If you’re experiencing high CPU usage by the Desktop Window Manager process (dwm.exe), don’t worry—it’s usually not a problem with your computer. In this article, we’ll show you how to fix the issue.
The Desktop Window Manager (dwm.exe) process is responsible for displaying the Aero glass effect in Windows. If you’re not using Aero, you can safely disable the process and free up some CPU resources.
To disable Desktop Window Manager, right-click on the desktop and select Properties. Go to the Advanced tab and click on the Settings button under Performance.
In the Performance Options window, uncheck the box next to Enable desktop composition. Click OK to save the changes.
Restart your computer for the changes to take effect.
Table of Contents
Fix: Desktop Window Manager High CPU Usage ‘dwm.exe’
What is Desktop Window Manager High CPU Usage ‘dwmexe’?
The Desktop Window Manager (dwm.exe) is a process in Microsoft Windows that is responsible for displaying the user interface and managing windows. It is used by the operating system to provide a consistent experience when multiple applications are running at the same time.
dwm.exe is a core process in Windows and is required for the operating system to function correctly. However, in some cases, dwm.exe can use a large amount of CPU resources, which can lead to performance issues.
There are a few things that can cause dwm.exe to use a high amount of CPU resources:
-Running multiple applications at the same time: When multiple applications are running, dwm.exe has to work harder to manage the windows and keep them updated. This can lead to high CPU usage.
-A problem with the display driver: In some cases, a problem with the display driver can cause dwm.exe to use a high amount of CPU resources.
-A problem with the Windows user interface: If there is a problem with the Windows user interface, it can cause dwm.exe to use a high amount of CPU resources.
-A virus or malware infection: In some cases, a virus or malware infection can cause dwm.exe to use a high amount of CPU resources.
To fix the problem, you need to identify the cause of the high CPU usage. Once you know the cause, you can take steps to fix it.
If you’re running multiple applications at the same time, try closing some of them to reduce the load on dwm.exe.
If you think a display driver might be the problem, you can try updating the driver or rolling back to an older version.
If you think the problem is with the Windows user interface, you can try resetting the interface or restoring the default settings.
If you think a virus or malware infection might be the problem, you can run a virus scan with your antivirus software.
How to fix Desktop Window Manager High CPU Usage ‘dwmexe’
If you are noticing high CPU usage by the Desktop Window Manager process (dwm.exe), there are a few things you can do to fix the issue.
First, try updating your video drivers. Outdated or corrupt drivers can often cause performance issues, including high CPU usage.
If that doesn’t help, you can try disabling certain features of the Desktop Window Manager. Right-click on the desktop and select “Personalize”. In the “Personalization” window, click on “Change desktop icons” in the left-hand pane.
In the “Change Desktop Icons” window, uncheck the boxes next to the icons you don’t want to see on your desktop. This will disable those features and should help to reduce CPU usage.
You can also try disabling Aero, the graphical user interface introduced in Windows Vista. To do this, right-click on the desktop and select “Personalize”. In the “Personalization” window, click on “Window Color and Appearance”.
In the “Window Color and Appearance” window, click on the “Advanced” button. In the “Advanced” window, uncheck the box next to “Use drop shadows for icon labels on the desktop”. This will disable Aero and may help to reduce CPU usage.
If you are still having issues, you can try resetting the Desktop Window Manager. To do this, go to Start > Run and type “services.msc”. In the “Services” window, scroll down to “Desktop Window Manager Session Manager” and double-click on it.
In the “Desktop Window Manager Session Manager” window, click on the “Stop” button to stop the service. Once the service has stopped, click on the “Start” button to start it again. This will reset the Desktop Window Manager and may help to fix the issue.
Conclusion
It is clear that the Desktop Window Manager process dwm.exe is the cause of high CPU usage on some computers. There are a few ways to fix the problem, including disabling certain features of the Desktop Window Manager and ending the process dwm.exe. Try each of these methods to see which one works best for you.
Reader Q&A
We’ve been getting a lot of questions from readers about the Desktop Window Manager process (dwm.exe) and its high CPU usage.
First, let’s address what the Desktop Window Manager actually is. The Desktop Window Manager is a compositing window manager that handles all of the graphical effects for the Windows desktop. This includes things like transparent windows, live previews of open windows, and Flip 3D.
So, why is the Desktop Window Manager using so much CPU?
There are a few possible explanations:
1. A buggy or outdated graphics driver can cause the Desktop Window Manager to use more CPU than it should. Make sure you have the latest drivers installed for your graphics card.
2. The Desktop Window Manager is more CPU intensive when there are more windows open. If you’re noticing high CPU usage from the Desktop Window Manager, try closing some windows.
3. A virus or piece of malware could be causing the high CPU usage. Scan your computer with a antivirus program to see if there are any infections.
4. The Desktop Window Manager could be corrupted. Try resetting the Desktop Window Manager by running the following command in a Command Prompt window:
net stop uxsms && net start uxsms
5. If you’re still seeing high CPU usage from the Desktop Window Manager, there could be an issue with your Windows user profile. Try creating a new user profile and see if that fixes the problem.
We hope this helped to clear things up. If you have any other questions, feel free to ask in the comments section below.
