Windows Defender High Memory Usage

Question

Recently noticed very high memory usage of Windows Defender via task manager. 85% even with minimal browsers and windows open.

How can this be reduced other than installing more memory?

Answer 1

Hi there,

For most people, the high memory usage caused by Antimalware Service Executable typically happens when Windows Defender is running a full scan. We can remedy this by scheduling the scans to take place at a time when you're less likely to feel the drain on your CPU.

If the High CPU is not during the scan then you can try running the SFC & DISM scan to sort this out
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/using-system-file-checker-in-windows-365e0031-36b1-6031-f804-8fd86e0ef4ca

I would also suggest you to create a new account on your PC and check if you have same memory usage as the corrupted user profile might also cause this issue.

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Answer 2

Hello folks,

just wanted to share my experience. I'm no expert, but surely not a rookie either; said that: I searched the web tirelessly for solution with this issue. I have a brand new Asus ROG Laptop and couldn't understand why with all it's processing power (after a couple of months of usage) it would get kind of stuck on startup (Win opening fast, but then you had to wait several minutes to be able to open say chrome and use it, it would simply load forever). Found out that Defender was using more than 2gb of memory during these "episodes" so my search began... I'll make this short: after all the things I checked, it was freaking Itunes.... can't really say how or why, I had a hunch and it paid off; uninstalled Itunes, now starts like a Ferrari! :D
If you have the same issue, I'd probably investigate your last installed program (this was not my case, but you have to start somewhere) or tey to check programs like "MyAsus", "ArmoryCrate" and "Gamefirst" and see what program they're buffing for no reason.
Hope this help someone.

Ciao ciao ;)