing from you so don’t forget to share your thoughts in the comments section below.
