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This article will show you how to Fix ‘Desktop Window Manager High GPU Usage’ issue. Desktop Window Manager (DWM) is a very important Windows process that shows things on your computer’s desktop. But it only needs a small amount of your system’s graphics resources to work. But sometimes it starts using a lot of GPU power all of a sudden, which slows down the system. Many Windows 11 users are having the same problem, which is sad. Desktop Window Management adds visual effects to your Windows device that make it look nice.
But for some users, this feature has become a problem because it makes too much use of the GPU. This is possible if the device has a lot of visual effects and the Desktop Window environment’s background process priority is set to high. If you also notice that the DWM process is using a lot of the GPU’s resources and slowing down the system, try the fixes in this detailed guide. Here in this guide, we’ve shared several Fix ‘Desktop Window Manager High GPU Usage’ issue.
What is the ‘Desktop Window Manager’?
You have seen in the Task Manager that the Desktop Window Manager or another program is using too many of your GPU’s resources. And you’re probably not sure what’s wrong and how to fix your Windows 11 or 10 PC’s high GPU usage. It’s important to know what Desktop Window Manager (DWM) is in Windows PCs before you do anything else. Desktop Window Manager (DWM) is an important system process responsible for rendering the user interface on your Windows 10/ 11 computer. DWM.exe is used by the operating system to make all the cool visual effects, such as the ability to change themes, transparency effects, animations, menus, taskbar thumbnails, and more.
Causes of the ‘Desktop Window Manager High GPU Usage’ Issue
- Graphics-intensive applications: Running applications that require a significant amount of GPU resources, such as video editing software or 3D games, can result in high GPU usage by the Desktop Window Manager (DWM).
- Outdated GPU drivers: If your graphics card drivers are outdated or incompatible, it can lead to performance issues, including high GPU usage by DWM. Updating the drivers to the latest version can help resolve this problem.
- Multiple monitors or high-resolution displays: Using multiple monitors or high-resolution displays can put additional strain on the GPU, causing the DWM to consume more GPU resources.
- Visual effects and transparency: The DWM is responsible for rendering visual effects, such as transparent windows and animations. Enabling excessive visual effects or high transparency settings can increase GPU usage.
- Faulty or incompatible software: Certain software applications or utilities may conflict with the DWM, leading to increased GPU usage. This can include third-party customization tools, conflicting graphics drivers, or incompatible system utilities.
Ways to Fix ‘Desktop Window Manager High GPU Usage’ issue
Use Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter
You can also use the built-in Windows Troubleshooter tools to find out what’s wrong and fix it. Use it to look for problems and fix them if you find any.
- Press the Ctrl and R keys together to bring up the Run box.
- Copy and paste this line: msdt.exe -id devicediagnostic, then click OK.
- In the new window, click Next and wait for Windows to figure out what to do.
- Once you’re done, click Apply this fix and then follow the instructions on the screen.
- Lastly, restart your computer and see if the Desktop Window Manager process is still using as many resources as it did before.
Scan your PC for malware
- Malware can run on a computer without the user’s knowledge.
- Some infections hide as legitimate Windows processes like SysMain (Superfetch) or WaasMedic.exe.
- dwm.exe can also be used for the same purposes.
- It’s important to use antimalware software to ensure the process is not fake and dangerous.
- You can use Windows Defender, included with Windows, or install more advanced anti-malware software.
- We recommend using an antivirus made by Malwarebytes, a trusted group of experts.
- Their software is regularly updated to combat both small and large threats.
- It is compatible with Windows 11 as well.
- You can download it now using the link provided.
- Try a 14-day trial of the ultimate antimalware experience for free.
Update or Roll back Display drivers
As mentioned in the beginning of this guide, corrupted graphics card drivers are one of the things that can cause Desktop Window Manager to act up. So, you should try updating them to see if that fixes the issue. If you tried to fix the error yourself by installing new drivers, you can also roll them back to older versions. In the instructions below, we talk about both choices: To update drivers:
- Right-click on the “Start” button at the bottom of your desktop screen and select “Device Manager.”
- Add more to Display Adapters. Then, right-click on your main driver adapter (which is usually made by Intel) and choose Update driver. If there are two Display Adapters, you should update both of them, just in case.
- Next, choose “Search automatically for drivers” and wait until new drivers are found and installed. If nothing is found, then more likely you have your drivers updated already. You can also get drivers from the Microsoft official website of the company that makes your graphics card.
Updating each driver manually is time- and energy-consuming. If you are willing to save it and update drivers faster, we recommend using a special utility called Driver Booster from IObit. It has broad databases of drivers for all of the devices you need to maintain your PC. You can download it using the button below. To roll drivers back:
- Right-click on the “Start” button at the bottom of your desktop screen and select “Device Manager.”
- Add more to Display Adapters. Then, go to Properties by right-clicking on your main driver adapter.
- From there, go to the Driver tab and click on “Roll Back driver“. Then, wait until the process is done. Also, if you can’t click the Roll Back button, it means that your adapter didn’t have a previous driver installed.
Configure Visual Effects
We already know that Desktop Window Manager (dwm.exe) is a program that makes visual effects happen. As a workaround, you can turn off advanced visual effects and use more of the default settings. In theory, this should reduce the amount of resources that dwm.exe uses and control how it works.
- Right-click on This PC on your desktop and choose Properties.
- On the right side of the window, click Advanced system settings and then move to Advanced.
- Then go to Settings… and make sure Adjust for best performance is selected to reduce performance requirements for your system. You can also click on Custom and manually turn off more options.
Change Priority for dwm.exe
High GPU and Memory usage might be fixed by setting the Desktop Window Manager process to run at the Normal level of priority. Follow these steps:
- To open Task Manager, press Ctrl, Shift, and Esc at the same time.
- Then, click Details and look for dwm.exe.
- Right-click on it, choose Set priority, and then choose Normal.
- Click Change priority in the window that pops up next to confirm the action.
Close the window and look to see if anything has changed. In Task Manager, you can check how much your GPU and RAM are being used. If this doesn’t fix the problem, you can set Priority back to the way it was before.
Reasons of High GPU Usage by Desktop Window Manager
In the Windows operating system, the Desktop Window Manager (DWM) is in charge of how windows, animations, and other visual effects are shown. It uses the GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) to make the graphics on the screen and put them together. Even though it works well most of the time, there are a few reasons why DWM might use a lot of GPU:
- Visual Effects: Windows has many visual effects, such as transparency, animations, and window transitions. Using a lot of visual effects can make the GPU work harder, which can cause DWM to use the GPU more.
- Multiple Monitors: If you have multiple monitors connected to your system, the GPU usage by DWM can be higher due to the additional screen space that needs to be managed and rendered.
- High-Resolution Displays: To show more pixels on a high-resolution display, the GPU needs more resources. If you have a high-resolution screen, it can make DWM use your GPU more.
- Running Graphically-Intensive Apps: Video editing software, 3D modelling tools, and games are all examples of graphically-intensive apps that can put a lot of stress on the GPU. When these kinds of programs are running, DWM might use the GPU more to handle the graphical needs of both the program and the window management.
Importance of Fixing High GPU Usage
- Performance optimization: High GPU usage can cause lag, stuttering, and decreased performance in applications and games. By addressing the issue, you can improve the overall smoothness and responsiveness of your system.
- Preventing overheating: When the GPU is under constant high load, it generates more heat. If left unresolved, this can lead to overheating, which can damage the GPU and other components of your computer. Fixing high GPU usage helps maintain safe operating temperatures.
- Energy efficiency: An excessively high GPU usage means that your system is consuming more power than necessary. By identifying and resolving the cause of high GPU usage, you can help reduce energy consumption, leading to lower electricity bills and a more environmentally friendly setup.
- Extending hardware lifespan: Overworking the GPU for prolonged periods can decrease its lifespan. By keeping GPU usage in check, you can ensure that your graphics card lasts longer and performs optimally throughout its intended lifespan.
- Stability and reliability: High GPU usage can sometimes lead to system crashes, freezes, or driver errors. Resolving the issue helps maintain system stability and reliability, providing a better overall user experience.
Conclusion
Do you have problems with Desktop Window Manager and a high GPU? What is dwm.exe (Desktop Window Manager)? And how do I fix the high GPU problem that this software has caused? In this post, we’ll tell you what to do. Starting with Windows 10 Build 16226, if your computer runs Windows Display Driver Model (WDDM) 2.0 or a later version, Task Manager can keep an eye on how your GPU is being used. Then, some people find that Desktop Window Manager (dwm.exe) uses a lot of GPU power on their computers.
Questions and Answers
There are several things that can make your GPU usage go up to 100%. Here are a few of them: The GPU is not connected right. Your graphics card’s performance has been hurt by a hardware problem. You’re putting too much stress on the GPU by giving it more work than it can handle.
When you click Start, the Windows Start menu will appear. Type services, then click the Services app. Find the Desktop Windows Manager in the Services window and double-click it. Click the Stop button in the Desktop Windows Manager window to turn off the service.
So, you can try to fix the problem with your PC’s csrss.exe process using a lot of GPU power by turning off this feature. Here’s what you need to do: Go to Settings > Personalization > Colours, and then look on the right side of the screen for Transparency effects. Turn this off, and then close all the windows.