Have you ever noticed your computer slowing down, and when you check Task Manager, you find something called TiWorker.exe eating up your CPU? Don’t worry, you’re not alone! A lot of Windows users face this issue, and the good news is that it’s usually fixable.
In this guide, we’ll go over what TiWorker.exe is and some simple steps you can take to stop it from hogging all your CPU resources.
What is TiWorker.exe?
First things first: TiWorker.exe (also known as Windows Modules Installer Worker) is a background process responsible for keeping your Windows system up to date. It manages the installation of Windows updates, new features, and system patches. This process is completely normal, but sometimes it goes haywire and ends up using too much CPU power. That’s what causes your computer to feel sluggish.
Now, let’s get into how to fix it!
Step 1: Restart Your PC
I know it sounds obvious, but simply restarting your computer is sometimes all you need. When you restart, it can help clear up stuck processes, including TiWorker.exe.
How to restart:
- Click the Start button.
- Select Power.
- Choose Restart.
Once your computer starts back up, check if the CPU usage problem is still there.
Step 2: Check for Windows Updates
Sometimes, TiWorker.exe is working overtime because Windows is trying to install updates or fix something in the background. Let’s make sure your system is fully up-to-date.
Here’s how to do it:
- Open Settings (press Windows Key + I).
- Click on Update & Security.
- Choose Windows Update and click Check for updates.
If updates are available, install them and restart your computer. This can solve the high CPU usage issue.
Step 3: Use the Windows Troubleshooter
Windows comes with a built-in tool that can help fix problems with updates and processes like TiWorker.exe. It’s called the Windows Update Troubleshooter.
Here’s how to run it:
- Open Settings (press Windows Key + I).
- Go to Update & Security, then click on Troubleshoot.
- Under Get up and running, click Windows Update, then click Run the troubleshooter.
Let it scan your system and apply any fixes it suggests. After that, restart your PC and see if the CPU usage goes down.
Step 4: Clean Up Temporary Files
Sometimes, leftover files from old updates can confuse Windows, causing TiWorker.exe to go into overdrive. Cleaning up these temporary files can help.
How to clean up temporary files:
- Press Windows Key + R, type cleanmgr, and press Enter.
- Select your main drive (usually C:) and click OK.
- In the Disk Cleanup window, check Windows Update Cleanup and any other files you want to remove.
- Click OK, then Delete Files.
This should free up space and might even resolve the CPU issue.
Step 5: Disable Windows Modules Installer Worker (Temporarily)
If none of the steps above worked, you can temporarily disable the Windows Modules Installer Worker to get some relief. However, keep in mind that this will stop Windows from installing updates until you enable it again.
How to disable TiWorker.exe:
- Press Windows Key + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
- In the Services window, scroll down to find Windows Modules Installer.
- Right-click it and select Properties.
- In the Startup type dropdown, select Manual.
- Click OK.
This should stop TiWorker.exe from running automatically. Just remember to turn it back on later so your system can stay updated.
In Summary
While TiWorker.exe is an essential process, it can sometimes get out of hand and slow down your computer. Luckily, with a few simple steps like restarting your PC, checking for updates, and cleaning up temporary files, you can usually get it under control.
If you follow the steps in this guide, you should be able to fix the high CPU usage and get your computer running smoothly again. Let me know how it goes, or if you run into any trouble!