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The Antimalware Service Executable (MsMpEng.exe) is a core process of Windows Defender on Windows PCs. While it plays a vital role in protecting your system from malware and security threats, many users have reported issues with high memory or CPU usage due to this service. This problem can cause significant slowdowns, especially when using resource-intensive applications or gaming. Here’s a comprehensive guide on why it happens and how to fix it.
Why Does Antimalware Service Executable Cause High Memory Usage?
Windows Defender performs real-time background scanning of files, programs, and processes to detect and block malicious software. The Antimalware Service Executable is responsible for this scanning. High memory or CPU usage often occurs because:
1. Real-Time Protection: The service scans files in real-time as they are accessed or downloaded, consuming system resources.
2. Full System Scans: Sometimes, it may run full scans of your system, which increases CPU and memory usage significantly.
3. Conflicts with Other Software: Running multiple security programs at once can cause clashes, leading to high resource consumption.
4. Continuous Scanning of Large Files: Files like large executables or archives can take longer to scan, resulting in increased memory or CPU usage.
How to Fix High Memory Usage by Antimalware Service Executable
1. Limit Windows Defender’s Scheduled Scans
Windows Defender may be running background scans when you’re actively using your computer. You can adjust the scheduling of these scans to times when your system is idle, reducing high memory usage.
Steps to adjust scan schedule:
1. Press Win + R, type `taskschd.msc`, and press Enter to open Task Scheduler.
2. Navigate to Task Scheduler Library > Microsoft > Windows > Windows Defender.
3. Right-click Windows Defender Scheduled Scan and click Properties.
4. Go to the Triggers tab and adjust the scan schedule to a time when you’re not actively using the computer.
2. Disable Full System Scans
If Windows Defender is frequently running full system scans, it can consume a lot of memory. You can limit or disable these scans.
Steps to disable full system scans:
1. Open Windows Security by typing it in the Start Menu.
2. Navigate to Virus & Threat Protection > Manage Settings.
3. Turn off Real-Time Protection (though not recommended, this can temporarily reduce CPU usage). Remember to turn it back on after resolving the issue.
3. Exclude Certain Files or Folders from Scanning
If large files or folders are causing slowdowns, you can exclude them from Windows Defender scans. This is particularly useful for large directories that you trust, such as game folders or large archives.
Steps to add exclusions:
1. Open Windows Security > Virus & Threat Protection > Manage Settings.
2. Scroll down to Exclusions and click Add or Remove Exclusions.
3. Click Add an Exclusion and select the file, folder, or file type you want to exclude from scans.
4. Check for Conflicting Software
Running multiple antivirus programs can lead to performance issues. Make sure you aren’t running other antivirus software alongside Windows Defender. If you prefer using another security program, disable Windows Defender to prevent conflicts.
Steps to disable Windows Defender:
1. Press Win + R, type `gpedit.msc`, and press Enter to open the Group Policy Editor.
2. Navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Defender Antivirus.
3. Double-click Turn off Windows Defender Antivirus, select Enabled, and click OK.
5. Upgrade Your System Hardware
If you’ve tried all the software fixes and still face high memory or CPU usage, upgrading your hardware might be the next step. Adding more RAM or upgrading your CPU can provide better performance, especially if you frequently run resource-intensive programs.
The Antimalware Service Executable is a crucial part of Windows Defender that protects your system in real time, but its high memory or CPU usage can sometimes cause slowdowns. By scheduling scans, excluding certain files, or managing software conflicts, you can reduce the strain on your system while keeping it secure. If none of these solutions resolve the issue, hardware upgrades may be necessary for better overall performance.
