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Desktop Window Manager Has High GPU Usage: How to Fix it
Dwm.exe GPU usage is highly dependent on your graphics drivers
5 min. read
Updated onMarch 4, 2024
updated onMarch 4, 2024
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Desktop Windows Manager is an important process, but many reported that Desktop Window Manager causes high GPU usage on their PC.
Some users have encountered issues as a message pops up saying that theirGPU memory is full, which can cause a lot of stress and confusion.
How do I stop Desktop Window Manager from using so much GPU?
1. Update drivers
Desktop Window Manager high GPU usage can occur with AMD graphics, so it’s important to keep drivers up to date.
If you want to avoid following the steps mentioned above, and also keep your PC’s drivers updated constantly, using specialized software likePC HelpSoft Driver Updatercan do the trick.
It will not only keep all of your drivers up to date with just a few clicks, but it will also help you schedule scans, create driver backups, act as a downloaded manager, and much more.
⇒Get PC HelpSoft Driver Updater
2. Turn off visual effects
3. Change personalization
Disabling these features should fix desktop Window Manager high GPU usage in OBS and other software.
4. Disable the Fast Startup feature
5. Turn off Hardware accelerated GPU scheduling
Once you disable this feature, check if Desktop Window Manager high GPU usage still occurs when watching YouTube.
Why is Desktop Windows Manager taking up so much GPU?
Here are a few of the most common reasons that trigger the Desktop Windows Manager high GPU issue:
One solution that wasn’t touched upon for Desktop Windows Manager is usingantivirus software.In certain situations, malware may cause DWM suddenly use more resources.
Other GPU problems may be due to high internal temperatures. Normal temperatures range from 149 to 185 degrees Fahrenheit (65 to 85 degrees Celsius) but go slightly higher during intense gaming sessions.
Prolonged high temperatures can cause permanent damage to your GPU, so it’s recommended that youcheck GPU temperature.
Conversely, there are solutions for low GPU usage and high CPU usage. It’s a mismatched problem that can be caused by bottlenecking, but not always.
From this strange discrepancy, you may have to deal withframe drops and stutteringorhigh CPU temperature. This problem may be caused by out-of-date drivers or certain apps getting in the way.
This process can cause issues with your RAM as well, and we have a whole guide dedicated toDesktop Window Manager high memory usage.
Feel free to comment below if you have questions about other Windows 11 apps. Also, leave comments about guides you’d like to see or information on other Windows 11 features or list guides like this.
More about the topics:Desktop Windows Manager,GPU,Windows 11
Cesar Cadenas
Networking & Security Specialist
Cesar has been writing for and about technology going on for 6 years when he first started writing tech articles for his university paper. Since then, his passion for technology blossomed into a prosperous writing career. He first started writing about tech in the entertainment world and would later move on to write about smart life tech and social media. He was recently a Technical Writer for tech company Extron where he wrote user guides for audio and video equipment.
He has since moved on to being a freelance writer looking to have a career in copywriting and hopes to share his love and knowledge of technology with the world. Recently, Cesar has written for the cryptocurrency news site, BTCPro and helping people understand tech.
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Cesar Cadenas
Networking & Security Specialist
Cesar is a tech expert passionate about Windows, Microsoft, and anything surrounding the world of PCs.
