High Resource usage by Antimalware Service Executable is a common problem reported by users. You will find below the steps to Fix High RAM & CPU Usage by Antimalware Service Executable in Windows 10.
Antimalware Service Executable High RAM & CPU Usage
Antimalware Service Executable (MsMPEng.exe) is a legitimate Windows service and not a virus or malware trying to cause damage on your computer.
Antimalware Service Executable is a part of Windows Security (previously called Windows Defender), and is designed to perform security tasks in the background.
In general, Antimalware Service can take up to 50% RAM, while Windows Security is performing a real time scan, full system scan or updating virus definitions on your computer.
Once the background security tasks are completed, your computer should return back to normal and allocate all the resources for Apps and programs running on your computer.
If your computer is constantly slowing down or freezing due to Antimalware Service Executable, you should be able to fix the problem using the following methods.
1. Disable Real Time Protection
High CPU, RAM and Disk usage by Antimalware service executable is usually caused by the Real Time Protection feature in Windows Security.
1. Go to Settings > Update & security > click on Windows Security in the left-pane. In the right-pane, scroll down and click on Virus & threat protection.
2. On the next screen, scroll down and click on Manage Settings option, located under “Virus & threat protection settings”.
3. On the next screen, turn OFF Real-Time Protection.
Note: This method disables Windows Defender for a temporary period. Your computer will enable Real Time protection, the next time you login to your computer.
2. Disable Scheduled Tasks
Disabling Windows Defender scheduled tasks is another way to reduce Antimalware activity on your computer.
1. Open the Task Scheduler on your computer.
2. In the left-pane, navigate to Task Scheduler Library > Microsoft > Windows > Windows Defender. In the right-pane, disable All the 4 Windows Defender Tasks.
Once you disable these Tasks, High CPU usage and other problems due to Antimalware should be gone.
3. Install Another Antivirus Program
Windows Defender automatically disables itself, whenever Norton or any other third party antivirus program is installed on the computer.
Once Windows Defender is disabled, you will not notice Antimalware service consuming resources on your computer.
4. Permanently Disable Windows Defender in Windows 10
If you do not want to use Microsoft Defender, it is possible to Disable Windows Defender permanently on your computer using Registry.
It is a good safety precaution to create system restore point before making Registry Edits on your computer.
1. Open Run Command > type Regedit in the Search box and click on OK.
2. On Registry Editor screen, navigate to the following path:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender and see if you can find “DisableAntiSpyware” DWORD.
3. Double-click on DisableAntiSpyware and change its Value Data from 0 to 1.
This will Permanently Disable Windows Defender on your computer.
Note: If you cannot find DisableAntiSpyware DWORD, you can create one by right-clicking on an empty area in the right pane > select New and click on DWORD (32-bit) Value.
Name the new Key as DisableAntiSpyware > Enter 1 in the Value Data field.