Share this article

Improve this guide

5 solutions to fix high CPU usage in Safe Mode

5 min. read

Updated onOctober 4, 2023

updated onOctober 4, 2023

Share this article

Improve this guide

Read our disclosure page to find out how can you help Windows Report sustain the editorial teamRead more

Fix high CPU in Safe Mode with these solutions

High CPU usage is a common problem on the Windows platform. On the previous iterations, it was mostly caused by certain system processes, especiallyflawed Windows Update process. However, they’re usually not present in the Safe mode, where only the essential services and drivers are starting with the system.

But, based on some reports, this isn’t the case for some users. They’ve experienced high CPU usage even in Safe mode.

Since we’re probably looking at a grave system issue, there are some advanced troubleshooting steps you’ll need to take. The list is below so give them a shot and tell us whether they helped you or not.

What to do if CPU is at 100% even in Safe mode

Solution 1 – Check the hardware

Let’s start with the hardware. If the problem was present only during the normal startup, we would completely focus attention towards the software. However, since it appears in the Safe mode, the mode where only the essential drivers and applications are loaded, we must encourage you to inspect hardware as well.

First, make sure that everything is properly connected, that yourCPU or GPU aren’t overheating. Make sure to remove and plug-in RAM cards in their respective slots. Also, if you’ve changed your motherboard, disconnect and reconnect everything. Finally, make sure that the HDD is plugged in properly.

Solution 2 – Check the drivers

Now, after we can safely claim that the hardware isn’t causingabnormally high CPU activity, let’s move to the software part. Making sure that both your drivers and BIOS are up to date.

A faulty driver is in the direct connection to manyhardware issues, as even the best hardware won’t perform as intended without the proper software support.

For that reason, we suggest checking all drivers and confirming that all are up to date. Also, it’s strongly advised to avoid the generic drivers provided by Windows Update for certain devices, especially the GPU. Make sure to visit the OEM’s official website and get the latest drivers installed.

An easier and more convenient solution would be to use a trusted third-party program that downloads and installs the latest drivers for Windows automatically. With an in-built download manager, the program will get the updates directly from the software, so you won’t have to open your browser.

We recommend this type of tool because it has powerful capabilities, including fixing corrupt drivers and providing robust reports about each driver after performing complex scans.

Outbyte Driver Updater

Solution 3 – Scan for malware

Presence of malicious software can be another reason why yourCPU spikes to 100%even in the Safe mode. Malware comes in different shapes and colors, and some of them might use your system resources formining cryptocurrencyand similar backdoor activities.

That’s why it’s of utmost importance to have an up-to-date protection, either Windows Defender or athird-party antivirus.

For this kind of issues, we suggest performing a deep scan to get rid completely of the menacing malware presence. If you’re using Windows Defender, follow these steps to perform a deep scan:

Solution 4 – Run SFC, DISM, and ChkDsk

Another possible reason for the resource leakage might lie in the corruption of the essential system files. That’s why we suggest runningSystem File CheckerandDeployment Image Servicing and Managementto resolve possible corruption of system files. These tools work in a similar manner, but the best way to utilize them is when running in succession.

The same goes for thecorrupt sectors in the HDD. If you’re HDD takes too much time to boot the system, the CPU might suffer. For that reason, we suggest using another system utility via the elevated Command Prompt.

Here’s how to run SFC and DISM, and then ChkDsk in Windows 10:

Solution 6 – Reinstall Windows 10

Finally, if you’re still experiencing high CPU usage, even when in the Safe mode, we suggestreinstalling the system. Moreover, the best step would be to completely format all drives and start from scratch. Of course, don’t forget to backup your data accordingly.

For this operation, you’ll be needing a USB flash drive with at least 6 GB. Also, you’ll need to download the Media Creation Tool and create the bootable drive.

Everything you need to know is thoroughly explained inthis article, so make sure to check it out. If you need any additional help, post your questions below and we’ll gladly help you.

5 solutions to fix high CPU usage in Safe Mode#

Fix high CPU in Safe Mode with these solutions#

What to do if CPU is at 100% even in Safe mode#

Solution 1 – Check the hardware#

Solution 2 – Check the drivers#

Outbyte Driver Updater#

Solution 3 – Scan for malware#

Solution 4 – Run SFC, DISM, and ChkDsk#

Solution 6 – Reinstall Windows 10#