How to Fix High CPU Usage Caused by Windows Modules Installer Worker on Windows 11

Summary

This guide helps you troubleshoot and resolve: How to Fix High CPU Usage Caused by Windows Modules Installer Worker on Windows 11. Follow the steps below to fix the issue.

Common Causes

Windows Modules Installer Worker, also known as TiWorker.exe, is a system process responsible for installing, modifying, and removing Windows updates. While this process is essential for keeping your computer secure, it can occasionally consume high amounts of CPU and disk resources, causing your PC to run slowly or feel unresponsive.

This guide provides step-by-step instructions to help you resolve high CPU usage caused by Windows Modules Installer Worker on Windows 11.

Quick Fix Steps

1. Restart your computer to clear temporary system processes.
2. Ensure your PC is connected to power and the internet to allow Windows Update to finish its tasks.
3. Wait for up to one hour. If the process is installing a major update, high CPU usage may normalise on its own.

Detailed Instructions

1. Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter

1. Click the Start button and select Settings, or press Windows key + I.
2. In the left-hand menu, select System, then click Troubleshoot.
3. Click Other troubleshooters.
4. Find Windows Update in the list and click Run.
5. Follow the on-screen prompts to detect and fix issues with Windows Update.

2. Restart the Windows Update Service

1. Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog.
2. Type services.msc and press Enter.
3. In the Services window, locate Windows Update in the list.
4. Right-click Windows Update and select Restart.
5. If Restart is not available, right-click the service, select Properties, set the Startup type to Automatic, click Apply, and then click Start.
6. Close the Services window and check if CPU usage has returned to normal.

3. Pause Windows Updates Temporarily

1. Open Settings (Windows key + I).
2. Select Windows Update from the left sidebar.
3. Under Pause updates, select a duration from the dropdown menu.
4. Pausing updates will stop TiWorker.exe from running until the pause period ends or you manually resume updates.

Troubleshooting

Check for Pending Updates

If Windows has downloaded updates but has not installed them, the Modules Installer Worker may run continuously. To check:

1. Open Settings and go to Windows Update.
2. Click Check for updates.
3. If updates are available, install them and restart your computer when prompted.

Perform a Clean Boot

If high CPU usage persists, a third-party application may be interfering with Windows Update.

1. Press Windows key + R, type msconfig, and press Enter.
2. Go to the Services tab and check Hide all Microsoft services.
3. Click Disable all, then click Apply and OK.
4. Restart your computer.
5. If CPU usage returns to normal, re-enable services one by one to identify the conflicting software.

If you continue to experience high CPU usage after following these steps, you can Open a Ticket with our Brisbane support team for further assistance.

For more performance help, see our guides on Computer running slow and Applications freezing or crashing.

Still Having Issues?