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SearchHost.exe is taking up the majority of my CPU

Anonymous
2023-11-20T02:59:18+00:00

Hello, for about a week now, I haven't been able to figure out why SearchHost.exe is using up my CPU. I believe I have a virus and I don't know what to do, as when I end the task, it immediately restarts. I've looked up numerous tutorials and reset my computer many times, but with no avail. Please help, and thank you.

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Settings

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  1. Anonymous
    2023-11-28T10:27:52+00:00

    We are seeing this across multiple machines the past few months. High CPU usage from Windows Search Index service and the machine becomes unusable.

    The reason you are seeing "Indexing not running" is most likely because the Windows Search service is stuck on "Starting".

    Our work around for the moment is as follows:

    • Open Services as admin
    • Disable the Windows Search Service
    • Reboot
    • Browse to the location of the Windows Search Database. On Windows 11 It's located at: (C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Search\Data\Applications\Windows)
    • Delete the Windows Database file
    • Re-enable the Windows Search Service
    • Reboot

    On some machines we have had to completely disable the search service as the issue keeps re-occuring.

    We are currently in a middle of a Windows 11 roll out and this problem affects Windows 11 machines alot more than Windows 10.

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  2. Anonymous
    2023-11-27T06:30:12+00:00

    This would be it right here

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  3. Anonymous
    2023-11-21T05:47:36+00:00

    Hello,

    Thank you for using Microsoft products and posting to the community.

    Based on your descriptions, did you create or edit lots of files recently? Windows indexer may analyze the contents of those new files, thus using up CPU cycles.

    If you frequently manipulate files and folders in certain places, please try disabling indexing for such places, and see whether the phenomenon continues.

    To do so, please search "Indexing options" in the start menu, select "Modify" in the dialog, and uncheck the folders you frequently use.

    Feel free to post back if you need further assistance.

    Best Regards,

    Johann - MSFT | Microsoft Community Support Specialist

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  4. Anonymous
    2023-11-22T09:27:41+00:00

    Hello,

    Since you have mentioned that "It doesn't really let me modify anything either", are you running as an administrator account?

    You can also try pausing the index generation. In the "Indexing options" dialog I have mentioned above, click "Pause" and see whether the performance improves.

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  5. Anonymous
    2023-11-21T19:20:18+00:00

    I haven't really edited any files recently. It doesn't really let me modify anything either. Typically, it contains a lot of CPU, but once I open task manager, it loses all of it's CPU.

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