At times, you might find that your WMI Provider Host process is continuously utilizing a specific block of the CPU on your Windows 10/8/7 PC. Many reports suggest that certainly, the process uses more than 50% of the CPU power especially when media applications are in use. In this article, we will discuss how to troubleshoot WMI Provider Host High CPU Usage problem. But before we proceed further, let us take an instant look at what WMI Provider Host is.
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What do you know about WMI Provider Host?
WMI Provider Host (WmiPrvSE.exe) is an abbreviation for Windows Management Instrumentation Provider Service. This service is difficult to manage applications without this process. If it is stopped, lots of the PC’s functionalities will become useless. Also, users probably not even receive alerts for different errors.
This service also provides an efficient way for administrative scripts and software to request information about the Windows operating system state and data on it. However, the service provides this information, when requested. For instance, commands or software find the information about the state of:
- BitLocker drive encryption
- View entries from the event log
- Request data from installed applications that include a WMI provider
Microsoft provides a list of WMI providers on its website.
This is a specifically essential feature for organizations that centrally manage PCs. Especially they request information through scripts and display in an efficient way in administrative consoles. However, also on home PC, some software might request information about the PC via the WMI interface.
Also, you can use WMI to search various essential pieces of information that can’t exposed in the Windows interface on your own PC.
Is WmiPrvSE.exe a virus or something else?
Well, the WmiPrvSE.exe or the location of the Windows Management Instrumentation Provider Service process is in the Windows/System32 folder, but viruses can incognito themselves using this name and place in any folder. So, to isolate this possibility, just check the file Properties and scan it with your antivirus.
Reason of High CPU Usage
Normally WMI Provider Host can’t use too much CPU, as it shouldn’t normally be doing anything. It might use some CPU when another chunk of software or script on your computer asks for information through WMI, and that’s normal. However, High CPU usage is just a sign that another app is requesting data through WMI.
However, high CPU usage is an indication that something went wrong. WMI Provider Host shouldn’t be using too much CPU resources all the time.
Some of the problems you might experience when it happens to include:
- Unresponsive programs
- High CPU temperatures
- Slow computer performance
- Lag and slowness when using an app on PC
Fix WMI Provider Host Issues:
If you are facing high CPU usage as a result of WMI becoming unresponsive, you can then resolve the CPU usage problem with the simple techniques below:
Restart Your Computer
The first method is quite simple and handy. However, you must try is to restart your PC. After restarting your computer, you can begin the Windows OS all over again.
That means anything causing WMI to act with a fix in the process. This technique should work for 99% of Windows users who encounter this issue.
However, if it still causing the problem then move to another method.
Restart WMI Service
Certainly, the fix lies in restarting the WMI service.
Follow the steps mentioned below:
Step 1:
Hit Windows key + R key on your keyboard
Step 2:
On the other hand, tap the Start button and input Run in the text box to open the Run dialogue box
Step 3:
Input service.msc into the dialogue box and hit Enter
Step 4:
Place WMI service in the new window
Step 5:
You could also hit W on your keyboard to move to services that begin with letter “W”
After placing WMI service, right-tap on it and choose to restart. This technique fixes the wmiprvse exe high CPU usage issue for some users. But if the issue persists, you might have to troubleshoot further.
Repair or Rebuild Windows Management Instrumentation
After restarting your computer can’t fix the issue, then try to redesign the Windows Management Instrumentation file.
Here are the steps you need to follow:
Step 1:
Tap on the Start button
Step 2:
Enter Run into the search box and hit Enter to open the Run dialogue box
Step 3:
Now input Winmgmt /salvagerepository %windir%\System32\wbem into the dialogue box and hit Enter
Step 4:
If you don’t view any response, try Winmgmt /resetrepository %windir%\System32\wbem
Step 5:
Restart your computer
These steps also reset WMI to its initial state. This should resolve the high memory usage error by repairing corrupt WMI files.
This problem should work for cases where a corrupt file is causing WMI to behave awfully. If this solution doesn’t work, try the alternative technique below.
Use Event Viewer to Find the Reason of WMI High Disk Usage
WMI fetches information from system components or programs. So, when a service or program becomes unresponsive while trying to fetch info, the request can’t move through. As a result, there is high CPU usage.
If you want to resolve this issue, you want to know the cause of WMI becoming unresponsive.
Fortunately, you can then use the Event Viewer to find the cause of the issue.
Here are the steps you want to follow:
Step 1:
Tap the Start button and input Run in the search box
Step 2:
Hit Enter to open the Run dialogue box
Step 3:
Enter the Event Viewer into the dialogue box and hit Enter
Step 4:
From the top menu, tap View and turn on display analytic and debug logs
Step 5:
Head over to the left panel and move to Applications and Service Logs>Microsoft>Windows>WMI-Activity>Operational
Step 6:
You should then find error events there
Step 7:
Tap recent errors and then ClientProcessld
Step 8:
Type the ID number somewhere
Step 9:
Now find the ID number on Google. If you want to know the name of the software causing the issues.
After you know the name of the program, you can either turn off it from the Task Manager or uninstall it. Now return back and check CPU usage to view if you have resolved the issue.
If not, the CPU usage problem could be because of many unresponsive programs. Repeat the whole process to find the other program that could be the reason for the error.
Is It Possible To Turn Off WMI Provider Host?
It is possible to turn off the “Windows Management Instrumentation service” on your PC. However, it breaks various things on your computer. It’s a major part of the Windows OS and should be left alone.
However, the official description for this service says, “If the service is stopped, some Windows-based software can’t function properly”. So don’t turn off this service! If you have an issue with it, you want to identify the process on your PC that causes the WMI Provider Host to use CPU and update, erase, or turn off that process.
Conclusion:
WMI Provider Host is a difficult system component. If it is causing high CPU usage or acts weirdly in any way, take time to resolve it. Is this article helpful? Let us know in the comment section below!
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