Antimalware Service Executable High Memory Usage on Windows 11 [FIXED]

We install many programs on our Windows PC for personal and professional use. They use the CPU, Memory, Disk, and Network for their functionality. It is very typical for applications to use these system resources. The problem arises when they use these resources beyond a certain percentage, making other tasks slow or hard to function properly.

Along with the programs we install, there are a lot of background processes that use system resources to aid all the features on the Windows PC work. Antimalware Service Executable is a background process related to the Windows Security app.

Some users are seeing a spike in the Antimalware Service Executable, which makes it difficult for other programs to use memory to function. This guide shows how to fix the Antimalware Service Executable when memory usage is high.

What is Antimalware Service Executable?

Antimalware Service Executable (MsMpEng.exe) protects your system from malware. It runs in the background and helps Windows Security find threats and take action. The threats should be monitored in real-time so as not to cause malware to take action on your PC.

When you sign in to your PC, the Antimalware Service Executable runs in the background without any trigger as part of the security protocol.

Why is Antimalware Service Executable Using High Memory

The Antimalware Service Executable is an essential process for Windows Security. That does not mean it should use high memory on your PC. The potential reasons for high CPU usage are:

• Pirated apps are running on your PC.
• Malware.
• A threat has been detected in your web activity.
• Bugs in the Windows Security updates.
• Corrupted or missing files.

Let’s see how we can get rid of the high memory usage of the Antimalware Service Executable on Windows 11.

How to Fix Antimalware Service Executable High Memory Usage on Windows 11

Assuming that you have already tried to fix the issue by restarting your PC, let’s get into advanced fixes and solve the issue.

Turn Off Real-Time Protection

As already said, the real-time protection feature in the Windows Security app on Windows PC uses Antimalware Service Executable. You can reduce memory usage by turning off real-time protection on your PC. However, turning off real-time protection can make your PC vulnerable if you visit, download, and use many websites or files.

To turn off real-time protection on Windows 11,

• Open the Windows Security app from the Start menu or the system tray on the taskbar.
• Click on Virus & threat protection tab.
  
• In the Virus & threat protection settings, click on Manage settings.
  
• Now, toggle the button under Real-time protection to turn it off.
  
• Click Yes on the User Account Control pop-up to confirm disabling the real-time protection.

It will solve the Antimalware Service Executable high memory usage problem, making your PC vulnerable. Be wary of that.

Uninstall Pirated Apps on Your PC

If you have installed any pirated apps on your PC that require a subscription, you may see this issue. The pirated apps bypass the subscription requirement, inserting their own code into the app. Most pirated apps come with malware in the form of an activation code.

Every antivirus program flags pirated apps, including Windows Security. If you have installed pirated apps, ignoring the threat warnings, it is time to uninstall them. After uninstalling, remove all the traces of the pirated apps on your PC.

You can use freeware like BC Uninstaller, which helps uninstall programs and remove app traces. Uninstalling programs, usually using the Settings app, does not remove everything.

Scan Your PC for Malware

Malware may come in any form. Sometimes, even robust antivirus programs fail to detect it. If there is any malware running on your PC that can put pressure on the Antimalware Service Executable, it may use high memory and CPU.

To scan for malware on Windows 11,

• Visit the Malwarebytes website, download the free For Home version of Malwarebytes, and install it on your PC.
  
• After successfully installing, open the Malwarebytes app and click the Scan now button.
  
• Scanning your entire PC takes some time. You will see the scan results. If there are no threats on your PC, it is fine.
  

If threats are detected on your PC, Malwarebytes takes action and recommends ways to prevent them.

Change Windows Task Schedule

Windows Defender on your PC has a scan schedule, which is set in the Task Scheduler. When the schedule falls during your working time, it hinders your processes and prioritizes processes like the Antimalware Service Executable.

To reduce the impact, you must change the task to another time when you will likely not have system resources demanding work. To change the Windows Defender Task Schedule on Windows 11,

• Click on the Start menu, search for Task Scheduler, and open it.
• In the Task Scheduler window that opens, expand the Task Scheduler Library and then expand Microsoft.
  
• Now, expand the Windows folder and navigate to the Windows Defender folder. You can see the task schedules in the information section when you click on it. You can skip to the next fix if there are no schedules on your Task Scheduler for Windows Defender.
  
• If you have tasks scheduled, right-click on the task and select Properties.
• In the Properties window, select the Triggers tab and click on New at the bottom.
  
• Set a weekly or monthly Windows Defender Task schedule in the New Trigger window.
• After setting up a new Task schedule for Windows Defender, return to the Triggers tab and delete other schedules you didn’t set.

It will now force Windows Defender to update according to your convenience.

Disable AntiSpyware

Disabling AntiSpyware makes your PC vulnerable to threats. You must only use this method when you have no choice but to complete work that is hindered by the high memory usage of the Antimalware Service Executable.

Before disabling AntiSpyware, install a free antivirus program like BitDefender, Avira, or others. They can protect your PC.

To disable AntiSpyware,

• Open the Registry Editor from the Start menu and navigate to the following path.

  Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Defender

• Find the Disable AntiSpyware DWORD entry and double-click on it to open it. Change the Value data from 0 to 1. Then, click OK to save the changes.
  
• Now, restart your PC to see the changes.

That’s it. The high memory usage of Antimalware Service Executable should have been fixed by now.

Stop Antimalware Service Executable From Using High Memory

Antimalware Service Executable is a background process of the Windows Security app. If the process uses more memory than it requires, there surely will be a problem. To begin fixing it, you need to make sure there are no pirated apps installed. After that, you need to go deep into the Windows Security and Windows Defender settings to stop it.

FAQs on Antimalware Service Executable High Memory Usage on Windows 11

1. Is it okay to disable Antimalware Service Executable?

Antimalware Services Executable is an essential process for Windows Security that runs as a background process to find threats and eliminate them in real-time. Disabling it can make your PC vulnerable to threats. If you want to disable Antimalware Service Executable, you must install a third-party antivirus on your PC for protection.

2. How many MB does Antimalware Service Executable use?

According to Microsoft, the Antimalware Service Executable uses memory ranging from 120MB to 130 MB. In some rare cases, it may reach 180 MB. If the memory usage exceeds that, it is evident that the Antimalware Service Executable is using high memory. High memory usage also hinders the functionality of other processes and programs.

3. How to schedule Antimalware Service Executable?

In the Task scheduler on Windows 11, go to the Windows Defender folder and click Create Task in the Actions tab. In the Create Task window, enter the basic details and how you want to run it, and then go to the Triggers tab, select New,  and set the time and frequency of running the task.

4. Why is Antimalware Service Executable always running?

Antimalware Service Executable runs in the background when you use your PC. It protects your PC from malware and threats that compromise its security and data. It runs to protect your PC through the Windows Security app.

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