Desktop Windows Manager causing high GPU usage

Question

Hello,

So I play a lot of Fortnite and League of Legends and over the past four days I haven't been able to play them because I have a consistent drop in framerates. I've noticed in my processes that while I have these games open Desktop Window Manager (dwm.exe) is using a lot of my GPU, much more than the game itself. I am running Windows 10 on my MSI Apache Pro GE60 Gaming Laptop. I have set my personalized settings to default and made sure all my drivers are up-to-date as well as any other Windows updates. I just did a full scan for any malware and it came back completely clean. Does anyone have an idea of what could be causing DWM to use so much of my GPU?

Here's a screenie:

Answer 1

Hi Nate, please complete the steps below:

Go to Settings App -> Privacy - Background Apps

Turn off 'Let apps run in the background'

Restart your PC

Answer 2

Sadly nothing changed.

Answer 3

I don't see the view all option. I go to the troubleshooter and I can select specific areas to troubleshoot like "Internet Connections," "Windows Update," "Hardware & Devices," etc.

Answer 4

Desktop Windows Manager probably is responsible for Transparency effects in Windows, known as Fluent design. Can you try disabling it temporarily?

It would be worth to reinstall graphics driver too.

Answer 5

Hi Nate,

Open Control Panel

Search for Troubleshoot

Click on Troubleshooting

Click on View all on the left side of the Windows

Click on System Maintenance option

Click on Next and follow the prompts

When that completes, close Control Panel

Go to Settings App -> Privacy - Background Apps

Turn off Let apps run in the background'

Restart your PC