How To Fix Task Manager 100% Disk Usage in Windows 10/11

If you're experiencing slow system performance, frozen applications, or unresponsive software, chances are that you're experiencing 100% disk usage in Windows 10/11. It's a common problem that can occur on any Windows 10/11 computer, and it can be caused by a number of factors, such as malware, outdated drivers, or faulty hardware.

The good news is that there are several solutions to this problem, and in this article, we'll guide you through the steps you can take to get your computer running smoothly again. We understand how frustrating it can be when your computer is not performing at its best, but with our easy-to-follow instructions, you'll be able to fix the 100% disk usage issue in no time.

Whether you're a seasoned Windows user or a novice, this article is designed to help you solve this problem without any technical expertise. So, sit back, relax, and let's get started!

What Causes 100% Disk Usage in Windows 10/11?

There are several potential causes for high disk usage shown in your Task Manager. To identify what's causing too much disk usage in Windows 10/11, you can use the Task Manager itself. All you have to do is identify the application(s) that are consuming most of the disk resources and then take appropriate action.

Common causes for high disk usage in Windows 10/11 include:

• Antivirus software
• Malware threats
• Outdated drivers
• System applications & services (e.g. search indexing, Cortana, background tasks, etc

Here's what you have to do to identify the application causing high disk usage in the Task Manager:

1. First, open the Task Manager by pressing the Windows + X keys on your keyboard to open the WinX menu. From here, click on Task Manager.
2. Stay on the Processes tab, and click on the Disk option from the menu. This will sort the applications running on your system according to how much disk space they are using.
   
   
3. Look for any application with a high percentage of disk usage.

This is likely the cause of your 100% disk usage issue. Once you've identified it, you can take action to fix the problem.

Fixed: How to Fix 100% Disk Usage in Windows 10/11

Now that you've identified the application causing high disk usage in Task Manager, it's time to take action. We’ve compiled the best solutions to fix 100% disk usage in Windows 11 as well as Windows 10. The steps for fixing this issue vary based on the cause of the problem, but here are some common solutions:

1. Disable MSI Mode for the Default AHCI Driver

The first step you can take to fix the 100% disk usage issue in Windows 10/11 is to disable MSI mode for the default AHCI driver. By doing so, you will reduce the number of requests sent to the disk, which should help reduce CPU and disk usage.

Warning: Before attempting the steps outlined below which involve making changes to Windows Registry, we strongly urge you to create a restore point in Windows.

To disable MSI mode for your AHCI driver:

1. Press the Windows + R keys on your keyboard to open the Run utility. Here, type in devmgmt.msc and press the OK button to open Device Manager.
   
   
2. Click the arrow icon next to the IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers section to see all of your related drivers. Right-click on the Standard SATA AHCI Controller, and select Properties from the context menu.
   
   
3. First, switch to the Driver tab using the menu bar on top. Next, click on the Driver Details button and verify that you have the storahci.sys driver listed under your driver files.
   
   
4. If the storahci.sys file is present, it’s possibly the cause behind your high disk usage. Click the OK button to exit the interface and switch to the Details tab.
5. Select the Device instance path option from the Property drop-down menu. Right-click on the value that shows up, and select Copy from the context menu. We recommend that you paste the value into an empty Notepad file.
   
   
6. Next, open the Registry Editor by pressing the Windows + R keys on your keyboard, and entering regedit into the input field. Press OK and allow the application to run.
   
   
7. Navigate to the following registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\PCI\AHCI Controller Value\Device Parameters\Interrupt Management\MessageSignaledInterruptProperties 
8. Use the value you noted down to identify the correct folder. The first part of the value refers to the main folder you need to open in the Registry Editor, and the second part is the subfolder you need to select.
   
   
9. Navigate to Device Parameters > Interrupt Management > MessageSignaledInterruptProperties, and then double-click on the MSISupported key from the right-side pane.
   
   
10. Change the Value data to 0, and then click OK. Close the Registry Editor, and reboot your computer to finalize the changes.
    
    

2. Disable the SysMain (Superfetch) Service

If you're still experiencing high disk usage after disabling MSI mode for the default AHCI driver, you can try disabling the SysMain (Superfetch) service. This is a Windows service that preloads applications into memory to make them launch faster.

However, it can also cause a hard disk usage problem, as it makes your hard disk spike as the service constantly reads data from your disk. To disable it:

1. Press the Windows + R keys on your keyboard. This is going to bring up the Run utility.
2. Type in services.msc and click on the OK button. This is going to launch the Services window, which might take a few seconds to fully load.
3. Scroll down until you see the SysMain service. Right-click on it, and then choose Properties from the context menu.
   
   
4. Stay on the General tab. Ensure that the Startup type is set to Disabled, and then click on the Stop button under the Service status if it’s currently running. Doing so will stop the service from automatically running when you boot up your computer.
   
   
5. Click Apply, and then OK to exit out of the window. See if you’re still experiencing 100% disk usage after completing these steps.

3. Disable Connected User Experiences and Telemetry Service

The Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service is a Windows feature that collects data about user activity on your computer. This can lead to high disk usage, so you should disable it if you're experiencing the 100% disk usage issue.

1. Use the steps in the previous solution to go to the Services applet. Here, look for “Connected User Experiences and Telemetry” and open its Properties.
2. Stay on the General tab. Ensure that the Startup type is set to Disabled, and then click on the Stop button under the Service status if it’s currently running.
   
   
3. Click Apply, and then OK to exit out of the window.

Now, the Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service should be disabled on your device. Test if you’re still seeing 100% disk usage in the Task Manager after performing these steps.

4. Disable the Windows Search Service

Another service that can cause high disk usage is the Windows Search service. This indexing feature helps your computer find files faster, but it's also known to cause excessive disk usage. If you don't need this service, you should disable it to reduce the number of disk reads and writes.

1. Use the steps in the second solution to go to the Services applet. Here, look for “Windows Search” and open its Properties.
2. Stay on the General tab. Ensure that the Startup type is set to Disabled, and then click on the Stop button under the Service status if it’s currently running.
   
   
3. Click Apply, and then OK to exit out of the window.

After disabling the Windows Search service, verify if you’re still seeing 100% disk usage when you open the Task Manager.

5. Disable Scheduled Defragmentation

Scheduled defragmentation is a disk optimization feature in Windows that helps keep your hard drive running at its best. However, it can also cause high disk usage if you don't need it. To save resources, you should disable scheduled defragmentation and only run it manually when needed.

1. Open the search tool in your taskbar by pressing the Windows + S keyboard shortcut, then look for “defragment.” Click on the “Defragment and Optimize Drives” option from the search results.
   
   
2. Select your system drive (typically the C: drive) and check if Scheduled optimization is enabled. If it’s currently on, click the Change Settings button.
   
   
3. Remove the checkbox next to “Run on a schedule (recommended)” to turn off scheduled drive defragmentation. Click the OK button to save your changes.
   
   
4. After making this adjustment in your system settings, see if the disk usage problem is still present.

6. Disable Your Startup Apps

When you boot Windows, a number of applications also start running in the background. This can cause high disk usage and slow down your PC, so you should disable any applications that don't need to run at startup.

1. Press the Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys on your keyboard to open Task Manager. Alternatively, you can use the Windows + X keyboard shortcut and select Task Manager from the WinX menu.
2. In the Task Manager, switch to the Startup apps tab.
   
   
3. Go through your current startup apps, and see if anything sticks out. If you find any applications you didn’t enable at startup, or any apps you don’t use much, it’s recommended to disable them.
4. Click on an app you want to stop from running at startup to select it. After selecting an application, click on the Disable button.
   
   
5. Repeat this step for all applications you don’t need at startup, then reboot your computer. See if this fixed the high disk usage issue.

7. Rebuild the Windows Search Index

If you're still experiencing high disk usage after disabling unnecessary programs, you can try rebuilding the Windows Search Index. This will reset the index and help improve your PC's performance.

1. Click on the Start menu in your taskbar, then type in “Control Panel.” Click on the application from the matching search results.
2. Make sure that your viewing mode is set to Large icons, and then click on Indexing Options.
   
   
3. Click on the Advanced button in the Indexing Options window. This will open a new window, where you’ll see further options. Here, click the Rebuild button under the Troubleshooting header.
   
   
4. Wait for Windows to rebuild the search index. This may take some time depending on your computer. When the process is done, see if you’re able to search your files without the “No results found” error. 

8. Run the Chkdsk Command

The chkdsk command is a tool that checks your disk for errors and fixes them. Running this command can help resolve any disk errors that are causing 100% disk usage in Windows 10/11.

1. To open Command Prompt as an administrator, go to the search bar in your taskbar (or press Windows + S) and search for Command Prompt. Once you see it in the results, right-click on it and select Run as Administrator.
   
   
2. When the User Account Control (UAC) prompt appears, click Yes to grant the app administrative privileges.
3. To run the CHKDSK scan, simply type the following command in the Command Prompt and press Enter: chkdsk C: /r
   
   
4. After running the CHKDSK scan, allow it to finish. Then, check if the blue screen error you are experiencing on your computer has been resolved.

9. Turn Off Hibernation

Hibernation is a feature in Windows that allows you to save your session and resume it at a later time. However, it can also cause high disk usage, so you should turn it off if you're experiencing the 100% disk usage issue.

1. Open the search bar in your taskbar (or press Windows + S) and then type in Command Prompt. When you see it in the results, right-click on it and choose Run as Administrator.
2. When the User Account Control (UAC) prompt appears, click Yes to grant the app administrative privileges.
3. Type in the following command and press Enter to execute it: powercfg hibernate off
   
   
4. After turning this feature off, check if you’re still experiencing high disk usage in the Task Manager.

10. Reset Virtual Memory

Your virtual memory, also known as VRAM, is an area on your hard drive used as memory when your RAM runs out. It can become corrupted and cause high disk usage, so you should reset it to fix the issue. Here’s how to reset virtual memory in Windows 10 and Windows 11:

1. Press the Windows + R keys on your keyboard. This is going to bring up the Run utility. Type in sysdm.cpl and click on the OK button.
2. Switch to the Advanced tab using the toolbar on top, and then click on the Settings button under the Performance header.
   
   
3. The Performance Options window should open on your screen. Here, once again, switch to the Advanced tab and click on the Change button under Virtual memory.
   
   
4. First, you need to uncheck the Automatically manage paging file size for all drives option on top of the window. After disabling this, select Custom size from the available options below.
   
   
5. First, check the Recommended paging file size and input the value into the "Initial size" field. Then, multiply your RAM size by 1.5 and fill it in for the “Maximum size” field. For example, if you have 8 GB RAM, your maximum size would be set at 1024 x 8 x 1.5 = 12288 MB. When done, click the Set button.
   
   

11. Check for Malware

If your computer is still running slow even after following the steps above, it's possible that your PC is infected with malware. Run a full scan using an antivirus program to make sure your system is clean and free of any malicious software.

12. Install an SSD

Installing a Solid State Drive (SSD) is one of the best ways to speed up your computer and reduce the dreaded 100% disk usage problem on Windows. SSDs are fast, reliable, and drastically reduce system boot times, giving you a more efficient computing experience. 

This new storage technology is quiet and has greater durability than traditional hard drives since it doesn't contain any moving parts. While these drives may cost slightly more than traditional hard disks, their advantages in both performance and reliability make it worth every penny.

13. Update Windows

If none of the steps above have helped, you should make sure your Windows operating system is up-to-date. Microsoft regularly releases updates that can help improve performance and fix any bugs or errors.

How to Update Windows 10

1. Click on the Windows icon in the bottom left of your screen to bring up the Start menu. Choose Settings, or use the Windows + I shortcut.
2. Navigate to Update & Security > Windows Update. Click on the Check for updates button and wait for Windows to find available updates.
   
   
3. If you see any updates displayed, click on the View all optional updates link to see and install them.
   
   
4. When Windows finds a new update, it’ll automatically start installing on your computer. Wait for Windows to download and apply the necessary updates.

How to Update Windows 11

1. Click the Windows icon in the bottom-left corner of the screen to open the Start menu, then select Settings. You can also use the keyboard shortcut Windows + I.
2. Switch to the Windows Update tab using the menu on the left, and then click on the Check for updates button. Windows will automatically detect if there’s a new update compatible with your device.
   
   
3. If a new update is available, allow Windows to install it, and then follow the instructions to restart your computer.

Conclusion

Dealing with 100% disk usage on Windows is never a pleasant experience. However, by following the steps above you should be able to identify and fix the issue. If none of these solutions work, it's possible that your system is having hardware issues and needs to be serviced or replaced. In any case, make sure to consult a professional if you're unsure about any of the steps mentioned here.

By following the tips in this article, you should be able to identify and solve any disk usage issue you're having on Windows 10/11. Good luck!

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