While Runtime Broker is a legitimate Windows process, it has acquired the reputation of causing high RAM and CPU Usage. You can find below the steps to Fix High CPU Usage by Runtime Broker in Windows 10/11.
What is Runtime Broker?
Runtime Broker (RuntimeBroker.exe) is an executable file located in System32 Folder on computers running Windows operating system.
The main task of Runtime Broker is to make sure that applications running on the computer have the required permissions to run on the system.
Hence, Runtime Broker can also be described as security broker or middleman between Applications and the Hardware on a Windows computer.
How to Fix High CPU Usage by Runtime Broker?
Users affected by High RAM and CPU Usage by Runtime Broker have reported noticing as much as 5o% CPU and 1 GB RAM being used by Runtime Broker on their computers.
Microsoft recommends terminating Runtime Broker Process, if this service is using more than 15% of memory on your computer.
However, terminating Runtime Broker Process helps only if the Runtime Broker is bothering you once in a while.
If the problem keeps re-appearing, you can use other methods as provided below to permanently fix the issue of High CPU Usage by Runtime Broker on your computer.
1. Stop Runtime Broker Process in Task Manager
1. Right-click on the Start button and click on Task Manager.
Note: You can also use Ctrl-Shift-Esc shortcut to open Task Manager.
2. On Task Manger screen, right-click on Runtime Broker and click on End Task.
As mentioned above, terminating Runtime Broker using the Task Manager is a temporary solution.
Runtime Broker will once again launch itself when you restart your computer and start using Windows Apps.
2. Uninstall Faulty Apps
According to Microsoft, Runtime Broker usually causes high RAM and CPU Usage due to presence of incompatible or faulty Apps on the computer.
If you are noticing High CPU Usage after installing a particular App, you can uninstall the App and see if the problem goes away.
3. Disable Get Tips & Tricks
As you must have noticed, Microsoft brings interesting Tips and Tricks to Windows computers. However, this feature has also been linked to High CPU Usage and other problems.
Windows 11: Go to Settings > System > Notifications > scroll down and tap on Additional Settings. On the next screen, uncheck Get tips and suggestions when using Windows option.
Windows 10: Go to Settings > System > click on Notifications & Actions in the left-pane. In the right-pane, disable Get tips, tricks, and suggestions as you use Windows option.
Users have reported significant reduction in Runtime Broker activity after making this single change on their computers.
4. Disable Updates from More Than One Place
In order to deliver timely updates, Microsoft make use of other computers on your Network and also other PC’s on the internet. However, this can sometimes lead to High Resource usage by Runtime Broker.
Windows 11: Go to Settings > Windows Update > Advanced Options > Delivery Optimization > on the next screen, disable Download from other PCs option.
Windows 10: Go to Settings > Updates & Security > click on Delivery Optimization in the left-pane. In the right-pane, scroll down and disable Download from other PCs option.
Restart the computer to apply this change.
5. Disable Background Apps
Allowing Apps to run in background usually leads to waste of resources, as you may not even be using many of these Apps.
Windows 10: Go to Settings > Privacy > select Background Apps in the left-pane. In the right-pane, disable Let apps run in the background option.
The other option is to scroll down on the same page and disable specific Apps from running in the background.
Windows 11: Go to Settings > Apps > Installed Apps > click on 3-dots icon next to the App Name that you you want to stop and select Advanced options.
On the next screen, scroll down and set Let this App Run in Background option to Never.
Repeat the above steps for other Apps that are running in background and unecessarily using up resources on your computer.
6. Switch Lock Screen Background
Switching Lock Screen Background type to Picture is another solution for the issue of High CPU usage by RunTime Broker.
Windows 11: Go to Settings > Personalization > Background > set Personalize Your Background option to Picture.
Windows 10: Go to Settings > Personalization > click on Lock Screen in the left-pane. In the right-pane, set the Background type to Picture.
This prevents the computer from unnecesarily using up resources to bring up high resolution desktop background images.
7. Remove OneDrive
The default option in OneDrive App is to start up automatically with the computer and keep running in background. If you are not using OneDrive, you can consider the option of Disabling or Removing OneDrive from your computer.
If you are using OneDrive, you can consider the option of removing OneDrive from the list of Startup Apps on your computer.
