Windows Modules Installer Worker - high CPU usage

Anonymous
2014-05-03T15:13:42+00:00

Windows Module installer worker is constantly running with very high CPU usage.

My PC has suddenly ground to a halt.

All the latest updates are installed as well.

I'm running Windows 8.1 Pro 64 + update.

Thanks.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Performance and system failures

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Anonymous
2014-12-18T22:28:10+00:00

In Windows 8 or 8.1 laptop, sometimes CPU fan run very fast and make noise because Windows Module Installer Worker occupies CPU more than 50%.

In this case, you can solve the problem by changing windows update into manual mode.

How to do it:

  1. Open services.msc (In Windows 8, WindowsKey+R and enter services.msc)
  2. Search "Windows module installer".
  3. Double click the "Windows module installer", and make it manual. It is usually set Automatic.
  4. Search "Windows update".
  5. Double click the "Windows update", and make it manual.
  6. Open Control panel(click the right button of your mouse at the lower left of you display monitor or LCD, e.g., at the Windows logo. and then you can see control panel menu)
  7. Click "Windows update"
  8. In left you can see "Change settings"
  9. Change the setting into "Check for updates but let me choose whether to download and install them". It is usually set automatic.
  10. Reboot

The Windows module installer workers cannot bother you anymore.

Important:

Because Windows update is set manual, you MUST check regularly (weekly or monthly) windows update by yourself.

Also, cleaning up your disk may help to reduce CPU usage by windows module installer worker

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Anonymous
2014-05-04T02:51:57+00:00

Hey Trek178 you should check if the PC is under schedule maintainance and try to troubleshoot the windows update to check if there was any problems. I've just got a same problem and troubleshoot it. Now it's over

Hope this may help you

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Anonymous
2015-01-11T07:32:43+00:00

Hi Louise,

Follow the steps given below.

  1. Press and hold the “Windows” button and the “W” button on the keyboard.
  2. In the search box situated in the upper right corner we need to write “Troubleshooting”
  3. Click(left click) on the “Troublesh o oting” icon.
  4. On the upper left corner of the Troubleshooting window we need to click(left click) on “View All
  5. Click (left click) on “System Maintenance”
  6. Click (left click) on “Next” and follow the steps presented on the screen.

Check for the issue and move to next method if you still face this issue.

  1. Press and hold the “Window” button and the “X” button on the keyboard.
  2. After the “Control Panel” is opened click (left click) on “Windows Updates”
  3. Select from the “View” menu in the upper right of the window “Large icons”.
  4. In the left side of the window click (left click) on “Check for updates
  5. After this is finished restart the Windows 8 PC and see if you still have this issue.

Let us know the status of the issue.

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208 additional answers

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  1. Anonymous
    2016-10-02T06:21:29+00:00

    I'm not sure if this will be much help but I thought I'd throw it in anyway. Once a month I use 'Macrium Reflect' to create an image of my C disk onto my external USB disc. It's the only time my external disc is switched on. While this was going on I decided to have a look at 'Task Manager' (as one does). Lo and Behold I discovered the CPU was running at about 80%. I scrolled down to discover a great deal of this was thanks to our friend, Windows Modules Installer Worker (WMIW). As the image creation progressed the CPU usage by WMIW diminished, reverting to zero when completed.

    I believe some people use an external USB disc for a continuous/concurrent/simultaneous backup. Might this be a cause of this excessive CPU usage by WMIW?

    I'm using Windows 10 Home which has endured the Anniversary Update.

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  2. Anonymous
    2016-09-24T21:23:18+00:00

    Same Problem with this stupid process over here:

    Windows 10 Pro Version with Updates set to "Featureupdates zurückstellen" (Delayed feature updates)

    I set the process to lowest priority and to use only 1 out of 4 CPUs, but still: Fan runs like crazy and this on a living room PC with Fanless everything except CPU Fan!

    Microsoft: THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE:

    If you are unable to provide a forced (!!!!) Windows update that runs quiet in the background, give us the option back to manually run an update!

    My Virusscanner is up to date I DO NOT NEED all the new fancy features and other useless things on my OS!

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