PresentationFontCache.exe is a process that can extremely load users’ computers on a wide variety of Windows versions. The main load is on the CPU, but in some cases, the process can consume most of the disk or RAM resources.
What is PresentationFontCache.exe?
PresentationFontCache.exe is a Windows system service that is in fact part of the .NET Framework. The main purpose of Presentation Font Cache is to optimize the performance of Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) programs by caching used font information. WPF applications start this service on their own if it does not work on the user’s system initially.
Simply put, Presentation Font Cache is not some kind of intruder from the network, and therefore you can stop panicking. You are dealing with a system service that mistakenly began to consume computer resources in insane amounts. Now we will try to fix it with you …
How to get rid of the load of PresentationFontCache.exe process?
Fortunately, there are a number of methods available to get the PFC service up and running.
Method # 1 Deleting the Font * .dat file
This method is the most effective if you believe the users on the web. All you have to do is locate the Font * .dat file on your computer and delete it. The Font * .dat file contains information about various WPF applications. The file can potentially cause problems with PresentationFontCache.exe if it gets corrupted.
Follow these steps:
- press Win + R to open the Run window;
write in an empty line C: Windows ServiceProfiles LocalService AppData Local and press Enter;
The note: if you are unable to navigate to this directory in this way, use Windows Explorer. Be sure to enable the function of showing hidden files (located in the same Explorer).
- find the Font * .dat file (in our case it was FontCache 3.0.0.0.dat);
- right-click on this file and select “Delete”;
- restart your PC.
The note: force the PresentationFontCache.exe process to close in Task Manager if you are unable to delete the Font * .dat folder.
Method # 2 Stopping Presentation Font Cache Service
You can of course disable Presentation Font Cache on your system, however this will significantly degrade the performance of all WPF applications. Nevertheless, if you do not use such applications, then you can safely turn off this service and continue using your Windows. PFC deactivation is done like this:
- press Win + S to call the system search engine;
- make a request “Services” and click on the found item;
- find the service “Windows Presentation Foundation *. *. *. *. Font Cache” in the list and double-click on it with LMB;
- in the startup type menu, select “Disabled” and save the changes;
- restart your PC.
Method # 3 .NET Framework Recovery
Didn’t the above two methods help you solve the problem with PresentationFontCache.exe process? Restoring the .NET Framework is a potential solution to this situation. As we said above, Presentation Font Cache is part of the .NET Framework, and therefore it is logical that if something happens to the latter, then the PFC service may not start working correctly.
Try the following:
- press Win + R;
- execute the value “appwiz.cpl” and press Enter;
- find in the list of programs “Microsoft .Net Framework 3.0” (or another version), right-click on it and select “Change”;
- in the new window, click on “Repair” and follow the instructions on the screen;
- when finished with the recovery process, restart your computer.
Generally, the first method works for most users, but in some cases you have to use two other solutions. We hope this article was informative enough that you got rid of the problem with the PresentationFontCache.exe process.