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PhoneExperienceHost.exe high CPU usage when pc idle

Anonymous
2022-11-12T15:18:33+00:00

Hi,

When I come back to my laptop and it's gone into idle mode (screen off) I can hear the fans running fast, but as soon as I move the mouse the fans die off. I tried to figure out for a while what was happening and eventually set up perfmon to record what processes were running. I discovered that runs at 50% CPU continuously while the machine is in idle which is ridiculous for something that shouldn't be doing anything much (I'd upload a screenshot but there doesn't seem to be an option anywhere). Looking at details in Task Manager the PhoneExperienceHost.exe process has used twice as much CPU in total than any other app, even though I haven't used it in the foreground.

I do use Phone link to connect to my phone, but it's in the background (system tray icon only) and shouldn't be doing anything most of the time.

There's nothing related in Event viewer and I can't see anything in Scheduler which might trigger it.

I have tried uninstalling and reinstalling the Phone Link software.

The machine says it is up to date for patching.

I've searched for anything related to this issue and found nothing helpful so either it's only my machine, or other people don't realise it's happening as it only happens when they can't look at it!

Any ideas on how to fix this so it stops using my power (obviously uninstalling is not an option)? (TBH though, I expect it's something built into the software and can only be fixed by MS)

Thanks,

Jon W

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Connect Phone and PC

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  1. Anonymous
    2022-11-12T17:37:00+00:00

    Hi Bernard,

    Sorry, no, there's nothing wrong with the machine, there are no errors and this is not a new issue.

    This is not a background app that's interfering - It's an app that is deliberately running some process when the machine is idle. If I didn't know better I would think it was a bitcoin mining virus, but my machine is well secured and this is a microsoft signed executable. (Just in case anyone is thinking of suggesting virus scans and the like, please don't as that is not the issue)

    This is a specific issue with the PhoneExperienceHost.exe (PhoneLink) app - I've seen other people complain about it and the usual advice is just to uninstall it, but I use it so that's not an option.

    Regards,

    Jon

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  2. Anonymous
    2022-12-18T21:30:52+00:00

    I've been experiencing the exact same problem with Phone Link on Windows 10 Home Version 22H2 Build 19045.2364.

    I was working with security cam software on my late-2000s Dell Intel-based laptop when I noticed that my CPU fan was relatively loud when the system went idle. I know the system well enough to know it wasn't a problem with the fan or thermal paste or what-not. The system easily gets back to being very quiet. But when it goes idle and the screen blanks, but isn't in sleep mode, the CPU usage jacked up and the fan got relatively loud.

    I quickly ruled out the security cam software, Windows background maintenance and Defender on-idle work. By process of elimination of shutting down other apps, it was only after quitting the Phone Link background process in the system tray that the idle fan loudness stopped.

    To further confirm this, I set up a "% Processor Time" counter in PerfMon for the PhoneExperienceHost process, and the graph showed this process eating up CPU like there's no tomorrow while the system is idle, and as it comes out of idle, the process goes back to seemingly normal CPU consumption and the fan gets quiet again after a short time.

    This is all so inexplicable as what on earth could Phone Link be needing to do during my system idle that required commanding all of that CPU? This to me is clearly a problem with the Phone Link background process.

    10+ people found this answer helpful.
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  3. Anonymous
    2022-11-21T23:00:44+00:00

    hi,

    I have the same problem, process PhoneExperienceHost.exe earn a lot of CPU when screen is off. When I unlock the machine the process stop using cpu and return to normal.

    during the standby the cpu goes high, computer gets very hot and fan runs at full speed.

    I have windows 11 pro 22H2, hardware is HP Probook 450 - Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-8565Und fan CPU @ 1.80GHz, 16GB Ram. SSD disk.

    I also tried to remove "my phone" from pc, and without this app the CPU never goes high.

    9 people found this answer helpful.
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  4. Anonymous
    2022-12-29T14:36:07+00:00

    For a company that tries to optimize their Windows updates, so that it less of an environmental impact... You'd think this would be a top priority to fix. Having a computer use 10-15% while idle for no discernible reason is ridiculous.

    This problem has been around for almost a year now and it's not been addressed. Come on, Microsoft. This isn't ok.

    8 people found this answer helpful.
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  5. Anonymous
    2022-12-15T03:59:19+00:00

    Has there been any motion on this issue? I use mobile PCs often and don't always sleep them before I walk away. the screen locks and the fans go full speed as "PhoneExperienceHost.exe" plows through my CPU and battery life. It is an app I use and doesn't bother me as much on my desktop (it sill happens there too) but it is completely unacceptable on a laptop or UMPC when it tanks your battery unexpectedly. Yes I can stop the app and prevent it from running but that is a trash solution.

    8 people found this answer helpful.
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