Expert Windows users make it a practice to frequently monitor Task Manager. People check it to see which processes are consuming the most resources or anytime they feel that their computer is running slowly.
Many Windows users have discovered that “Shell Infrastructure Host” is operating and increasing the bars for CPU and Memory utilization when they take a closer look at the Task Manager. Thus, if you use Windows and observe that the same process is taking a lot of CPU and memory, keep reading the text.
This article will explain what a “Shell Infrastructure Host” is, in detail, and why running it in the background increases CPU and Memory usage. We’ll also go over the best ways to resolve issues with Shell Infrastructure Host’s excessive CPU and memory usage. Let’s have a look.
What does Task Manager’s “Shell Infrastructure Host” mean?
One extremely significant Windows process that runs in the background for a very significant purpose is the Shell Infrastructure Host.
One system process that manages the operating system’s visual components is called “Shell Infrastructure Host,” or sihost.exe.
The Shell Infrastructure Host process in Windows manages your desktop wallpaper, pop-up notifications, taskbar look, and a few other aspects of the graphical user interface.
Learn more: How to Take Screenshots on Windows 11
The Shell Infrastructure Host process is probably going to run in the background and use a little memory and CPU if you are running a stable build of Windows. But occasionally, because of certain issues, the same procedure can cause your computer to freeze and use more CPU and RAM.
How to Fix Shell Infrastructure Host High CPU Usage
Well, you can adjust your machine in a few ways to fix the problem if Shell Infrastructure Host excessive CPU utilization is giving you trouble. These are the most effective solutions for the high CPU consumption issue with the Shell Infrastructure Host.
1. Give your computer a restart
Restarting your Windows machine is a must before proceeding further. Sometimes the most complex issues with your computer can be resolved by restarting; this includes system programs that are using more RAM and CPU resources.
The Shell Infrastructure Host may become unresponsive due to certain apps, which may lead to excessive CPU and RAM usage. So, be sure to restart your computer before making any modifications.
To restart your Windows PC, click the Windows Start button and Power menu and select Restart. This would restart your Windows computer.
2. Run the System Maintenance Troubleshooter
System Maintenance Troubleshooter has a few links with the Shell Infrastructure Host. Hence, you can run it to resolve the high CPU and Memory usage caused by the same process. Here’s what you need to do.
1. First, click on Windows Search and type in Control Panel. Next, open the Control Panel app from the list.
2. When the Control Panel opens, click on Troubleshooting.
3. On the Troubleshooting screen, click the View All button on the left pane.
4. Now, you will see a list of all available troubleshooters. Find and click on System Maintenance.
5. On the next prompt, check the Apply repairs automatically prompt and click the Next button.
You must follow the on-screen instructions to complete the system maintenance troubleshooting part.
3. Check for Program Conflicting with the Process
You can boot your computer into safe mode and check whether the ‘Shell Infrastructure Host’ process still causes high CPU or memory usage. If there’s no such issue in a clean boot or Safe mode, you must find the problematic third-party software.
It’s pretty easy to find all installed software in Windows; you can access the Control Panel and remove all suspicious programs. Alternatively, you can look closely at the Task Manager to find programs running in the background without your consent.
If you find any apps that shouldn’t be on your computer, it’s recommended to uninstall them.
4. Repair or Reset the Photos App
Well, the Photos app of Windows 10/11 is another prominent reason for Shell infrastructure host high CPU usage. Corrupted Microsoft Photos installation files are what trigger the issue.
Hence, you can try repairing or resetting the Microsoft Photos app to resolve the issue. Here’s what you need to do.
1. First, click on Windows Search and select Settings.
2. On Settings, switch to the Apps section.
3. Next, on the right side, select Installed Apps.
4. Now, find Microsoft Photos, click on the three dots beside it, and select Advanced Options.
5. On the next screen, scroll down and click on Repair. This will repair the Microsoft Photos app.
6. If repairing didn’t help, click the Reset button underneath the Repair button.
After making the changes, make sure to restart your Windows computer.
5. Run an Antimalware Scan
Windows Defender is a great security program that ships with Windows 10/11. You can use it to run a full antimalware scan on your system. There are various ways to scan with Windows Security; here’s the easiest.
1. Click on Windows Search and type Windows Security. Next, open the Windows Security app from the list.
2. When the Windows Security app opens, click on the Virus & Threat Protection tab.
3. On the right side, click on the Scan options.
4. On the Scan options, select Full Scan and click the Scan Now button.
This will run a full scan on your system. The full scan option will check all files and running programs on your hard disk. However, the scan could take up to one hour to complete.
6. Run the SFC/DISM Command
Another best way to resolve ‘Shell Infrastructure Host’ high CPU usage is by running the SFC and DISM commands. Both commands are designed to resolve problems associated with corrupted system files. Here’s what you need to do.
1. Click on Windows Search and type in CMD. Next, right-click the Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.
2. When the command prompt opens, type in sfc /scannow and press Enter.
3. If the SFC command returns an error, you need to execute this command:
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
The DISM command may take a few minutes to complete. You must wait until the command finishes fixing all your corrupted system files.
7. Perform a Clean Boot
Although Shell Infrastructure Host excessive CPU consumption cannot be fixed, Clean Boot can assist in ensuring that no external application is interfering with the process.
The purpose of a clean boot is to start Windows with the fewest possible driver and starting apps. Most installed third-party apps on your device are disabled by it. Therefore, you need to identify and get rid of the incompatible third-party program if the high CPU utilization issue with Shell Infrastructure doesn’t show up after a clean boot.
Here’s how you can perform a clean boot on Windows.
1. On your keyboard, press the Windows Key + R button. Type msconfig.msc into the RUN dialog box and hit Enter.
2. Go to the System Configuration, Services tab, and choose the Hide all Microsoft services checkbox. After that, select Disable All.
3. Select the Startup tab after launching Task Manager. To disable an app from starting at startup, right-click on it and choose Disable.
Once the adjustments have been made, restart your computer. After your computer has been cleaned booted, see if Shell Infrastructure Host continues to raise the CPU bar.
8. Update your Windows Operating System
Updating your Windows operating system is your last resort if none of the other solutions worked for you. Windows updates will probably eliminate any flaws or glitches that could interfere with the host Shell Infrastructure operation.
It’s also a good idea to keep your system updated so you can take advantage of the new features and improved security and privacy settings. Go to Settings > Windows Update > Check for Update to update Windows.
Updates will be automatically checked for in Windows 10/11. It will automatically install any updates that it finds for your PC. Learn more
