Why Wsappx Causes High CPU Usage and How To Fix It.
If your computer is running slowly, one way to figure out the cause of the problem is to check your Task Manager. The Task Manager displays running processes that may take up all resources but does not necessarily explain what they mean.
Wsappx is one of those unfamiliar services that you will see in Task Manager However, even if you see the wsappx process, it is not entirely clear what it is doing. And why does it take up a significant chunk of CPU and disk resources?
This article will show you why wsappx is causing the high CPU usage and how to fix it.
What is Wsappx?
Wsappx is a legitimate Windows service that is known to cause high utilization of both disk and CPU. The service that handles the Microsoft Store (formerly Windows Store) and the Universal App Platform runs continuously. However, the number of resources used can be minimal or significantly more depending on what you are doing.
For example, if you install a Microsoft Store app or PC software outside of the Store, the wsappx process will use more CPU or disk resources. The same happens when you launch, update, or uninstall the application.
Why Wsappx is causing high CPU usage
On Windows 10, the wsappx process has sub-processes known as the CAL or ClipSVC service and the AppX or AppXSVC deployment service
The ClipSVC service handles licensing and piracy protection for Store apps, while AppXSVC deploys apps, so it runs every time you install, update, or uninstall an app. Thus, if you disable any of these services, Store apps will not work.
When the subprocesses are up and running, you will see the wsappx process usage increase. Although wsappx is a vital system process, it doesn’t have to be enabled all the time. It is only needed when you want to install, update or remove apps from the Store.
Note. If you are using a Microsoft Store app and receive a licensing error, you need to enable ClipSVC and AppXSVC services.
What to do when Wsappx is causing high CPU usage
If you see wsappx is using a significant portion of your CPU, there are several fixes to fix the problem.
Run a virus scan
If you have a virus or malware on your computer, it can cause spikes in the use of various Windows processes. The same is true if any downloaded apps or Microsoft Store apps are infected. Scanning for viruses or malware can help you eliminate the possibility that such threats are causing high CPU usage on your computer.
Update Windows
If Microsoft Store won’t open or there is a problem with a program, check for pending Windows updates and install them
- To check for Windows updates, select Start Settings Update. & safety.
- Then select Windows Updates and check the right pane for pending updates.
Remove recently installed applications
Sometimes high CPU usage can be the result of a recently installed application. In this case, uninstall the application and restart your computer If this solves the high CPU usage issue, try reinstalling the app and see if the problem persists.
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- To uninstall an application, open Control Panel, and select Programs.
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- Then select Uninstall a Program under Programs and Features.
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- Find the application you want to uninstall, right-click it and select Uninstall.
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Allocate more virtual memory
Increasing your computer’s virtual memory can help reduce high CPU usage.
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- To do this, right-click Start Search and type Performance in the search box. Select “Customize the look and feel of Windows.”
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- Then select the Advanced tab, go to virtual memory and select Change.
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- Clear the Automatically manage paging file size for all drives check box.
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- Select the drive and then select Custom Size.
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- If you know the amount of RAM on your device, set it to an initial size (in MB) and set the maximum size to twice the size of the RAM. Choose Install OK and restart your computer.
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Disable Microsoft Store
You can disable the Microsoft Store using Group Policy Editor or Registry Editor.
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- To disable the Microsoft Store using the Group Policy Editor, type gpedit.msc in the search box and press Enter to open Group Policy. Editor.
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- Then select Administrative Templates under Computer Configuration.
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- Double-click Window Components and select Store.
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- Double-click Store and find the Disable Application option in the right pane.
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- Double-click Disable Store App to open its settings windows, then select Enabled OK.
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If your version of Windows is missing the Group Policy Editor setting, you can disable the Microsoft Store using Registry Editor.
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- To do this, right-click Start Run. </ Li
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- Type regedit and press Enter to open Registry Editor.
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- Navigate to the following key:
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HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Policies \ Microsoft \ WindowsStore
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- Create a new DWORD value in the Windows Store key and name it RemoveWindowsStore. Enter 1 in the Value field. Restart your computer and check if the wsappx CPU usage is minimal.
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Note. We do not recommend disabling Windows Store if you need frequent automatic updates for applications such as Photos, Calculator, Mail, Movies & TV, and OneNote. Also, you cannot install or update third-party Windows Store apps when Windows Store is disabled.
Disable automatic updates for Store apps
Another way to reduce the CPU usage of wsappx is to turn off automatic updates for Store apps so they don’t update without your input.
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- To do this, type Store in the search box and select Microsoft Store. to open it.
- Click Menu in the upper right corner of the Store window and select Preferences.
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- Toggle the Update Applications Automatically slider to turn it off. This allows you to manually trigger application updates.
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- Click the menu again, select Downloads and Updates, and then select Get Updates to check for updates. If you find important updates, install them.
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Note. Remembering to check for updates manually is not easy for most people. Plus, apps are a core part of the Windows 10 operating system, so unless automatic updates bring your system to a halt, we don’t recommend disabling them.
Remove malware and stop background applications </ h4
Bloated software and background apps tend to run when you don’t want them to, increasing the CPU usage on your computer. Removing malware ensures that it doesn’t update in the background and consume resources.
- To remove malware, select Start Settings Applications Applications & Features to view all applications installed on your computer. You can uninstall any app you are not using, including pre-installed unwanted and other unnecessary apps.
- To prevent applications from running in the background, select Start Settings Privacy Background Applications under Application Permissions.
Disabling background apps means the app cannot check for new notifications when not in use. You can turn off background apps you never use, or toggle the slider to turn off all background apps completely.
Other fixes to try
- Change the value of AppXSVC in the registry. You can do this in the Registry Editor. Go to the next key and change the initial value to 4.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SYSTEM \ ControlSet001 \ Services \ AppXSvc
- Perform a clean boot so that Windows starts startup programs and several important driver kits so you can check if high CPU usage is caused by programs that run at startup.
CPU Load Manager
If you are using Microsoft Store or applications are being updated in the background, you may encounter wsappx high CPU usage on your computer, albeit temporarily. Try the solutions above and see if wsappx returns to normal.
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