How to Fix High Network Usage and Memory Leak Caused by svchost.exe (netsvcs)

Over time, Windows users have reported experiences with specific progress called svchost.exe (netsvcs) causing high network usage, memory leaks, and high CPU usage. This causes extreme slowdowns in computers, making your device sluggish and hard to use while also slowing down your internet speed.

Luckily, this devastating error isn’t impossible to fix. If you’re experiencing the issues mentioned above, give today’s article a read. We focus on exactly what the svchost.exe (netsvcs) process is, how it affects your computer, and how you can fix it’s large network, CPU and RAM usage.

What is svchost.exe (netsvcs)?

The svchost.exe process is called Service Host, which is a vital Windows Host Process in your system. It’s located in the C:\Windows\System32 folder, constantly running as an executable as many other Windows files depend on its presence.

Due to svchost.exe being a required system process, it may spike up the usage of various resources from time to time. However, there should never be a need for it to use a significantly large amount of your Network, RAM, or CPU. If you notice spikes that hog over 50% of these resources, something is wrong.

Is svchost.exe (netsvcs) a virus?

The svchost.exe (netsvcs) process itself is not a virus, malware, or dangerous application. It is a verified Windows file that’s required for your operating system to function.

However, in most cases, the high resource usage of svchost.exe is caused by malware or unwanted application. Such attacks run in the background and take advantage of the svchost.exe process to harm your device. This means that issues related to the process must be fixed immediately upon notice.

If your slowdowns are due to the svchost.exe process, follow the solutions described below to restore your computer and network to working order.

Fix issues related to svchost.exe (netsvcs)

Method 1: Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter

Many users noticed that the high network usage of the scvhost.exe process comes from Windows Update. You can easily check and fix this by running the integrated update troubleshooter in Windows 10.

1. Open Settings by using the Windows + I keyboard shortcut or access it by clicking on the gear icon in the Start menu.
2. Click on the Update & Security tab.
   
   
3. Choose Troubleshoot from the menu on the left-hand side.
4. Scroll down and select Windows Update, then click on Detect problems and apply the fixes (or Run the troubleshooter) and allow the troubleshooter to do its job.
   
   
5. Once the troubleshooter finishes running, reboot your system. You should be able to see whether this method worked when testing your network speed again.

Method 2: Clear your Event Viewer logs

Simply clearing your Event Viewer logs may just save you from hours of troubleshooting. Follow the steps below to see if this method helps your issue with the svchost.exe process.

1. Press the Windows + R keys on your keyboard to open the Run utility.
2. Type in “eventvwr” without the quotation marks, and click the OK button. The Event Viewer window will open up.
   
   
3. In the pane on the right, click on Windows Logs and expand the section to reveal all sub-items.
4. Right-click on Application (Log) and select Clear Log from the context menu.
   
   
5. Click the Clear button.
6. Repeat these steps for Setup Log, System Log, and Security Log to clear all logs.
7. Restart your system and see if the high resource usage problem caused by svchost.exe still exists.

Method 3: Update Windows to the latest version

As Windows Update may be the culprit behind svchost.exe’s high resource usage, simply updating to the newest version release of Windows might help you fix things. As a bonus, you get access to new and exciting features, improved security, and more optimization.

1. Open the Settings application using the Start menu or the Windows + I keyboard shortcut.
2. Click on Update & Security.
   
   
3. In the Windows Update tab, click on the Check for updates button.
   
   
4. If a new update is found, click on the Install button.
5. After your system successfully installs the newest Windows 10 update, test if your issues with the svchost.exe are still present.

Method 4: Scan your computer for malware

As we’ve discussed, a malware infection or virus may cause the svchost.exe process to start draining your CPU, RAM, and network. Windows users can quickly scan their devices for any active infection by using the integrated Windows Defender. 

Note: Many third-party antivirus software can also be used to scan your device for malware. Steps vary from application to application, so make sure you follow the appropriate steps described on the official website of your antivirus.

1. Open Settings by using the Windows + I keyboard shortcut or access it by clicking on the gear icon in the Start menu.
2. Click on the Update & Security tab.
   
   
3. Choose Windows Security from the left-side menu, then click on Open Windows Security.
   
   
4. Open the Virus and Threat Protection section (the icon is shaped like a shield).
   
   
5. Click on Quick Scan or Advanced Scan, then wait for Windows Defender to finish scanning your device. It’ll report any findings and suggest the appropriate action to block and remove threats.
6. Check if your issues with the svchost.exe are still present after removing malware from your computer.

Method 5: Disable the BITS and Wuauserv services

Sometimes, disabling the BITS (Background Intelligent Transfer Service) as well as the Wuauserv (Windows Update) service may help you resolve high CPU and RAM memory usage caused by svchost.exe.

1. Press the Windows + R keys on your keyboard to open the Run utility.
2. Type in “services.msc” without the quotation marks, and click the OK button. The Services window will open up.
   
   
3. Locate the Background Intelligent Transfer Service. Right-click on it, then select Properties.
   
   
4. Set the Startup type to Disabled and hit the Apply button.
   
   
5. Close the window by clicking on the OK button.
6. Locate the Windows Update service and repeat the same steps to disable it.
7. Reboot your system and check if the steps above fixed your high resource usage caused by the svchost.exe process.

Method 6: Delete the SoftwareDistribution folder

If none of the methods above have worked, you can still try to delete the SoftwareDistribution folder in an attempt to fix your issues. This method usually fixes high network usage.

1. If you haven’t disabled the Windows Update service using our previous method, temporarily pause it:
1. Press the Windows + R keys on your keyboard to open the Run utility.
2. Type in “services.msc” without the quotation marks, and click the OK button. The Services window will open up.
3. Locate the Windows Update service. Right-click on it, then select Stop.
2. Using the File Explorer, navigate to C:\Windows.
   
   
3. Select the SoftwareDistribution folder right-click on it. Hit the Delete option from the context menu.
   
   
4. Restart your device and test if your issues are fixed.

We hope that this article was able to help you troubleshoot high network/CPU/RAM usage, memory leaks, and slowness caused by the svchost.exe process. You should notice a significant increase in the speed of your system, allowing you to get back in business.