How To Fix svchost High Memory Usage

Have you ever noticed your computer is running slow unexpectedly? To find the reason, when you opened Task Manager, did you spot svchost.exe consuming a high disk usage? If so, have you ever wondered what this process is and why it requires so many system resources? If so, you are reading the right post.

Here, you will find answers to all your questions related to svchost and ways to get rid of svchost .exe high RAM usage.

What is svchost.exe, and why do we need it?

Svchost.exe is a legitimate Windows service host process that helps run numerous Windows services. It is a host process that loads DLL files to run a shared service process. These files were introduced into the Windows NT system to help reduce the system resources and time while running Windows services.

Why does Service Host take up so much memory?

Now, we know exactly what the svchost.exe file does and why it is relevant to Windows. Let us answer multiple users complaining about svchost.exe high memory usage.

When you see multiple instances of svchost process running on Task Manager, don’t worry, as they correspond to different processes. But, if, individually or collectively, they show high CPU usage, chances are that the Windows services are malfunctioning. Besides that, a virus or malware attack can also be a reason.

Methods to Fix svchost.exe High Disk Usage

Method 1 – Scan for viruses

Foremost, it’s important to run a scan using a strong Antivirus and ensure the svchost exe file is not infected. We recommend using T9 Antivirus, which comes with real-time protection. It harbors features such as Exploit protection and USB protection and saves your computer from malware, zero-day threats, viruses, and trojans.

Step 1: Download and install T9 Antivirus.

Step 2: Launch the program and click on a scan type – Quick, Deep, and Custom. (We recommend Deep Scan to find the underlying issues thoroughly)

Step 3: Wait for the scan to finish and check the results. Quarantine the infected files to protect your computer from any potential damage.

Method 2 – Disable services

You might want to disable certain services to fix the high CPU usage issue caused by svchost.exe. When viewing multiple instances of Service host processes, one can assume a lot of applications or tasks are running. Close the unnecessary tasks, and if that does not seem to resolve the issue, follow the given instructions –

Step 1: Right-click on the Taskbar and open Task Manager.
Step 2: Go to the Details tab from the left pane.

Step 3: Right-click on the Svchost.exe and click on Go to service(s).
Step 4: Now, in the Services tab, right-click on the services and then click on Stop.

As the service is stopped, go to another one and repeat the same step until you find the faulty service.

Next, you need to go to the Open Services and disable the service to fix the high memory consumption by the Service host process. To do so, right-click on the service and click on Properties, and after that, click on Startup type and select Disabled.

Method 3 – Clear Event Viewer Log

Event Viewer log will give you detailed information about the events related to hardware and software on your Windows. However, the old entries can sometimes conflict with the running processes; hence, we must clear all the related logs.

Step 1: Click on Start, type Event Viewer in the search field and open it.
Step 2: Now, in the left pane, go to Windows Logs and click on Application. Next, on the right pane under Actions, click on Clear log.

Step 3: Now, you need to repeat the process for Security, Setup, and System to clear the respective logs.

After that, you must restart the computer to check whether the error is fixed.

Method 4 – Update Windows

If you have been avoiding updating your Windows to the latest version, it is one reason why svchost.exe has high RAM usage. It is also possible to see the issue when the Windows update runs in the background but fails to download due to some error.

Therefore, we will first update Windows and then follow the next steps.

Step 1: Click on Start and open Settings.
Step 2: Go to Windows Update and click on any updates available to download.

Step 3: Wait for the Windows updates to completely install and restart your computer.

Second, if you are facing any issues with the downloads, you need to run the troubleshooting.

Step 1: Click on Start> Settings.
Step 2: Go to System and click on Troubleshoot.

Step 3:Click on Other Troubleshooters and Windows Update is listed here. Click on Run next to it.

Windows update troubleshooting process will run to detect any issues and will be fixed accordingly.

This whole process will help you fix the svchost exe high memory usage.

Method 5 – Run System File Checker Utility

System File Checker or SFC utility will help you fix corrupted system files. You can use it to repair and replace the corrupted files quickly.

Step 1: Click Start and type Command Prompt in the search box.

Step 2: When you see results for your query, click on Run as administrator under the Command Prompt app.
Step 3: Type the following command and press Enter key.

sfc /scannow

Once the scan is complete, check the Task Manager to see if the ‘svchost.exe high memory usage’ issue is fixed.

Verdict –

Now, we know that svchost.exe running in the background is not a problem but rather an important process. If any associated Windows service cannot run properly, it can cause the svchost.exe high memory usage. That said, you can easily fix the issues by following the methods above and finding a quick solution.

FAQs –

Q1. Is it OK to disable Svchost?

It is not recommended to permanently disable or stop the svchost process as it can potentially malfunction your operating system.

Q2. Is svchost.exe a virus or trojan?

No, it is a Service Host process of Windows NT systems. But a virus can masquerade as a service host. Therefore, you must use strong antivirus software to detect and quarantine viruses with immediate effect.

Q3. Why is svchost running multiple times?

The service Host process showing multiple times in Task Manager is normal, as it can host many services running for various Windows commands. This will show multiple Service Host processes running and consuming more memory. But svchost.exe high RAM usage can result from underlying issues such as an infected file or corrupted registry.

Preeti Seth

A UX writer who loves explaining technical details in a clear, crisp, and concise manner. She loves writing about technical troubleshooting, How-To's, product reviews, etc. In her free time, she loves reading, meditating, and traveling.