WMI Provider Host error mainly hogs your computer CPU usage. WMI Provider Host stands for Windows Management Instrumentation Provider Service, its basic function is to help run applications on the Computer.
Thereby, if there is any problem in WMI Provider Host High CPU Usage and many of the features in PC become useless. This behavior or error is generally observed after upgrading your computer from Windows 7 to Windows 10.
WMI Provider Host, or Windows Management Instrumentation Provider Host, is a crucial component of the Windows operating system. While it serves various vital functions, it can sometimes result in high CPU usage, leading to performance issues.
In this article, we will explore the meaning of “WMI Provider Host High CPU,” delve into the purposes of WMI, identify common causes of this issue, discuss the reasons behind excessive CPU usage, and provide guidance on whether it is safe to disable WMI.
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What is WMI Provider Host?
WMI Provider Host is a Windows service responsible for providing information and management capabilities to administrators and applications. It allows querying and configuring various system settings, collecting system information, and performing administrative tasks remotely.
What is WMI Used For?
WMI is extensively used for system monitoring, management, and automation tasks. It provides a standardized way to access and manage a wide range of system resources, such as hardware, software, and network settings.
Causes of WMI Provider Host High CPU Error
Common Causes of High CPU Usage: High CPU usage by WMI Provider Host can be attributed to several factors, including:
- Excessive requests or queries from applications.
- Complex queries that require significant processing.
- Malware or corrupted WMI repository.
- Unoptimized third-party applications.
WMI Provider Host High CPU Usage on Windows 10, 8 and 7
However, WMI Provider Host High CPU Usage error can be solved easily by following appropriate methods that we are going to share with you in this article.
Solution 1 — Restart Services Related to WMI
After you are done with restarting WMI service, head to restart any other associated services by using the following steps:
1. Start your computer and then open Command Prompt (Admin) from here.
2. Next, in the command prompt window one by one type the following commands and do press enter after each command:
- net stop iphlpsvc
- net stop wscsvc
- net stop Winmgmt
- net start wscsvc
- net start iphlpsvc
3. After you are done with this, then reboot your PC and check if the WMI Provider Host High CPU Usage error is solved or not.
Solution 2 — Restart the WMI Service
Most of the time the issue is with your computer’s WMI Provider Host Service, it might occupy too much space causing problems. Thus, you can try restarting your WMI Service:
1. Start your computer and then press the Windows + R key combination, it will open run dialogue box.
2. In the run dialogue box, then type services.msc and hit the enter button.
3. Next, in the services console window find the Windows Management Instrumentation Service, this can be done by pressing the W key.
4. Once you’ve located the WMI service right-click on it and then choose restart option to restart the service. Or you can choose to stop the service if you want, but I would say no to it.
Solution 3 — Find the Process Using Event Viewer and Uninstall It
This can be done by the help of following steps:
1. First of all, you need to open the Event Viewer this can be done in two ways based on your computer Windows:
- If you are using Windows 7 or any earlier window then you can find Event Viewer in the Start Menu.
- If you are using Windows 8 or 8.1 or 10, then you can find event viewer by pressing Windows + X key combination, this will open WinX Menu and then select Event Viewer from the menu that appears.
2. In the Event Viewer window click on View in the toolbar > Enable the Show Analytic and Debug Logs option.
3. Next, you will be redirected to a new window wherein the left panel you will see options, from which select Application and Services Logs > Microsoft > Windows > WMI-Activity.
4. Next, Double-click on WMI Activity option this will expand its contents from which then select the Operational list.
5. After that, look for any errors, if you find one > Click on it and see its specifications at the bottom of the window.
6. In the specifications window, Click on General Tab > Find ClientProcessId term and note down its number.
7. After that, exit from Event Viewer and then open Task Manager which can be done by pressing Windows + R key combination > type taskmgr and click OK.
8. Next, in task manager window Select “Services Tab” and then see if there is any other service with the Same Process ID (PID) similar to the ClientProcessID term.
9. Once you have found the faulty service, Disable It Immediately.
10. After that Go to Control Panel > Programs & Features and then uninstall the faulty service.
Solution 4 — Do A Clean Boot
Sometimes high CPU usage by WMI Provider Host can be due to some application thereby, you can perform a clean boot and then isolate the application causing problem. To try this method, follow the steps given below:
1. First you need to log in to your computer using an Administrator account.
2. Next, open the Run Dialogue Box by pressing Windows + R key combination.
3. Then type “msconfig” in the Run dialog box and then hit the Enter button.
4. After that, select Services in the next window that will open and then uncheck the “Hide all Microsoft Services” button you will see on the left corner bottom.
5. Next, select Disable All option and then press OK.
6. Select the “Startup” tab and click on the “Open Task Manager” option.
7. In the Task manager window click on Startup button > select those applications which have Enabled written next to them and then Disable all of them.
8. Do the above step for all the applications listed and then restart your computer.
9. Now that your computer is in the Clean boot mode, do check if the issue has been solved or not.
10. If the error is solved then it means that it was caused by a third-party application or service.
11. Next, enable the services one by one, if the high CPU usage comes again then stop enabling those services.
12. Finally, Reinstall the application or the service that caused the WMI Provider Host High CPU Usage error.
Why is My WMI Provider Host Using So Much CPU?
Excessive Queries and Requests: When applications, scripts, or services excessively query or request information from WMI, it can lead to high CPU usage. Complex queries or misconfigured applications are often responsible for this behavior.
Is It OK to Disable WMI?
Safety of Disabling WMI: Disabling WMI is generally not recommended unless you are experiencing severe issues that cannot be resolved through other means. WMI is essential for system management and monitoring, and disabling it can impact various aspects of your computer’s functionality.
Considerations Before Disabling: Before considering the disabling of WMI, it’s crucial to explore alternative solutions to address the high CPU usage issue. Disabling WMI should only be a last resort, as it can affect your ability to manage and monitor your system efficiently.
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The End
So, these were some of the best and most used methods that you can try if you are also facing WMI Provider Host High CPU error whilst working on your computer. Do remember to follow the steps carefully and in the sequential order, they are mentioned in the article.
WMI Provider Host is a fundamental component of the Windows operating system, playing a vital role in system monitoring, management, and automation.
High CPU usage by WMI can be a source of frustration, but it is typically a result of excessive queries, misconfigured applications, or complex queries. Disabling WMI is generally not recommended, as it can disrupt essential system management functions.
Users encountering high CPU usage issues related to WMI should explore alternative solutions, such as optimizing queries, addressing misconfigured applications, and ensuring a clean and malware-free system. Disabling WMI should only be considered as a last resort after all other avenues have been explored.