In Windows 11 "shell infrastructure host" process using a lot of CPU when viewing Photos on external SSD

Question

I have two computers on Windows 11 22000.318 and on both of them when I connect my 512GB Samsung SSD "shell infrastructure host" starts to use a lot of CPU and power usage is "very high" in task manager. I understand this may be normal when browsing large folders on the SSD or copying files to/from the SSD but even if I close all the File Explorer windows to the SSD "shell infrastructure host" continues to use a lot of CPU. If I try to eject the SSD it says its in use. So my only option is to log out of Windows and log back in and that stops "shell infrastructure host" and it goes back to normal. Could this problem be part of the Windows 11 memory leak bug with File Explorer I've been hearing about? Or maybe something to do with indexing going on? My external SSD has thousands of photos and I am using the Photos app.

Answer 1

I don't care about ways to reboot or kill the process. This is a major problem for Microsoft that has existed for years. Some permanent fix should have been engineered by now. Hello? Microsoft? tech please reply.

Answer 2

Thank you for following up. After more research it appears that this problem is not due simply to my external SSD. It has to do with the fact I have thousands of pictures on the SSD and am using the Windows 11 Photos app to view them. From reading other Windows 11 forums, it appears that other users are having problems with the Photos app causing "Shell Infrastructure Host" to use high CPU and not release it. After I stopped using the Windows 11 Photos app , I no longer have the problem. I found a way to instead use the old classic "Windows Photo Viewer" app. I think the problem with the Windows 11 Photos app may only happen when you have thousands of photos and/or these photos are on an external SSD. I would need to do more testing. I may need to open another question about this as it relates to the Photos app.

Answer 3

I can confirm the issue is with the Photos app. My wife was browsing the photo archive on my NAS using the Photos app and that's when it started. I suspect it kicks of a process to index the photos or something similar and that process hogs the CPU and continues even after the app is closed.

Logging out stops the process.

This is a serious defect as it runs down the battery and heats up the CPU.

Answer 4

Wow, this is an ongoing problem. It reliably happens in photos when I am viewing many images. Nothing but reboot solves the problem, until the next time. Update sihost.exe at 9% cpu all else zero

Answer 5

I may have fixed it. Open the photo app's advanced options. There is an add on app at the bottom of the screen that is called (Photos. DlC. Media Engine) . This app is searching all your photos for face, place and things recognition. I 'uninstalled it' oon the same screen. I also allowed the Photo app to run in the background as I always use 4 programs when editing photos. I just had 1.5 hours editing photos without the shellinfastructure running overboard and causing my computer fan to whir at high speeds.