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Resolve high CPU usage on Shadow PC

Updated

If your Shadow PC's CPU is high or running at 100%, the Windows operating system will also slow down or freeze. This article will help you understand why this might happen and provide steps to resolve it.

Causes

Resource monitoring tools like Task Manager may not display the correct CPU usage due to virtualization software limitations.

If your Shadow PC is also slow or freezing, it may be due to:

  • Unnecessary processes running in the background.
  • Ongoing antivirus scans or real-time protection.
  • Outdated graphics drivers.

Solutions

Restart Shadow PC

Restarting your Shadow PC is a quick way to reduce the number of processes running at once.

To restart Shadow PC:

  • From the Start Menu: Click the Start button and select Shut Down or Restart.
  • Using the Quick Menu: Open the Quick Menu and select Restart.
  • From the Shadow PC Launcher: Access the Help (?) section of the launcher to restart Shadow PC.

Pause or Disable Anti-virus Software

Disabling or temporarily suspending your third-party antivirus software can help free up CPU resources caused by ongoing scans or real-time protection.

  • Cancel any scans currently running
  • Look for an option to pause or disable real-time protection
  • Temporarily disable the antivirus software to relieve the CPU

Close Apps with High Usage

Use Windows Task Manager to identify processes and applications causing high CPU usage on Shadow PC and close them.

To open Task Manager:

  • Right-click on the Taskbar and select Task Manager,
  • Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc, or
  • Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete, then choose Task Manager from the menu.

Disable Startup Apps

You may have apps set to automatically start when Windows boots, which can consume valuable CPU resources. Disabling unnecessary startup applications can help your Shadow PC run more efficiently.

To disable Startup Apps:

  1. Open Task Manager.
  2. Go to the Startup tab.
  3. Right-click on any unwanted apps and select Disable to prevent them from starting automatically.

Update Graphics Drivers

Updating your graphics drivers on Shadow PC can help improve GPU efficiency and offload stress from the CPU.

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