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Explorer.exe high CPU usage after latest update, Win11

Anonymous
2022-02-17T10:11:19+00:00

I am running Windows 11 Pro 64 bit version 21H2, build 22000.527.

After the latest update explorer.exe started to grab occasionally about 20% to 50% CPU power. Upon this high CPU time taskbar does not work, applications already on the desktop work though.

I have checked the desktop folder for any files missing the icon and I have also disabled OneDrive, did not help.

This problem is on almost all the time. It easies down occasionally but starts again. If I have the computer locked and log in again the problem starts immediately.

I do have some applications in desktop right button menu but they were there before the update without any problem(7-zip, WinZIP, NitroPDF etc).

This is quite annoying and prevents me working with the PC. The computer is Lenovo Thinkbook with 11th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-1165G7 @ 2.80GHz 2.80 GHz and 16 GB RAM.

Should I try to uninstall the latest update and is there a change that it messes up the operating system?

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Performance and system failures

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  1. Anonymous
    2022-02-17T11:49:01+00:00

    Hi

    Thank you for your fast reply.

    I already have done all things you proposed, did not help and no problems were found.

    Then I rushed a bit and uninstalled three latest updates from this week and voila...explorer.exe is not using high CPU anymore. Probably this was wrong way to fix because the updates are going to come in anyway.

    At the moment I just have to keep checking and see what happens. To my mind there was something in the updates which caused the problem.

    Anybody else with the same problem? Please inform!

    7 people found this answer helpful.
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  2. Anonymous
    2022-02-22T06:48:26+00:00

    The culprit is KB5010414. When I uninstalled it the problem was gone. Just to be sure I reinstalled the update and had the problem again and uninstalling it again made the PC work again.

    Having played a lot with this have made me believe the problem is some of the new features for Task Bar. During the high CPU time(20% for explorer.exe) Task Bard does not work at all. I am able to alt-tab between the programs already running and programs are working ok. Just the Task Bar and desktop are unusable.

    At the mmoent I am using my PC with KB5020414 uninstalled.

    5 people found this answer helpful.
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  3. Anonymous
    2022-04-06T20:40:03+00:00

    I clean inistalled windows 11 a couple of days ago and noticed this issue, it only happens when "auto hide taskbar is enabled" am not sure about you guys but I have a laptop and its connected to a display and changing "When using multiple displays, show my taskbar apps on" to "Main taskbar and taskbar where window is open" fixed the issue for me, I also removed all taskbar overflow icons my this one too, I didnt test it on a single display so this may not work for you

    2 people found this answer helpful.
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  4. Anonymous
    2022-02-22T15:03:09+00:00

    This is a note to MS. . . It just happened again to me. This time I was using the File Explorer to search for a file on my \E: drive. It took about 5 minutes for it to clear but made my Task Bar unusable and blanked out the icons.

    2 people found this answer helpful.
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  5. Anonymous
    2022-02-22T14:45:27+00:00

    JuusoOP,

    Thank you you for the follow up. After spending way to much time yesterday going through the other documentation, I was going to ask you for a verification of the KB #.

    This has been a funny issue. It has happened to be at random times throughout the day. I have seen it after a Restart, while using a VPN connection and when not, or after waking my PC up. The annoying part is just having to wait for what seems to be about 20 - 30 min for it to clear it's self.

    Thank you again for the information. Looks like I will be uninstalling the KB update this evening after work.

    2 people found this answer helpful.
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