High CPU usage by Antimalware Service Executable (Windows Defender) on every login
Hello, I am experiencing a persistent issue with Windows Defender. The background process Antimalware Service Executable (MsMpEng.exe) consumes extremely high CPU usage every time I log in, making the system nearly unusable. The only temporary workaround I have found is disabling real-time protection, which immediately stops the high CPU usage. However, I do not want to permanently disable protection for security reasons. Here is what I have already tried and what did not help: Reducing Windows Defender CPU usage from 20 percent to 5 percent did not help, the process still uses most of the CPU. Excluding my drives from scanning did not help, I excluded both drives I use but Defender still appears to be scanning something in the background. Removing Windows Defender entirely seems like the only effective solution, but I understand this is not recommended since it is a built-in system component and could cause system issues. For several months now, my routine has been logging in and manually turning off real-time protection just to be able to use my system, which is not a sustainable or secure solution. Is there any way to resolve this issue while keeping Windows Defender enabled? Any guidance or recommended troubleshooting steps would be greatly appreciated.
