Methods to Fix High Disk and CPU Usage by Wsappx on Windows 11/10

Updated by

Sherly 

Written by

Linda 

Last updated on April 22, 2024

To assist you in resolving the issue of high disk and CPU usage by wsappx on Windows 11/10, we have compiled three of the most effective solutions for you.

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"Wsappx" is a process in the Windows operating system that is primarily responsible for handling the installation, updating, and uninstallation of Windows Store apps. This process utilizes the Windows AppX Deployment Service, which runs in the background to ensure proper management of Store applications. In certain situations, Wsappx may consume significant amounts of CPU or disk resources, especially when downloading or updating applications.

Wsappx is a process that runs in the background on Windows 10/8 computers as part of the Microsoft Windows Store and Universal App Platform.

Most of the time, wsappx contains two separate background services: the AppX Deployment Service (AppXSVC) and the Client License Service (ClipSVC). If you're using Windows 8, you'll see AppXSVC and WSService (Windows Store Service).

Wsappx is used for installing, updating, and uninstalling Store apps, so you don't need it once you've finished installing all your updates.

"High Disk and CPU Usage Issues with Wsappx"

However, you may sometimes notice wsappx using a lot of disk, CPU, and even memory, as shown below.

When you see that wsappx is using a lot of CPU or disk usage, and in some cases, you see wsappx (2) or wsappx (3) consuming high disk usage, how would you fix the issue of wsappx taking up high disk and CPU usage on Windows 10 and speed up your computer? Let's first understand what causes wsappx to take up high disk space.

Why does an .xap file take up so much disk space or storage?

To find the right solution for high disk usage or CPU consumption issues related to wxappx, it's first essential to understand why wxappx might be consuming so much space. Here are some reasons: 1. **Windows Store Cache**: wxappx is associated with the Windows Store, and it might be storing temporary files or cache data, which can accumulate over time and occupy significant disk space. 2. **Background Updates**: Apps from the Windows Store often update automatically in the background. This process can lead to increased disk usage as new files are downloaded and old ones are replaced. 3. **Running Processes**: If multiple Windows Store apps are running or active in the background, they can contribute to higher CPU usage. 4. **Malfunctioning Apps**: Sometimes, a specific app might have a bug or glitch that causes wxappx to consume more resources than usual. 5. **System Resource Monitoring**: It's possible that wxappx is part of a system process monitoring resources utilized by Windows Store apps. To address these issues, try the following steps: 1. **Clear Windows Store Cache**: Open Command Prompt as an administrator and run `wsreset.exe`. This will clear the Windows Store cache. 2. **Update Apps**: Go to the Windows Store and check for any available updates. Install them to ensure you have the latest versions of your apps. 3. **Manage Background Apps**: In Settings > Privacy > Background apps, disable background activity for apps that you don't want running when not in use. 4. **Restart Your PC**: Sometimes, a simple restart can resolve temporary issues with processes like wxappx. 5. **Check for Malware**: Perform a malware scan using Windows Defender or a third-party antivirus tool to ensure no malicious software is causing the problem. 6. **Review Running Processes**: Use Task Manager to monitor running processes and identify any resource-intensive apps. Close or update these apps if necessary. 7. **Contact Support**: If the issue persists, consider reaching out to Microsoft support for further assistance. Remember, utf-8 is a character encoding standard, and this text is already in that format. The provided translation above should display correctly in any utf-8 compatible application.

• When you use the Microsoft Store, Wsappx becomes active and uses CPU, disk, and other resources.
• Wsappx may consume more resources when you download apps or install updates, as these activities are essential to the installation process.
• When you install traditional desktop software, the installation process can take up resources, leading to high CPU and disk usage.
• Background app updates can also contribute to high Wsappx CPU usage or disk usage issues.

As far as we know, this is a common issue with Windows. We have some effective solutions to help you get rid of this situation.

Can I stop the Wsappx process? Here are some fixes for high CPU/Disk usage by Wsappx

So, how to fix high CPU and disk usage by Wsappx on your computer effectively? Here we've rounded up 6 practical solutions for you to solve the problem immediately:

1. Disable the Windows Store 2. Increase Virtual Memory 3. Check and Repair Disk Errors Internally 4. Modify the AppXSVC value in the Registry 5. Scan the Computer for Viruses 6. Troubleshoot in a Clean Boot State

The methods provided work for fixing this error on both Windows 10 and Windows 8 systems.

Solution 1: Disable the Windows Store to fix the high wsappx CPU usage issue

One of the main culprits behind high CPU usage by wsappx is the “Windows Store.” You can effectively disable it using either the Local Group Policy Editor or the Registry Editor.

Click here to read how to disable the Windows Store on your computer now:

Method 1: Using Local Group Policy

Step 1: Press the Windows logo key + R, type gpedit.msc, and then select "OK."

Step 2: Go to Local Computer Policy and then to Computer Configuration.

Click “Administrative Templates,” expand “Windows Components,” and then double-click “Store.”

Step 3: Select Turn off the Store app and click Edit policy settings.

Step 4: Change the status to "Enabled." Click "Apply" and "OK" to save your settings and exit.

After doing so, restart your computer and check if the problem is solved. If the high disk usage in Task Manager still persists, you might want to try the methods from this article - Fix 100% Disk Usage in Windows 10 Task Manager.

#2. Using the Registry Editor

Please note that the Windows Registry Editor is an application not recommended for beginners, as it is mainly used by administrators to control apps and alter settings on a Windows computer.

Any wrong move can lead to serious consequences. So, be extra cautious when you disable the Windows Store as a means to resolve high WSAPPX disk usage following the steps below.

Step 1: Type regedit in the search box and press Enter to open Registry Editor. Click "Yes" to open it.

Step 2: Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsStore.

Step 3: Create a new DWORD value under the “Windows Store” key, name it “RemoveWindowsStore”, and set its value to “1”.

Save the changes and exit the Registry Editor, then you can restart the Windows service.

Note: After disabling the Microsoft Store, you won't be able to install or update third-party apps and programs from the Microsoft Store. To enable installation and updates, you'll need to reactivate the Microsoft Store using one of the recommended methods above: disable Turn off Store apps or change the value of RemoveWindowsStore to 0.

Solution 2: Expand the virtual memory

Another efficient solution to address high disk usage or high CPU usage by wsappx is to expand the virtual memory. Here are the steps:

Step 1: Type Performance in the search box, and then press Enter. Select Adjust the appearance and performance of Windows.

Step 2: Click the “Advanced” tab and then click “Change” under the “Virtual Memory” section.

Step 3: Deselect “Automatically manage paging file size for all drives,” then select the drive that contains your operating system and click “Custom size.”

Step 4: Set the initial size to the amount of your RAM in MB, and the maximum size to twice the initial size.

Step 5: Click “Settings” and then “OK” to save all changes.

Then restart your computer to see if this helps resolve high CPU usage issues.

Solution 3: Check and fix disk errors inside

For those who have recently encountered this issue, consider running a disk check. Sometimes, when a disk encounters internal errors or unknown file system errors, it can cause the computer to malfunction, resulting in high disk usage or high CPU errors.

To cope with the issue better, you need a reliable tool at hand – a free partition manager.

This professional tool can help do the job, as described below:

After going through all the steps, restart your Windows 10. Check the Task Manager again to see if the WSAPPX disk usage is back to normal.

Solution 4: Change the AppXSVC value in the registry

According to some experienced administrators, it appears that changing the AppxSvs value in the Registry also helps to resolve high CPU usage or high disk usage errors with wsappx.

Here are the steps:

Step 1: Open the Registry Editor on your computer.

Step 2: Navigate to the following path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\AppXSvc.

Step 3: Locate the key and change the “Start” value on the right-hand pane to “4”.

Step 4: Click “OK” to save the changes and exit the Registry Editor.

After that, restart your computer to see if that has made a difference.

Solution 5: Scan your computer for viruses

Oftentimes, people overlook the fact that in some cases, this problem can be caused by a virus or malware infection. If you haven't already done so, run a full system scan with an antivirus program right now.

The first step is to run an antivirus program on your computer and have it scan your entire hard drive.

Step two: When the antivirus software identifies a suspicious file, it deletes it from your computer.

Step 3: Restart your computer and see if this has improved matters.

Solution 6: Troubleshoot while in a clean boot state

The last method to fix high CPU usage by wsappx is to perform a clean boot. This will make Windows run on a few basic drivers, settings, and startup programs only.

This will help you manually fix high CPU usage or high disk usage by wsappx at startup:

Step 1: Type msconfig in the search box, and press Enter to open the System Configuration utility.

Step 2: Go to the "General" tab, click on "Selective Startup," and then check "Load system services" and "Use original boot configuration."

Click "OK" to continue.

Step 3: Click on the “Services” tab, check “Hide all Microsoft services,” and then click “Disable All.”

Click “Apply” and then “OK” to save all the changes.

After that, restart your computer, and Windows will perform a “clean boot.” This should help resolve the issue. After this, you can repeat the above steps, but uncheck “Load startup items,” save the changes, and restart your computer.

And are these six fixes working? By sharing them, we can help others who face similar challenges.

Conclusions

On this page, we will briefly explain what wsappx is and why it uses so much CPU and disk space on your computer. There can be various reasons for the high disk and CPU usage caused by wsappx.

If you still can't find a solution, try the suggestions on the page. Don't hesitate to try fixing it yourself.