Desktop Window Manager (dwm.exe) High GPU usage on Windows 10/11

Question

I followed some of the instruction outlined in this post: https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/high-gpu-usage-of-desktop-window-manager-dwmexe/f4453ddb-31f7-4765-8510-fc4d9cd9807d

My dwm.exe (Desktop Window Manager) was using a lot of GPU for seemingly no reason. I had an idea as to what the problem could be and I seemed to have remedied this strange problem. While the URL above didn't remedy my issue, the following information did seem to fix it.

PC Information

OS Name	Microsoft Windows 11 Pro
Version	10.0.22000 Build 22000
Processor	AMD Ryzen 7 3700X 8-Core Processor, 3593 Mhz, 8 Core(s), 16 Logical Processor(s)
BaseBoard Product	PRIME B450M-A
Installed RAM	16.0 GB
Adapter Type	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti, NVIDIA compatible

I am running all of the latest drivers. I fully cleaned out all drivers and reinstalled them yesterday. I altered some of Nvidia's Global 3D Settings after I freshly installed all of my drivers.

In the NVIDIA Control Panel → 3D Settings → Manage 3D settings → Global Settings → Click "Restore"

I had adjusted the global settings so that all of my software would use universal settings outlined in this section of the NVIDIA Control Panel. I did this so I wouldn't have to modify several individual programs under the "Program Settings" of this NVIDIA Control Panel.

I changed "Low Latency Mode", "Max Framerate", "Power Management Mode", "Preferred Refresh Rate", "Threaded Optimization", "Vertical Sync" (Specifically to "Fast").

I realized that these global settings are probably affecting the Windows Desktop Rendering, causing spikes of GPU usage as my video card tries to enforce the Global Settings that I arranged.

Simply by clicking the "Restore" button underneath the list of settings, to restore all of the default "Global Settings" parameters, I made the dwm.exe GPU spikes disappear.

Answer 1

I followed some of the instruction outlined in this post: https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/high-gpu-usage-of-desktop-window-manager-dwmexe/f4453ddb-31f7-4765-8510-fc4d9cd9807d

My dwm.exe (Desktop Window Manager) was using a lot of GPU for seemingly no reason. I had an idea as to what the problem could be and I seemed to have remedied this strange problem. While the URL above didn't remedy my issue, the following information did seem to fix it.

PC Information

OS Name	Microsoft Windows 11 Pro
Version	10.0.22000 Build 22000
Processor	AMD Ryzen 7 3700X 8-Core Processor, 3593 Mhz, 8 Core(s), 16 Logical Processor(s)
BaseBoard Product	PRIME B450M-A
Installed RAM	16.0 GB
Adapter Type	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti, NVIDIA compatible

I am running all of the latest drivers. I fully cleaned out all drivers and reinstalled them yesterday. I altered some of Nvidia's Global 3D Settings after I freshly installed all of my drivers.

In the NVIDIA Control Panel → 3D Settings → Manage 3D settings → Global Settings → Click "Restore"

I had adjusted the global settings so that all of my software would use universal settings outlined in this section of the NVIDIA Control Panel. I did this so I wouldn't have to modify several individual programs under the "Program Settings" of this NVIDIA Control Panel.

I changed "Low Latency Mode", "Max Framerate", "Power Management Mode", "Preferred Refresh Rate", "Threaded Optimization", "Vertical Sync" (Specifically to "Fast").

I realized that these global settings are probably affecting the Windows Desktop Rendering, causing spikes of GPU usage as my video card tries to enforce the Global Settings that I arranged.

Simply by clicking the "Restore" button underneath the list of settings, to restore all of the default "Global Settings" parameters, I made the dwm.exe GPU spikes disappear.

After reading SamWamFromEighties post Created on November 3, 2022 I was able to resolve my problem the same way: By restoring the Global settings in the NVIDIA Control Panel. Now my Desktop Window Manager (dwm.exe) GPU is back to normal. My apologies for only just now replying that Sams post worked.

My previous post was:

Daniel Jordan4 Replied on February 12, 2024

I also have just noticed that the Desktop Window Manager (DWM.exe) has high graphics processor unit usage while running a game.

Device name Gaming-Desktop

Processor Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-9700F CPU @ 3.00GHz 3.00 GHz

Installed RAM 16.0 GB

System type 64-bit operating system, x64-based processor

NVidia GeForce RTX 2060 Super, Driver v546.65

Edition Windows 10 Home

Version 22H2

OS build 19045.3930

Answer 2

On a Windows 11 system with Nvidia RTX 3080 we solved this persistent issue by disabling Windows Settings -> System -> Display -> Graphics Settings -> Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling

Answer 3

I had the same problem (dwm usage is over 70% while not doing absolutely anything) drivers reset/update didn't help. But in my case, the culprit was much stranger - the Google Drive app. A couple of seconds after I kill it GPU usage drops to 4-7%

Answer 4

Thanks a lot for your reply, even though I am thanking you a little bit late. I switched to M2, and I have been living happily ever since.