How to Fix ntoskrnl.exe High Memory Usage in Windows 10/11

The ntoskrnl.exe (Windows NT Operating System Kernel) is a core system file responsible for managing memory, processes, and hardware drivers. However, in some cases, it may cause high memory, CPU, or disk usage, leading to slow system performance, overheating, and frequent crashes. Well, High memory usage by ntoskrnl.exe indicates issues with memory management, hardware, or software. Whatever the reason, here is how to diagnose and fix the high memory usage issue caused by ntoskrnl.exe.

Fix ntoskrnl.exe High Memory Usage

The ntoskrnl.exe is a core system file located under C:\Windows\system32 responsible for various system services such as hardware virtualization, process and memory management. Ntoskrnl.exe is a well-protected system file that hardly crushes or gets corrupted. However if for some reason it gets corrupted ntoskrnl.exe will malfunction and not know what and when to write into the RAM or what and when to free the RAM space. It Results, in piling up of data and memory pages leaving the CPU working extra hard to manage this memory space.

There are several possible reasons Cause ntoskrnl.exe High Memory Usage faulty drivers, malware infections, memory leaks, or system file corruption are common.

• Outdated or Faulty Drivers – Incompatible drivers can cause memory leaks and excessive RAM usage.
• Malware or Virus Infection – Malicious programs can exploit system processes and consume high memory.
• Corrupt System Files – Damaged Windows files may lead to resource mismanagement.
• Insufficient Virtual Memory Settings – Misconfigured page file settings can increase memory load.
• Faulty RAM or Hardware Issues – Defective memory modules may cause Windows to use excessive resources.

Restart Your Computer

Many background applications and system tasks can accumulate over time, leading to high memory use. Restarting Windows clears cached data, resets temporary system states, and ensures that essential services restart fresh.

• Click the Start Menu, then select Restart.
• Wait for the system to reboot and check Task Manager for memory usage improvements.

Scan for Malware and Viruses

Maybe Windows computer is infected with malware or virus that causing high system resource usage. Again Some malicious programs disguise themselves as system files like ntoskrnl.exe and consume excessive resources in the background.

• Open Windows Security by pressing Win + I > Privacy & security > Windows Security.
• Click Virus & Threat Protection> full scan.
• For a deeper scan, select Microsoft Defender Offline scan and restart your PC.
• If threats are detected, remove them and check memory usage again in Task Manager.

Also, it is recommended to perform a full system scan with third-party antivirus or antimalware application. Run Third-party System optimization tool like CCleaner to Clear system junk, cache, memory Dump, Temp files etc which help to improve system performance.

Adjust Virtual Memory Settings

Virtual memory helps Windows manage RAM efficiently. If the paging file size is too small or configured incorrectly, ntoskrnl.exe may overuse physical RAM, leading to high memory usage.

1. Press Win + R, type sysdm.cpl, and press Enter.
2. Go to the Advanced tab and click Settings under Performance.
3. Switch to the Advanced tab and click Change under Virtual memory.
4. Uncheck Automatically manage paging file size for all drives.
5. Select Custom size and enter values:
   • Initial size (MB): 1.5x your RAM (e.g., 4GB RAM → 6000MB).
   • Maximum size (MB): 3x your RAM (e.g., 4GB RAM → 12000MB).
6. Click Set, then OK, and restart your PC to apply changes.

Run Memory Diagnostic Tool

Faulty RAM can cause ntoskrnl.exe to use excessive memory. Running a diagnostic test helps identify memory-related hardware issues.

• Press Win + R, type mdsched.exe, and press Enter.
• Choose Restart now and check for problems.
• Windows will scan your RAM for errors and display results after reboot.
• If errors are found, consider replacing faulty RAM modules.

You can Check Memory Diagnostic test results from Here.

Perform a Clean Boot

A clean boot starts Windows with minimal services and drivers, helping to identify whether third-party software is causing excessive memory usage.

• Press Win + R, type msconfig, and press Enter.
• Go to the Services tab and check Hide all Microsoft services.
• Click Disable all, then go to the Startup tab in Task Manager.
• Disable all startup programs and restart your PC.
• If memory usage drops, re-enable services one by one to identify the culprit.

Disable Unnecessary Startup Programs

Many applications run automatically at startup, consuming memory resources even when not actively used. Disabling unnecessary startup programs reduces memory load and allows Windows to allocate resources more efficiently.

• Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
• Go to the Startup tab.
• Identify programs you don’t need to launch at startup.
• Right-click on unnecessary programs and select Disable.
• Restart your PC and check if memory usage decreases.

Optimize windows for best performance

Adjusting Windows for best performance will manage everything including processor scheduling and memory usage to stop memory leaks and ntoskrnl.exe High Memory Usage.

1. Right-click on ‘This PC’ and select ‘Advanced’ settings on the left pane.
2. Under the ‘Advanced’ tab, go to ‘Performance’, followed by ‘Settings’.
3. Check ‘Adjust for best performance’ and click OK.
4. Restart and check if the issue is solved.

Clear Page File at shutdown

This is another best solution worked for most users to fix the memory Leak and ntoskrnl.exe High Memory Usage problem on Windows 10 systems.

• Press Win + R, type regedit and hit enter key. On Windows Registry Navigate to the following key. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management
• Now on the middle pane double click on ‘ClearPageFileAtShutDown‘ And change its value to 1 As shown below image.
• That’s all now close the Windows Registry and restart windows to take effect the changes.
• On the next start check, There is no more memory Leak or ntoskrnl.exe High Memory Usage.

Update Device Drivers

Outdated or corrupt drivers can cause memory leaks and excessive RAM usage. Update the device driver ensure compatibility and prevent resource mismanagement by ntoskrnl.exe.

• Press Win + X and select Device Manager.
• Expand Display adapters, Network adapters, and System devices.
• Right-click on each device and choose Update driver > Search automatically for drivers.

• If Windows doesn’t find an update, visit the manufacturer’s website to download the latest drivers manually.
• Restart your PC and check if memory usage improves.

Again Corrupt system files can cause ntoskrnl.exe to mismanage resources, leading to high memory consumption. Running an SFC and DISM scan can detect and repair damaged Windows components.

Windows updates often include performance improvements and bug fixes that optimize memory management and system efficiency. Open Settings Navigate to Windows Update and click Check for updates. Install any available updates and restart your PC to apply changes.