Desktop Window Manager (dwm.exe) high RAM usage

Anonymous
2020-11-27T12:01:04+00:00

Recently I felt a big performance decrease on my pc.

My configuration:

i3-8100

GTX1660Ti

8Gb RAM

I have 2 screens:

  1. 1680x1050
  2. 1920x1080

When I start Task Manager I often see 94% RAM usage and the first reason is Desktop Window Manager. It uses nearly 5Gb of memory.

If I kill this process it starts to use about 300Mb and then slowly rises to previous values.

I use Wallpaper Engine and tried to disable it, but got no result.

I also see dwm using more than 10-15% of CPU and GPU. I've done almost everythnig I found on web such as updating drivers or something but nothing's changed.

PLEASE don't write about scanning for viruses, buying new memory and etc. I need real help and want to improve performance of my pc.

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Performance and system failures

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Anonymous
2022-04-10T04:52:41+00:00

Here is how I fixed the issue.

My system specs:

CPU - Intel Core i3-10110U

OS - Microsoft Windows 11 Pro for Workstations

Display Adapter Description: Intel UHD Graphics

RAM - 12GB DDR4

I was facing similar issue wherein Desktop windows Manager process was consistently going beyond 1GB. When I went to Device Manager and tried updating my driver under Display Adapter, I got a message that I already have the latest version of driver installed. (had 30.0.100.9XXX version)

I went to Intel Asia Pacific site (link below) and searched for my processor. Under the downloads section, there was this driver version 30.0.101.1660 released on 3/31/2022. Name - Intel® Graphics – Windows* DCH Drivers.  

Intel® Core™ i3-10110U Processor

Even though the list of OS indicated in this section did not cover Windows 11 Pro version that I am using ,I still downloaded it and installed it. It was a very slow upgrade and my system froze with a full black screen after seemingly completion of installation.

I manually powered off the system and when I turned it back ON, it was very smooth. I went to device manager and found that the new driver version has got installed successfully.

Also now under Task Manager, I see that the Desktop Window Manager process is hovering around 75MB to 120 MB and not going beyond 1GB like it used to before.

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Sumit 44,416 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
2021-12-01T14:38:52+00:00

The issue seems to be resolved with the Beta driver(Version 101.1121) from Intel. Keep in mind that if the OEM has made customizations to the chip, you need to ask them for updated driver as the installation would fail.

https://community.intel.com/t5/Graphics/BUG-dwm-exe-uses-memory-leakage-with-Intel-HD-Graphics-630/m-p/1338417#M103298

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  1. Anonymous
    2021-03-10T18:25:34+00:00

    I have windows 10 BUild 21327.rs_prerelease.210226-1427 nvidia gtx3070 and twin xeons

    My mouse has gone insane slowly loitering around screen and desktop windows manager is using 2GB and climbing and computer unusable. All drivers updated. 4 monitors.

    I can't even access things to change as mouse movement is so erratic.

    Unplugged network connection and have done Total AV scan as thought I might be being hijacked by malware

    Help!

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  2. Anonymous
    2021-03-24T18:30:07+00:00

    Having the same Problem HP x360 1030 G7, and an other models like X360 830 G6 or G7. Latest drivers from HP installed via Image Assistant

    After working with Cisco Webex Team the Windows Manager is grabbing nearly 4 GB of RAM, and not releasing after closing the Applications.

    Image

    working on 2 27" external Displays on Intel  UHD Graphics

    Image

    And yes, latest BIOS, latest drivers all Applications Up to date.  Memory just get released after an reboot. then during the day it end up again on high memory usage.

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  3. Anonymous
    2021-04-11T14:17:07+00:00

    Me too, I have the same problem, high memory usage after a while and spike on CPU usage too.

    I'm on an ACER SF314-51, Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-7500U CPU @ 2.70GHz   2.90 GHz

    Windows 10 Feature Experience Pack 321.7601.0.3 

    Intel 620 HD graphics, driver from Intel, version 30.0.100.9507, 30/03/2021.

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    2 people found this answer helpful.
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