How to fix: Svchost.

exe (netsvcs)
memory leak or high CPU usage
problems
Svchost.exe is a generic and legitimate Windows process that loads several other critical
services for proper Windows operation. But in several cases users are complaining that
Svchost.exe is hogging their CPU or Memory resources without obvious reasons e.g. at
moments when the user doesnt run any programs.
In many occasions, I have troubleshooted the Svchost.exe (netsvcs) problem by using
different solutions to resolve the problem depending on each situation.
From my experience, the Svchost.exe high usage problems in most cases occur on
computers that are infected by a virus or a malware program. In the rest of the cases, the
Svchost.exe (netsvcs) high CPU or Memory leak problems, can be caused by a
Windows Update, or by a full Event log file or by other programs or services that start
many processes during their execution. In this tutorial you can find detailed instructions
on how to troubleshoot and resolve memory leak or high CPU usage problems caused
by svchost {Svchost.exe (netsvcs)}.

How to solve Svchost.exe (netsvcs) high memory or

CPU usage problems.
Solution 1. Scan your computer for viruses.
Solution 2. Find and Disable the service that cause the svchost high usage
problem.
Solution 3: Empty Event viewer log.
Solution 4: Troubleshoot Windows Updates problems.

Solution 1. Scan your computer for viruses.

Many viruses or malicious programs can cause the svchost.exe high CPU/memory
usage problem. So, before you continue to troubleshoot the Svchost.exe high CPU
usage problem, use this Malware Scan and Removal Guide to check and remove viruses
or/and malicious programs that may be running on your computer.

Solution 2. Find and Disable the service that causes the svchost high CPU usage problem.

Svchost.exe is a process that is needed by several services or programs in order for them
to run. So, determine which service or program runs under the svchost.exe process and
is hogging your systems CPU and memory resources and then proceed to disable or
totally uninstall that program (or service).
1. Press Ctlr+Alt+Del keys simultaneously and then open Task Manager.

2. At Processes tab, check the Show processes from all users checkbox.

3. Right-click on the high usage svchost.exe process and select Go to Service(s).

4. At services tab you should see several highlighted services that run under the
svchost.exe process.

5. Now it s time to find out which process is hogging CPU resources: To do that, you
have two ways.
A) You can perform a sequentially search using Google (for all highlighted services)
and see if the searched service is critical or not for your computer.
Or
B) You can try to sequentially stop services (one by one) until CPU resources come
back to normal. To stop a service temporary:
Choose a service
Right-click on it, and choose Stop Service.

6. After you have figured out the culprit service or program, then navigate to Services in
Computer Management to disable that service (or totally remove the culprit program).
To disable a service on your computer permanently:
1. Simultaneously press Windows key + R to open run command box.
2. In run command box, type: services.msc and press Enter.

3. At Services management window, right-click at the culprit service and choose

Properties.

4. Change the Startup type to Disabled, press OK and restart your computer.

Solution 3: Empty Event viewer log.

In some cases the svchost.exe high CPU (or high Memory) usage problem has to do
with the large log files in Windows event viewer. So, another solution is to clear Event
Viewers log. To do that:
1. Simultaneously press Windows key + R to open run command box.
2. In run command box, type: eventvwr and press Enter.

3. At Event Viewer: Double-click to expand Windows Logs.

4. Right-click on Application and choose Clear Log.

5. Perform the same operation and clear the Security, Setup, and System log.
6. Restart your computer.

Solution 4: Troubleshoot Windows Updates problems.

In other computers, the svchost.exe high usage problem may occur when Windows
searches for updates (in the background). In order to troubleshoot high CPU usage
problems during Windows Update, perform the following steps.
Step 1. Force Windows to re-create an empty Windows Update Store folder.
The Windows Update Store folder (commonly known as SoftwareDistribution
folder), is the location where Windows stores the downloaded updates. If this folder is
corrupted, then you will face problems during Windows Update. So, first try to force
Windows to re-create a new empty SoftwareDistribution folder. To do that:
1. Simultaneously press Windows key + R to open run command box.
2. In run command box, type: services.msc and press Enter.

3. Search for Windows Update service, then right click on it and select Stop.

3. Navigate to C:Windows folder.

4. Delete * (or rename e.g. to SoftwareDistributionOLD) the SoftwareDistribution
folder.

* Note: Upon restart, the next time the Windows Update checks for available updates, a
new empty SoftwareDistribution folder will be created automatically by Windows to
store updates.

5. Restart your computer and then try to check for updates.

6. If the svchost high CPU usage problem persists, continue to the next step.

Step 2. Run Windows Update Troubleshooter

1. Download Microsofts Windows Update Troubleshooter to your computer.
2. Run Windows Update Troubleshooter and press Accept at the first screen.

3. Select the Detect problems and apply the fixes for (Recommended) option.

4. Let the program to fix problems with Windows Update and then restart your
computer.
5. Check for Updates again and if the svchost.exe high CPU usage problem persists
continue to the next step.

Step 3. Install the latest version of Windows Update Agent.

1. Navigate to Windows Update Agent download site and download the appropriate
package for your Windows edition and version.
2. Run WindowsUpdateAgent*.exe

3. Close all open programs and choose Next.

4. Choose Agree and press Next.

5. Let the installer finish the installation and then restart your computer.

Step 4. Install the critical Microsoft Security Bulletin MS13-097.

1. Navigate to https://technet.microsoft.com/library/security/ms13-097 and click at the
appropriate Internet Explorer Cumulative Security Update (2898785) according to your
Internet Explorer version and Windows Version.

2. At the next screen choose your IEs (menu) language and choose Download.

3. Run IE11_Windows*-KB289875*.exe and follow the on screen instruction to

install the update.

4. Restart your computer and check for updates again.

Step 5: Fix Windows Corrupted System files by using the System Update
Readiness tool (aka Deployment Image Servicing and Management DISM
tool).
1. Navigate to System Update Readiness tool download site and download the DISM
tool for your Windows edition and version. *

* Note: Windows 8 already contains the DISM tool and you dont have to download
anything. Just open an elevated command prompt and type: DISM.exe /Online
/Cleanup-image /Restorehealth (Detailed instructions on how you can run DISM in
Windows 8/8.1 can be found here)

2. Double click to install the downloaded file (e.g. Windows6.1-KB947821-v34x86.msu).

3. When the installation is completed, restart your computer.

4. Force Windows to check for updates again and see if the svchost high usage problem
still persists.

UPDATE 16/10/2015
Other solutions that I have applied in different cases (computers) and worked.
Case 1: Applied on a new Windows 7 SP1 installation.
a. Uninstall the KB2562937 from Installed Updates.
b. Restart the computer.

Case 2. Applied on a HP Notebook with Windows 7 SP1 Home.

a. Install the Security Update KB2993651 according your OS version.

Security Update for Windows 7 for x86 based Systems (KB2993651)

Security Update for Windows 7 for x64-based Systems (KB2993651)
Security Update for Windows 8.1 for x86-based Systems (KB2993651)
Security Update for Windows 8.1 for x64-based Systems (KB2993651)

b. Reset Windows Update Components.

c. Restart the computer.

If after doing all these, you still face high CPU or Memory usage problems, then disable
Windows Update completely or re-install Windows on you computer. If you use
Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 you can perform also a system refresh.
Good Luck!
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