Wsappx is a process that can be watched in the task manager of Windows 8 and Windows 10. Some users on the network note that in their system this process loads the central processor extremely heavily, and in completely random – at least for themselves – moments.
In today’s article, we will tell you what the Wsappx process is, why it consumes a bunch of system resources, and if something can be done about it.
Wsappx – what is this process?
I would like to note right away: Wsappx is part of the operating system, and therefore you can not worry about the fact that it is some kind of virus or malware that has made its way onto your computer for malicious purposes.
Wsappx was first introduced by Microsoft in Windows 8 – you can easily find it in the latest builds of Windows 10. The process runs almost constantly in the background of the OS and is directly related to the Microsoft store and its UWP applications. Under the Wsappx process, you can observe the execution of “AppXSvc”, “ClipSVC” and other system services.
Wsappx is heavily involved in downloading, updating, or reconciling Microsoft Store app licenses. Simply put, the process is extremely important and does not do any harm to your Windows 10. However…
Why is wsappx overloading the processor?
On the Internet, you can find many messages from alarmed users claiming that wsappx periodically loads the processor on their computer, and in some cases the load reaches 100% and remains at this mark for a long time.
Here’s the answer: wsappx’s high CPU usage occurs when new applications are installed or when existing applications are updated. However, in quite rare cases, something goes wrong and the load on the computer’s processor does not decrease, which can lead to extremely unpleasant consequences, for example, overheating or unstable operation of the entire system.
If you suffer from constant increased load from the wsappx process, then you have come to the right place, because we will show you how to get out of this not very pleasant situation.
How to fix the increased load from wsappx?
Method # 1 Computer restart
Restarting your computer is the most commonplace and effective solution in such a situation. Perhaps you ran into some kind of bug and the services running under the wsappx process fell into a kind of “dead loop”. A simple restart of the computer may fix the problem. As soon as you log in to Windows again, open the Task Manager and observe the wsappx process running.
Method # 2 Removing recently installed applications
Have you recently installed any applications from the Microsoft Store on your system? The problem, most likely, lies precisely in them. Get rid of these apps and check wsappx in your task manager. Is the processor load asleep? Great, we go back to the Microsoft store and install the applications we need, after which we open the task manager and again look at our unfortunate process.
Method # 3 Updating applications from the store
A somewhat counterintuitive method, but Internet users claim it works. So, open the Microsoft store on your system, go to the “Downloads and Updates” section and start updating all (!) Available applications on your computer. The time it takes to complete such a procedure will depend solely on the number of applications, and therefore you may have to wait a bit. Once the update is complete, restart your PC and check the load level from the wsappx process.
Method # 4 Disable third-party antivirus
Antiviruses keep Windows secure. But in some cases, antiviruses can cause a whole bunch of a wide variety of problems – from deleting innocent files to blocking a number of vital software.
Windows Defender is a system antivirus, and therefore it cannot interfere with the normal operation of services running under the “sail” of the wsappx process, but third-party antiviruses are easy. Deactivate third-party antivirus on your PC, if available, and then check for the problem.
If everything is resolved and the load on the processor decreases or disappears altogether, then we strongly recommend looking for another antivirus.
Method # 5 Activating the paging file
The average user rarely thinks about such a system of functions as the paging file, and it is precisely because of the absence of the last service under the wsappx process that they can cause an increased load on the CPU. Here’s what to do: go to system properties and set a certain amount of virtual memory. This can be done as follows:
- press Win + S to call the search box by the system;
- write the query “Control Panel” and select the found result;
- open the “System Properties” section and go to the “Advanced” tab;
- click on the “Options” button in the “Performance” section and go to the “Advanced” tab in a new window;
- in the virtual memory section click on the “Change …” button;
- uncheck the option “Automatically select paging file size”;
- select the system volume and select “Specify size;
- specify the following values:
- Original size (MB): 1024
- Maximum maximum size (MB): 2048
- after setting the above values, click on the “Set” button;
- close all open windows and restart your computer.
The load on your CPU should be gone if the problem was a missing paging file.
Method # 6 Disable Microsoft Store
Not using the Microsoft Store but wsappx still stressing your PC? Then you can try to completely deactivate the Windows 10 store application. To do this, you need to do the following:
- press Win + R to open the Run window;
- write the value of gpedit.msc in an empty line and press Enter;
- in the local group policy editor window go to:
- ↓ Computer configuration
- ↓ Administrative Templates
- ↓ Windows Components
- ↓ Shop
- double-click on the “Disable Store App” item on the right side of the window;
- in the properties of the policy, select the item “Enabled”, then click “Apply” and “OK”.
- restart your computer when you turn off the Microsoft store.
It would seem that wsappx is directly related to the store, and therefore disabling the latter should be guaranteed to resolve the problem, but that was not the case. This method helps some users, while others do not. Which group do you belong to?
Method # 7 Manipulation in the system registry editor
You can get rid of the CPU overload by the wsappx process by making some changes to the registry entry of the same name. Before proceeding with the modifications of the registry, we strongly recommend that you make a backup of the latter. So, try the following on your computer:
- press Win + R and execute the value regedit;
- select your computer in the left part of the registry window, then click on the “File” item in the menu bar and select “Export”;
- specify a name for the registry backup, for example, RegistryBackup, a convenient location on your PC and click “Save”;
- then follow the branch:
- ↓ HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
- ↓ SOFTWARE
- ↓ Microsoft
- ↓ Windows NT
- ↓ CurrentVersion
- ↓ SvcHost
The note: you can also use the search bar at the top of the registry window – HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE SOFTWARE Microsoft Windows NT CurrentVersion SvcHost
- double click on the “wsappx” parameter on the right side of the window;
- in the multiline editing window, change the value of “clipsvc” to “NotFound”;
- save your changes, close all open windows and restart your computer.
Check if the wsappx process is loading your CPU or not. If the problem is still not solved, then you can try something else …
Method # 8 Creating a new account
And the last thing you can do is create a local Microsoft account. That’s right, another counterintuitive method that, for some unknown reason, works for at least some users. The disadvantage of the method is the need to move to another account. That’s right, if the load problem on the local account disappears, it means that it’s time for you to permanently move to a new account.
To create a local account, you need:
- open System Settings;
- go to the “Accounts” section, then to the “Family and other users” subsection;
- click on the item “Add user for this computer”;
- then click on the options “I do not have login information for this person” and “Add a user without a Microsoft account”;
- specify your username and password, ask security questions, and then click “Next”;
- restart your computer and log in with the account you just created;
- open task manager and check your CPU load.
We hope that this article was helpful for you and that you got rid of the problem with the gluttonous wsappx.