Content
Recent Posts
Tiworker.exe Causing High CPU: Best Fixes
Content
Having high disk usage is a frustrating problem when you cannot identify its source. Unfortunately, Tiworker.exe is one of those processes that cause high disk usage.
What is Tiworker.exe?
Tiworker.exe stands for Windows Update Trusted Installer Worker Process.
It is a new process associated with Windows 10 that provides windows updates. It runs in the background and cannot be disabled, as it is an essential system feature.
Users report the Tiworker.exe process can take up to 50% of CPU usage, making them unable to watch a movie or play a video game.
Is Tiworker.exe Malware?
As we mentioned earlier, tiworker.exe is a windows update process. Therefore, despite its high disk usage, it should be harmless.
If you are worried that malware may be hiding behind your tiworker.exe, we recommend scanning your device with a premium antivirus.
Get Bitdefender for Ultimate Security
How to Fix Tiworker.Exe High Disk Usage on Windows 10?
Run System Maintenance Troubleshooter
One nifty feature of Windows 10 is its system troubleshooter. It is designed to scan your system for any maintenance issues such as disk volume errors related to tiworker.exe and fix them.
To run the system maintenance troubleshooter:
- Press Windows + S buttons
- Search for the control panel and open it
- Search for troubleshooting
- Click on ‘View All’ on the left of the window
- Find System Maintenance and run it.
Check for Windows Updates
The solution to your tiworker.exe problem could always lie in windows updates.
To check for windows updates:
- Press the Windows + X buttons.
- Click on Settings.
- Click on Update and Security
- Check for updates
- Restart your computer once it’s done.
Perform SFC and DISM Scan
The SFC and DISM scan command prompt features scan your system for any corrupted or missing files and fix them accordingly.
To run the SFC scan, open the Windows Powershell command prompt as an admin by pressing the Windows + X buttons and selecting Windows Powershell(admin).
Alternatively, press Windows + S buttons and search for cmd, and run as administrator.
The process might take several minutes; make sure not to interrupt it.
After it finishes, check the task manager to see if the tiworker.exe CPU usage has been fixed or not.
If tiworker.exe still has a high CPU usage, run the DISM scan on CMD again as an administrator.
Type this command and hit enter:
This process will take some time as well, so make sure not to interrupt it.
To check the CPU usage for apps and processes:
- Open the task manager.
- Right-click on the taskbar, and select Task Manager
- Go to the Processes tab, and press on CPU to sort out the processes from highest usage to lowest.
- Check if Tiworker.exe is still using high CPU power.
Exclude Tiworker.exe from Windows Defender
Some reported that excluding Tiworker.exe from Windows defender could fix its high CPU usage. This fix works because windows defender sometimes is stuck scanning tiworker.exe.
- Navigate to the task manager as previously described, find tiworker.exe under processes, right-click and press open file location.
- Copy its location directory as you will need it later.
- Open Windows Defender now. It should be in your system tray icons. (Double-click to open)
- Press on Virus and Threat Protection
- Press on Virus and Threat Protection Settings
- Scroll down to Exclusions, click on Add or Remove Exclusions
- Select folder, and insert the folder directory you copied earlier
When you do that, Windows defender will no longer scan tiworker.exe, and your problem should be fixed.
Rename SoftwareDistribution Directory
According to user reports, the software distribution folder can get corrupt and cause the tiworker.exe to use high CPU power.
Renaming the folder has been reported to fix the issue.
To do so:
- Press Windows + R buttons together
- Type services.msc and press enter
- Locate Windows Update service and double click on it
- Set its startup type to manual, and click Stop, then Apply
- Go to C:Windows folder, and locate SoftwareDistribution
- Rename it to SoftwareDistribution.old
- Return to Services, and reset the startup type to automatic, then Start, Apply, Ok
After you are done, check for updates again as we previously described, and the problem should be fixed.
Reset your PC
Consider this fix a last resort to fix the tiworker.exe problem. If it is giving you a huge headache, resetting your PC will definitely do the trick.
To reset your PC:
- Press Windows + X and click on settings.
- Go to Update and Security.
- Click on the Recovery tab on the left.
- Press on Get Started under Reset this PC.