High CPU Usage By OneDrive exe In Windows 10/11 (Solved)

OneDrive, Microsoft’s cloud storage service, comes preinstalled with Windows 11 and 10 that offers convenient file synchronization and backup. However, sometimes you may notice that OneDrive.exe consumes excessive CPU resources, leading to sluggish system performance and overheating. Well, this issue usually means that your OneDrive cloud storage service is actively syncing a large number of files, causing your computer to work hard to process the data transfer, leading to noticeable performance slowdown. High CPU usage by “OneDrive.exe, can be due to a large initial sync, a sudden influx of new files, or issues with network connectivity. If you’re facing this issue, this article will help you troubleshoot and fix it effectively, reclaim your CPU and optimize OneDrive’s performance.

Why is OneDrive.exe Hogging My CPU?

As discussed, Several factors can cause OneDrive to consume excessive CPU resources, It may Syncing Large Files or Folders, Corrupt OneDrive Cache, Conflicts with Other Applications, and slow or unstable internet connection are common.

• File Syncing Issues: A large number of files or stuck syncing operations can cause OneDrive to use high CPU.
• Corrupt OneDrive Cache: Temporary cache files may get corrupted, leading to increased CPU usage.
• Outdated OneDrive Version: Older versions of OneDrive may have bugs that result in excessive CPU usage.
• Conflicts with Other Applications: Background processes or antivirus programs may interfere with OneDrive.
• Network Issues: A slow or unstable internet connection can cause OneDrive to retry syncing repeatedly, increasing CPU load.

Restart OneDrive

Just like restarting your computer, restarting any app, program or service has the potential to fix minor software glitches and clear stuck programs that might be causing the problem of high CPU Usage.

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
2. Locate Microsoft OneDrive (OneDrive.exe) under the Processes tab.
3. Right-click OneDrive and select End Task.
4. Restart OneDrive by pressing Win + S, typing “OneDrive,” and clicking on the app.

Pause and Resume Syncing

Pausing OneDrive’s sync process and resuming it may help reduce CPU load.

1. Click the OneDrive icon in the system tray.
2. Click Help & Settings > Pause Syncing and select 2 hours.
3. Wait a few minutes and then go back to Help & Settings > Resume Syncing

Disable OneDrive At Startup

If you are not using the OneDrive service in your PC, it is better for you to keep the app disabled in your system so it will not consume power from your system.

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
2. Go to the Startup tab.
3. Right-click Microsoft OneDrive and select Disable.
4. Restart your PC and check if this helps.

Disable Files On-Demand

The Files On-Demand feature can sometimes cause OneDrive to use more CPU than usual.

1. Click the OneDrive icon in the system tray.
2. Go to Help & Settings > Settings.
3. Under the Sync and Backup tab, uncheck Save space and download files as you use them.
4. Click OK and restart OneDrive.

Reset OneDrive

Again Resetting OneDrive can resolve syncing and cache issues that cause high CPU usage.

To Reset OneDrive Service First Right-click on the Start button and then click on Run option in the menu that appears. Or You can also press Windows Logo + R keys to bring up the Run Window on your computer.

Now In the Run Window type %localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\onedrive.exe  /reset and click on OK

while executing the command you will see the OneDrive icon in the system tray disappearing and then re-appearing after a while (Can take 60 seconds or more).

Note: In case if the OneDrive system tray icon does not re-appear after a few minutes, open the Run Command Window by pressing Win + R keys and Type %localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\onedrive.exe and click on the Run button.

After that restart the computer and check After Resetting OneDrive should fix the problem of High CPU Usage by OneDrive on your computer.

Disable Telemetry

Also, some users reported after disabling the Telemetry service the one drive high cpu usage bug was fixed. To disable telemetry, open the Settings app and go to the Privacy group of settings. Select the Feedback and & diagnostics tab. Scroll down and set Diagnostics and data usage to ‘Basic’.

Disable telemetry using registry tweak

Next, open the Registry editor using win + R, Then type regedit and hit the enter key. Now on left pane navigate to following key ;

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DataCollection

Note: Incorrectly Modifying Registry Values can cause serious problems on your computer. Hence, make sure that you do not modify anything on the Registry Editor screen that you do not understand. Also we strongly recommend to create a system restore point, so that if anything goes wrong you can revert your windows to the previous working state using system restore.

• Right-click on DataCollection -> New -> Create a new DWORD value and name it AllowTelemetry.
• Double-click on new created DWORD and set its value to 0.
• Click on ok and close the registry editor window.

Disable Telemetry services at startup

Next, open Windows Services, by press Win + R, Then Type services.msc and hit the enter key. Here on Windows services scroll down and look for following services.

Connected User Experiences and Telemetry
dmwappushsvc

Double click a service ex: Connected User Experiences and Telemetry, Then from the ‘Startup type’ dropdown, select the ‘Disabled’ option. Apply the changes and you’re done. Do the same with dmwappushsvc service. Double click on it and change the startup type to disable. This will disable all telemetry on Windows 10. Now simply restart Windows to take effect the changes that you made. This is the best solution i have found to fix high CPU usage by onedrive.exe.

Unlink and Reconnect OneDrive

If OneDrive is stuck syncing, unlinking and reconnecting your account may help.

1. Click the OneDrive icon in the system tray.
2. Go to Help & Settings > Settings.
3. Under the Account tab, click Unlink this PC.
4. Restart OneDrive and sign in again.

Check for Windows Updates

Ensuring Windows is up to date can resolve OneDrive performance issues.

1. Open Settings (Win + I) and go to Windows Update.
2. Click Check for updates and install any available updates.
3. Restart your PC after updating.

Again Malware or viruses disguised as OneDrive.exe can cause high CPU usage. Open Windows Security by pressing Win + S and searching for “Windows Security.” Click Virus & Threat Protection> Quick scan. If threats are detected, follow the removal steps provided.

If OneDrive continues to cause high CPU usage despite these fixes, consider reinstalling it or using an alternative cloud service.