Tech News Today
  • Hardware
    • Motherboards
    • CPUs
    • Graphic Cards
    • RAM
    • SSDs
    • Computer Cases
    • Monitors
    • Peripherals
    • Power Supply Unit
    • PC Builds
    • Computer Tips
  • Software
  • Operating System
    • Windows
    • Mac
    • Linux
  • Gaming
  • Mobile
  • Console
  • More
    • Internet
    • Networking
    • Security
    • Buyer’s Guide
    • Gadgets
    • Laptops
    • Reviews
    • How To
    • News
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Tech News Today
  • Hardware
    • Motherboards
    • CPUs
    • Graphic Cards
    • RAM
    • SSDs
    • Computer Cases
    • Monitors
    • Peripherals
    • Power Supply Unit
    • PC Builds
    • Computer Tips
  • Software
  • Operating System
    • Windows
    • Mac
    • Linux
  • Gaming
  • Mobile
  • Console
  • More
    • Internet
    • Networking
    • Security
    • Buyer’s Guide
    • Gadgets
    • Laptops
    • Reviews
    • How To
    • News
Tech News Today
Home»Windows»Why Is My Wsappx Have High CPU Usage? Here’s How to Fix It

Why Is My Wsappx Have High CPU Usage? Here’s How to Fix It

BibekBy BibekJune 23, 2022
wsappx high cpu

Wsappx is a Windows service process that handles the Microsoft Store. Normally it is always running in the background with minimal system resource utilization. However, when installing, updating, or removing an app from the Microsoft Store, it can have a high CPU and memory utilization.

When you are not directly engaging with the Microsoft Store, the Wsappx process should not be using any of your CPU or memory. If Wsappx is interfering with your device usage by high CPU utilization, we might have a fix for you. Please, continue reading.

Table of Contents

  • What is the Role of Wsappx in Windows?
  • How to Fix Wsappx High CPU Usage?
    • Run a Virus Scan
    • Uninstall a Recently Installed App
    • Update Windows
    • Check If Any Driver Needs Updating
    • Disable Windows Store
    • Disable Automatic Store App Updates
    • Disable Superfetch (ServiceHost: SysMain)
  • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Is Wsappx a Virus?
    • Can I End Wsappx?
    • Is Wsappx Necessary?
    • How Do I Turn Off Appx?

What is the Role of Wsappx in Windows?

Traditionally, when you had to install an application or a program into windows, they came with their own individual installer. This changes with the apps installed from the Microsoft store where apps you selected are automatically handled by the store itself. The store handles the installation, updates, and removal of apps by using Wsappx process.

Thus. like mentioned above already, Wsappx is the service process in Windows that handles the Microsoft Store. To be more accurate, it populates two sub-processes – Client License Service (ClipSVC), which handles licensing and piracy protection for the store apps, and AppX Deployment Service (AppXSVC), which deploys apps.

When these two sub-processes are active and running, you will see Wsappx process usage increase in the task manager. If either of these sub-processes are disabled, apps will not “behave correctly,” according to Microsoft.

How to Fix Wsappx High CPU Usage?

Wsappx high CPU usage can be caused because of a few different reasons. Below, we present to you some of the different ideas that you can try as a fix of Wsappx high CPU usage.

Run a Virus Scan

If the Wsappx process has a high CPU utilization even when you are not engaging with the Microsoft store, the process may have been hijacked by a virus or malware. You can run an anti-virus scan to ensure this is not the case or to fix it if it is indeed the case.

  1. Press Win + R and type in windowsdefender: to launch Windows Security.
  2. Click on Virus & threat protection tile.
  3. Click on Quick scan.
    WindowsSecurityQuickScan
Note: make sure that your Virus and threat protection updates are up to date before scanning for viruses.
  • Scroll to Virus & threat protection updates and click on Protection updates.
  • Click on Check for updates.
  • Wait while Windows checks for updates and install any available updates.

Uninstall a Recently Installed App

Sometimes the last application that you installed could be the culprit. To check if this is the case, try uninstalling that app.

  1. Press Win + I to launch Settings.
  2. Select Apps > Apps & features.
  3. Select the most recent app you installed, then click Uninstall.
    UninstallApp

Update Windows

Nobody knows why (no guarantee that this is a 100% accurate statement), but sometimes updating Windows can magically fix problems that you are having with … Windows. Wsappx is, indeed, part of Windows so trying Windows update is a worthwhile venture.

  1. Press Win + I and click on Windows Update tab on the left.
  2. Click Check for updates.
    SettingsWindowsUpdateCheckForUpdates
  3. Let Windows scan for any available updates, and install if any are found.

Check If Any Driver Needs Updating

Sometimes, Windows keeps attempting a driver update in the background, which can cause Wsappx to have a high CPU utilization. Although there is no direct relation between driver update and Wsappx, some users have found that manually updating device drivers can solve the problem. Thus, check if any drivers need update and manually update the driver yourself.

  1. Press Win + R and type in devmgmt.msc.
  2. Select the device that needs driver update, right-click on it and click Update.
    DeviceManagerUpdateDriver
  3. Select “Search automatically for drivers” if you want Windows to look for the best available drivers; select “Browse my computer for drivers” if you have an updated driver stored in your hard drive.

Disable Windows Store

If your CPU usage is skyrocketing due to Wsappx process, you can try disabling the Microsoft Store. There are two methods of going about doing this. You could disable the store from the Local Group Policy Editor.

  1. Press Win + R and type in gpedit.msc.
  2. Select Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates
  3. Double click Windows Components then double click Store.
    LocalGroupPolicyEditorStore
  4. Click on Turn off the store application and click Enabled. Click OK.
    TurnOffStoreApplicationEnabled

Disable Automatic Store App Updates

If Microsoft Store is set to update apps automatically, this can sometimes cause Wsappx process to load and utilize resources, including the CPU. If at the time, you are using a CPU-intensive application, your machine could stutter or lag. Therefore, disable automatic store app updates to avoid this issue.

  1. Press Start and type in Microsoft store. Select Microsoft Store.
  2. Click on the ellipses button below the close button at the top-right corner and click on Settings.
    MicrosoftStoreSettings
  3. Toggle “Update apps automatically” button to Off.
    MicrosoftStoreUpdateAppsAutomaticallyOff

This disables automatic app updates in the future and you will have to check and manually apply any app updates periodically. You can do so by going to Settings > Downloads and updates, and clicking on Get updates.

Disable Superfetch (ServiceHost: SysMain)

Superfetch is a feature of Windows that runs in the background and analyses RAM usage patterns of various applications. It learns what apps you often run then, over time, it marks these apps as “frequently used.” The point of superfetch is that once apps are marked as frequently used, they are loaded into unused portions of the memory quietly before the user has launched them, thus shortening the loading time significantly and giving the user a snappy experience.

In recent Windows versions, superfetch appears in the Task Manager as “ServiceHost: SysMain.” Some users have found that disabling superfetch reduced Wsappx CPU usage. You could also try and see if this helps with your problem. Please follow the steps below to disable Superfetch.

  1. Press Win + R and type in services.msc.
  2. Scroll down to SysMain, right-click on it and select Properties.
  3. Click on the drop-down menu on Startup type and select Disabled.
    DisableSuperfetchServiceHostSysMain
  4. Restart the computer.
Note: Once you’ve disabled Superfetch, see if this helped with Wsappx high CPU usage. If this did not help, you should probably re-enable Superfetch by following the steps above, then finally selecting Enabled on Startup type.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Wsappx a Virus?

No, Wsappx is not a virus. It is a genuine, honest-to-god, hardworking Windows Service process. As is the case with other process, it is, however, possible for Wsappx process to be hijacked by a virus or a malware.

Can I End Wsappx?

You can end the process from the Task Manager.

  1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to launch the Task Manager.
  2. Scroll to Wsappx under Processes, right-click on it and select End Task.
    EndTaskWsappx
  3. You will get a pop-up warning. Check on “Abandon unsaved data and shut down,” and click Shut down.

Is Wsappx Necessary?

Since Wsappx managed the Microsoft Store, it is essential for you to install, update, and remove any applications from the store. If it’s bothering you with constant high CPU and disk usages, you can either disable automatic apps update, or uninstall rarely used applications.

How Do I Turn Off Appx?

If you turn off AppXSvc, store applications will not be deployed and may not function properly. However, if you still want to go ahead and disable AppXSvc, you will need to edit the registry. Here’s how you’d do it:

  1. Press Win + R and type in regedit.
  2. Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\AppXSvc
  3. On the right, double-click on Start dword and change it’s Value data to 4.
    RegistryAppXSvcStartDeword4

If you want to re-enable AppXSvc, change this value back to 3.

fix
Bibek

I'm a tech writer, an engineer, and a beginner/cell phone photographer. I love riding motorcycles. I have a love/hate relationship with Dota 2. I like traveling and trying out new food. I also love MCU. Yep, I'm a nerdy person who has gone mainstream.

Related Posts

antimalware service executable high memory

Fix: Antimalware Service Executable High Memory

May 18, 2023
windows event logs

How to Check Event Logs on Windows

May 17, 2023
the rpc server is unavailable

Fix: The RPC Server is Unavailable

May 15, 2023
DirectStorage Windows 11

How to Enable DirectStorage on Windows 11

May 15, 2023
audio keeps cutting out

5 Ways to Fix Audio Keeps Cutting Out on Windows 11

May 12, 2023
MBR Error 1 2 3

What is MBR Error 1, 2, 3? 7 Ways to Fix It

May 11, 2023
Add A Comment

Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

Latest Posts
Best-1200W-PSU

8 Best 1200W PSUs for Extreme PC Builds in 2023

May 16, 2023
Best-1000W-PSU

10 Best 1000W PSUs in 2023

May 16, 2023
best-700w-psu

10 Best 700W PSUs for Gaming in 2023

May 14, 2023
You may also like
antimalware service executable high memory

Fix: Antimalware Service Executable High Memory

May 18, 2023
printer-printing-pink

Why is My Printer Printing Pink? 6 Ways to Fix It

May 18, 2023
how to clean usb c port

How to Clean USB-C Port Safely

May 17, 2023
Recommended
Cookie Clicker Garden Guide

Cookie Clicker Garden Guide to Unlocking Every Seed

September 26, 2021
monitor no signal

Computer Turns On But Monitor Says No Signal (9 Ways To Fix)

November 10, 2022
Facebook Twitter Pinterest
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Our Team
  • Editorial Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Affiliate Disclosure
© 2023 TechNewsToday, editor@technewstoday.com | Tech Central Pvt. Ltd.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.