Explorer.exe high CPU usage after latest update, Win11

Anonymous
2022-02-17T10:11:19+00:00

I am running Windows 11 Pro 64 bit version 21H2, build 22000.527.

After the latest update explorer.exe started to grab occasionally about 20% to 50% CPU power. Upon this high CPU time taskbar does not work, applications already on the desktop work though.

I have checked the desktop folder for any files missing the icon and I have also disabled OneDrive, did not help.

This problem is on almost all the time. It easies down occasionally but starts again. If I have the computer locked and log in again the problem starts immediately.

I do have some applications in desktop right button menu but they were there before the update without any problem(7-zip, WinZIP, NitroPDF etc).

This is quite annoying and prevents me working with the PC. The computer is Lenovo Thinkbook with 11th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-1165G7 @ 2.80GHz 2.80 GHz and 16 GB RAM.

Should I try to uninstall the latest update and is there a change that it messes up the operating system?

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Performance and system failures

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  1. Anonymous
    2022-04-15T14:00:57+00:00

    Nailed it!!! I’ve left all updates installed this time (after struggling to keep prior updates from applying) and this taskbar configuration seems to have eliminated the CPU throttling.

    Although I really would like to see my taskbar on all displays, I can live with this situation for now.

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  2. Anonymous
    2022-04-08T06:31:42+00:00

    I tried this also:

    1. Enable "Automatically Hide the taskbar" and enable "Show my taskbar on all displays" --> explorer exe is peaking up and the taskbar is unresponsive.
    2. Enable "Automatically Hide the taskbar" and disable "Show my taskbar on all displays" --> explorer exe is NOT peaking up and the taskbar is responsive.

    This was a good observation!

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  3. Anonymous
    2022-04-07T19:40:53+00:00

    I have a server running windows server 2022 with CPU spikes in explorer.exe, I downloaded the ProcessMonitor software and noticed that the registry HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Software\Microsoft\TIP\TestResults\ is being used and I found this solution to my problem:

    https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/752491/server-2022-and-teams-bloats-hkey-local-machinesys.html

    I hope it helps you too.

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  4. Anonymous
    2022-04-07T16:05:36+00:00

    I looked at my settings and tried disabling "Show My Taskbar on All Displays". This seems to have resolved the high CPU usage when Auto Hiding the Taskbar for me. I've been running all day with the Taskbar hidden and only on my Main Display and have not had any explorer.exe CPU spikes.

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  5. Anonymous
    2022-04-06T20:26:19+00:00

    I had this issue with a client.

    For them, the issue was fixed by uninstalling the March Windows Update however the issue also went away when they disconnected the USB DisplayLink docking station from their laptop.

    So it was a combo of the March update and the DisplayLink dock. The only way to get the problem to go away with the DisplayLink dock connected was to uninstall the update. However, the CPU usage dropped from 25-30% with the update installed down to 15-20% after uninstalling the update, but even though explorer was at 15-20% the system was much more responsive with the update uninstalled.

    I also updated the Intel and DisplayLink drivers, that didn't fix the issue but it didn't hurt it either.

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