What is WSAPPX: Fix for WSAPPX High Disk & CPU Usage Issue

Here you will understand WSAPPX. Explore different effective methods to fix WSAPPX High Disk and CPU Usage Issues:

There are a variety of ways to make your computer run faster, but it can be discouraging to discover that your computer is still sucking up a lot of CPU power even when you aren’t running any programs. The Processes which run in the background consume a lot of CPU power.

Both the Windows Store and Microsoft’s Universal app platform use WSAPPX, which is a background process on your Windows 10/8 computer.

This article will focus on this process and the various methods for resolving it.

What is WSAPPX

What Is WSAPPX

WSAPPX is a background process that runs in Windows 10, and it manages to download and uninstall files in the system. The program has various processes that look over each process and ensure that these processes are completed with ease.

This program has some major sub-services like AppXSVC, which manages the deployment service, and then it has WS Service, which manages Windows Store, and the last one is ClipSVC which is a Client License Service.

Why does WSAPPX Drain CPU Resources

WSAPPX is a process that runs in your system background due to the presence of applications like Paint and WordPad. The task of WSAPPX involves loading the files in the system and ensuring that the file is downloaded and installed correctly.

If you use Microsoft Store, then you will find this service utilizing the maximum CPU resources in Task Manager.

Some people often confuse WSAPPX as a virus, but it has no malicious code. Rather, it is a genuine Microsoft application. It just uses high CPU resources.

Ways to Fix High CPU Usage

Numerous ways would make it easier for users to fix WSAPPX and high CPU usage.

Method 1: Scan System

The prime cause of high CPU usage in the system is the presence of some malicious code that runs numerous background processes and drains CPU resources. So whenever you face such issues of high CPU usage and system lag, it’s advisable to first restart the system, and if you cannot fix the issue, then run a system scan.

By running a system scan, you can locate malicious and junk files in the system, which are both responsible for a slow system. It’s advisable that you use an advanced system scanner rather than a system default scanner.

Suggested Reading =>> Vulnerability Scanning Tools

Method 2: Run Troubleshoot

Troubleshooters are useful features of Windows that allow users to run a full system check and find issues that can be related to both hardware and software. Windows offers a series of troubleshooters with advanced troubleshooters, which will allow you to find issues with the workflow and provide suggestions to fix them.

If the suggestion to fix the issue isn’t present at the moment, then the report and feedback will be shared with Microsoft Server and they will provide an alternative solution for the same.

Follow the steps listed below to run troubleshooters in your system:

#1) Open the “Settings” in your system or press ‘’Windows + I’’ from your keyboard to open settings.

#2) Settings will open. Click on “System” and then click on “Troubleshoot” as displayed in the image below.

Troubleshoot WSAPPX

#3) Under the label Recommended troubleshooter preferences, switch it to “Run automatically, then notify me” as displayed in the image below. This will allow the system to run basic troubleshooters and then notify you about the suggestions and ask permission to implement them.

Run automatically WSAPPX

You can also click on other troubleshooters to find a list of special troubleshooters that can help you fix various system issues.

Method 3: Remove Bloatware and Background Apps

Bloatware is programs that are present in the system by default, but they can be removed to clear system space and usage. Common examples of this bloatware are news applications, calculators, and notification managers. This bloatware utilizes a considerable amount of system memory, which results in high CPU usage issues.

Various applications, like antivirus files, run the background process to scan the system and find files that disrupt the working of the system. When numerous such applications run simultaneously, then it results in a system lag. You can also observe such issues when you open numerous Google Chrome tabs at once.

Follow the steps listed below to remove bloatware programs from your system:

#1) Open Settings in your system or press “Windows + I” from your keyboard to open settings.

#2) Click on “Apps” and then click on “Apps & features” as displayed in the image below.

Apps & features WSAPPX

#3) Now check from the list of applications the ones you wish to remove and click on three dots, and then click on “Uninstall” to remove these applications from your system as displayed in the image below.

Uninstall WSAPPX

You can remove bloatware and other lagging applications from your system by following simple steps. You can also check the CPU usage of each application and then remove them, which would make it easier for you to remove the application that utilizes maximum CPU resources.

  • Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete from your keyboard and you will be directed to a blue screen.
  • From the list of tools, choose Task Manager and it will open in your system.
  • The Task Manager will display the usage of each application, and then you can remove the applications from the settings.

Method 4: Clean Disk Internal Error

When a file is stored on the system, then a certain memory location is allotted to the specific data, and when the data is deleted, then the allotted memory points are cleared.

In this entire process, the memory points are cleared, but they are still disoriented in order. So if other data has to be stored, then it creates such memory gaps in the system, which is the major reason for the system slowing down.

When the system runs a check or search, then it goes through all the memory locations, even the ones which are void which results in a time taking process. You need to perform Disk Cleanup to clean such void memory points in the system.

Also Read =>> Comparison of Top PC Cleaner Tools

Follow the steps listed below to perform the Disk Cleanup:

#1) Press the Windows button and search for Disk Cleanup and then click on “Open“.

disk cleanup

#2) The Disk Cleanup dialog box will open. Select the drive you want to clean, and then click on the OK button, as you can see in the image below.

Disk Cleanup dialog box

Method 5: Extend Virtual Memory

Virtual memory is a feature of Windows which allows users to allocate virtual memory to the system, which enhances the performance and working of the system. This memory does not increase your hardware memory. It just increases the memory on which your process is running for a limited time, allowing the system to work at its best.

Users can easily increase the virtual memory in their system by following some simple steps listed below:

#1) Press the Windows button and search for a performance monitor and click on “Adjust the appearance and performance of Windows“.

Adjust the appearance and performance of Windows

#2) A dialog box will appear as displayed in the image below. Click on “Advanced” and then under the Virtual label memory, click on “Change” as displayed in the image below.

Change performance options

#3) A virtual Memory Dialog box will open. Untick the label titled “Automatically manage paging size for all drives” as displayed in the image below. Click on “Custom Size” and mention the minimum and maximum values of virtual memory.

Custom Size

While mentioning the values for minimum and maximum virtual memory, set the initial size equal to your RAM and the maximum size as double your RAM.

Method 6: Change AppXSVC in Registry

Registry plays a major role in running your system smoothly as it allows you to set certain default values to the programs which make changes in their working. By making changes in the registry of system services, you can fix the high CPU Usage system in your device.

Follow the steps listed below to change registry values in your system:

#1) Press Windows + R from your keyboard and type “regedit,” and press Enter as displayed in the image below.

regedit

#2) Enter the address as listed “Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\AppXSvc” and then click on the file titled “Start,” and a dialog box will appear as displayed in the image below. Now, you have to change the value data to “4” and press Enter.

Enter the address

Now you need to restart your system, so the default changes are saved in your system.

Method 7: Disable Windows Search Services

Search for an application seems like a simple process, but it is a lot more complex and resource-consuming because, in this process, files are arranged and indexed first. This process of indexing files and then processing them requires a visible amount of CPU resources.

You can disable Windows search services as this will disable all search processes and indexing in the background, making it easier for users to minimize CPU usage.

#1) Press Windows + R from your keyboard and then type “services. msc” and click on “OK,” as displayed in the image below.

services. msc

#2) Services windows will open, locate Windows Search and double click on it, and then the Windows Search Dialog box will open. You need to select the Startup type as “Disabled” and then click on “Apply” and “OK” to save the changes as displayed in the image below.

Startup type

Method 8: Disabling Superfetch

Superfetch delivers the required data for your apps quickly, although it is not a required service for Windows. Although helpful, this feature may be turned off, and several users reported that doing so resolved their issue with WSAPPX’s excessive CPU usage:

#1) Press the Windows key while holding down the R keyboard shortcut. Click Enter after entering services.msc

services.msc

#2) Go down the page and find Superfetch or SysMain. Right-click it and select Properties.

Superfetch or SysMain

#3) Select Disabled under Startup type. Click OK and Stop.

Select Disabled

Method 9: Disabling Windows Store

#1) Type “regedit” into the Start menu, click the resulting link, and select Registry Editor.

regedit1

#2) Browse HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsStore. to find the Windows Store policy. Look for the RemoveWindowsStore registry key. Initially, it is 0.

RemoveWindowsStore to fix WSAPPX issue

#3) Change the value of RemoveWindowsStore from 0 to 1 to disable the Microsoft store program.

Microsoft store program

How to Stop Store Apps From Updating Automatically

#1) Open the Microsoft Store app and select Settings by clicking the button in the top-right corner.

Open the Microsoft Store app to fix WSAPPX

#2) Then, under the App Settings area of the next screen, uncheck the “Update apps automatically” or “App Updates” switch.

Update apps automatically - WSAPPX

Frequently Asked Questions

Q #1) How do I fix high CPU and disk usage?

Answer: There are various ways to fix high CPU and disk usage, and some of them are listed below:

  1. Uninstall programs that utilize high CPU resources.
  2. Disable antivirus programs when not in use.
  3. Check Startup programs
  4. Disable Windows Search Engine.

Q #2) What is WSAPPX’s high disk usage?

Answer: WSAPPX is a program that runs all the background processes for downloading, installing, and using the application in your system. These background processes in the system result in high disk usage.

Q #3) Can I stop WSAPPX?

Answer: WSAPPX is a Windows Store service, so you cannot disable it because it manages the downloading and installing of applications.

Q #4) How do I fix WSAPPX?

Answer: There are various ways to fix WSAPPX’s high disk usage, and we listed some of them below.

  • Extend Virtual Memory
  • Disable Windows Search Services
  • Make changes to the registry

Q #5) Why is my disk usage always so high?

Answer: The most common reason for the high disk usage of your system is the number of background processes running in your system.

Q #6) What causes high CPU and disk usage?

Answer: When numerous applications are opened simultaneously on your system, then it increases background processes, furthermore resulting in system lag and high CPU disk usage.

Q #7) Can I Kill WSAPPX?

Answer: WSAPPX is regarded as a crucial system process by Windows. Therefore, if you attempt to terminate or kill it using the Task Manager, it alerts you that doing so may result in Windows becoming unstable and shutting down. In the Services utility, there is also no method to forcibly disable WSAPPX.

Q #8) Can you disable WSAPPX in Windows 10/11?

Answer: The Windows Task Manager allows you to disable this Windows service. Just select it and end the task to get rid of it.

Q #9) Is WSAPPX a Virus?

Answer: No, it is not a virus but plays a crucial role in Windows OS.

Conclusion

Background processes are a major source of system slowdown, so reducing them will allow you to increase your system’s speed. After discussing the high CPU usage caused by WSAPPX. We discussed various ways to reduce high CPU usage in this article.