Windows Modules Installer Worker is making my computer hang
Windows Modules Installer Worker is making my computer hang, and it uses up 50-70% of my CPU. Does anyone know how I can fix this problem?
November 18th, 2012 8:58pm

No, it does not solves the problem. Clearly this is Windows 8.1. issue. I had the same problems with Indexer process before latest 8.1 update and now this. What are you doing Microsoft?

Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
April 9th, 2014 9:54pm

See if you have ALL the windows updates installed... It worked for me

April 18th, 2014 9:06pm

I also have this but when I hear the CPU fan going I hit alt-ctl-del and start the Task Manager.  Within a few seconds it quiets down and Chrome becomes my biggest idle cycle thief.   It's like it is afraid to be watched and hides.

Laptop history: upgraded from Vista to 7 to 8 to 8.

Someone said that MSFT screws up every other release of Windows and you should only get the Odd numbered ones.

Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
April 27th, 2014 8:49pm

"you should only get the Odd numbered ones"

The rule is to only get the Windows versions that are a square of a Fibonnaci root derivitive.

July 7th, 2014 11:33pm

The real answer: Control alt delete Services Restart windows modules installer Yay
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
September 12th, 2014 2:27am

The real answer: Control alt delete Services Restart windows modules installer Yay
  • Proposed as answer by bryanthemayan Friday, September 12, 2014 2:29 AM
September 12th, 2014 5:27am

Hey, I found the solution to our common problem.

The Windows Modules Installer Worker keeps restarting even if you shut it down in the Task Manager, right?

go to "services.msc" (just type it in win START or find) and look for Trusted Installer/Windows 
Modules Installer Worker/ TInstaller. You will find it running and allowed. Just "lower" down its permissions/privileges and STOP the service.

There you go. It wont be able to run itself again.... unless you allow it to do so.

Cheers
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
December 16th, 2014 1:10pm

How exactly do you lower its privileges ? Besides, even when started in administrator mode, the service panel won't let me stop the service (the buttons are grayed out).

Hopefully, I've been able to change the startup strategy, so for now, the only solution will be to restart my computer.


December 29th, 2014 1:44pm

How exactly do you lower its privileges ? Besides, even when started in administrator mode, the service panel won't let me stop the service (the buttons are grayed out).

Hopefully, I've been able to change the startup strategy, so for now, the only solution will be to restart my computer.


Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
December 29th, 2014 1:44pm

I'm waiting for version 0112358 for all you Fibonnaci  fans.

January 22nd, 2015 1:09pm

I know this is an old post but all I did was run an update scan on settings and when it was done it stopped all that cpu usage. My question is why can I ask a program to do something and it doesn't use nearly that much CPU, but the program lags. I look to see what's using so much rescorce and it shows CPU usage at 30%
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
January 22nd, 2015 1:12pm

getting the same thing today.  Looking into it still, but i can say that just yesterday I reinstalled my 'photo' tile app, since it wasn't picking up my photos. I hear it can sometimes take quite a while to 'index' all the photos once it finds them.. so I'm wondering if thats it - maybe it's considered part of the install..  Will give it a few hours and see if it goes away and my photos appear.

else it's nothing to do with that, and is more about some patch crap as mentioned..

February 2nd, 2015 12:14pm

I ended the Windows Store process and immediately the CPU was freed up.  I use a local account, rather than a Windows Live account, so I wonder if it is trying to update apps, but can't because I'm not signed in, and so keeps running.  Is anyone else who is having this problem using a local account?
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
February 18th, 2015 6:14am

I am also having this issue with "Windows Modules Installer Worker".  

My system is Windows 8.1 Pro 64-bit. Completely clean install.  Fully patched.  Nothing else installed. After patching, the system was completely isolated and removed from any networks - no Internet, no USB sticks, no Wi-Fi etc...  Windows Updates are disabled.  Hence there is absolutely no possibility of anything else being installed - the system is just pure Windows 8.1.

So, why does my system sit there day-after-day with "Windows Modules Installer Worker" burning 50% CPU usage for over an hour, for a system that hasn't changed??  Nothing has been installed, no updates, no applications, no disks have been inserted - so what is "Windows Modules Installer Worker" trying to do???

How does Microsoft class this as optimization, when the system has burnt an extra 4 Wh of power unnecessarily?

Yes, I could stop the service from running, but that doesn't explain the issue. As an engineer I don't like un-explained problems. They tend to come back and bite-you when you least expect them.

This problem appears to have been around for years, with little or no support from Microsoft!

March 6th, 2015 8:03am

I wonder if Microsoft are going to do anything about this problem.

Since i updated from 8 to 8.1 i have this issue on my laptop. It takes 99% CPU usage and the fan is running full speed. Yes, it is fully updated.

It seem like a stupid way to fix the issue that i am forced to try to prevent the Windows Modules Installer Worker and the updater to run at all.

And yes, when i ctrl+alt+del it sometimes stops (gets scared? it really stop itself just by that) only to start again when i return to for example a browser. Sometimes it just continues and i manually stops it... 15 minutes later it start itself again. Noboby ain't got time for that.

Now i can't use my laptop for anything.


Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
April 26th, 2015 12:17pm

I wonder if Microsoft are going to do anything about this problem.

Since i updated from 8 to 8.1 i have this issue on my laptop. It takes 99% CPU usage and the fan is running full speed. Yes, it is fully updated.

It seem like a stupid way to fix the issue that i am forced to try to prevent the Windows Modules Installer Worker and the updater to run at all.

And yes, when i ctrl+alt+del it sometimes stops (gets scared? it really stop itself just by that) only to start again when i return to for example a browser. Sometimes it just continues and i manually stops it... 15 minutes later it start itself again. Noboby ain't got time for that.

Now i can't use my laptop for anything.


  • Edited by Madsen777 Sunday, April 26, 2015 4:20 PM
  • Proposed as answer by blksnake 17 hours 32 minutes ago
  • Unproposed as answer by blksnake 17 hours 32 minutes ago
April 26th, 2015 4:16pm

I wonder if Microsoft are going to do anything about this problem.

Since i updated from 8 to 8.1 i have this issue on my laptop. It takes 99% CPU usage and the fan is running full speed. Yes, it is fully updated.

It seem like a stupid way to fix the issue that i am forced to try to prevent the Windows Modules Installer Worker and the updater to run at all.

And yes, when i ctrl+alt+del it sometimes stops (gets scared? it really stop itself just by that) only to start again when i return to for example a browser. Sometimes it just continues and i manually stops it... 15 minutes later it start itself again. Noboby ain't got time for that.

Now i can't use my laptop for anything.


  • Edited by Madsen777 Sunday, April 26, 2015 4:20 PM
  • Proposed as answer by blksnake Tuesday, April 28, 2015 1:50 PM
  • Unproposed as answer by blksnake Tuesday, April 28, 2015 1:50 PM
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
April 26th, 2015 4:16pm

I wonder if Microsoft are going to do anything about this problem.

Since i updated from 8 to 8.1 i have this issue on my laptop. It takes 99% CPU usage and the fan is running full speed. Yes, it is fully updated.

It seem like a stupid way to fix the issue that i am forced to try to prevent the Windows Modules Installer Worker and the updater to run at all.

And yes, when i ctrl+alt+del it sometimes stops (gets scared? it really stop itself just by that) only to start again when i return to for example a browser. Sometimes it just continues and i manually stops it... 15 minutes later it start itself again. Noboby ain't got time for that.

Now i can't use my laptop for anything.


  • Edited by Madsen777 Sunday, April 26, 2015 4:20 PM
  • Proposed as answer by Arboretum87 Tuesday, April 28, 2015 1:50 PM
  • Unproposed as answer by Arboretum87 Tuesday, April 28, 2015 1:50 PM
April 26th, 2015 4:16pm

Hi all,

I'm posting this as it may be of some help to others having high CPU usage with the Windows Modules Installer Worker. 

My problem started with a clean Win 8.1 install and after all the Windows updates were applied.

Follow the steps given below (From Microsoft support engineer PranavMishra5582)

  1. Press and hold the Windows button and the W button on the keyboard.
  2. In the search box situated in the upper right corner we need to write Troubleshooting
  3. Click(left click) on the Troubleshooting icon.
  4. On the upper left corner of the Troubleshooting window we need to click(left click) on View All
  5. Click (left click) on WINDOWS UPDATE
  6. ParanavMishra5582 suggests performing the System Maintenance troubleshoot as well.
  7. Click (left click) on Next and follow the steps presented on the screen.

I rebooted my notebook and the problem appears to be solved.

Good luck!


Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
April 28th, 2015 10:07am

Hi all,

I'm posting this as it may be of some help to others having high CPU usage with the Windows Modules Installer Worker. 

My problem started with a clean Win 8.1 install and after all the Windows updates were applied.

Follow the steps given below (From Microsoft support engineer PranavMishra5582)

  1. Press and hold the Windows button and the W button on the keyboard.
  2. In the search box situated in the upper right corner we need to write Troubleshooting
  3. Click(left click) on the Troubleshooting icon.
  4. On the upper left corner of the Troubleshooting window we need to click(left click) on View All
  5. Click (left click) on WINDOWS UPDATE
  6. ParanavMishra5582 suggests performing the System Maintenance troubleshoot as well.
  7. Click (left click) on Next and follow the steps presented on the screen.

I rebooted my notebook and the problem appears to be solved.

Good luck!


  • Proposed as answer by ZLK314 1 hour 14 minutes ago
April 28th, 2015 2:06pm

Hi all,

I'm posting this as it may be of some help to others having high CPU usage with the Windows Modules Installer Worker. 

My problem started with a clean Win 8.1 install and after all the Windows updates were applied.

Follow the steps given below (From Microsoft support engineer PranavMishra5582)

  1. Press and hold the Windows button and the W button on the keyboard.
  2. In the search box situated in the upper right corner we need to write Troubleshooting
  3. Click(left click) on the Troubleshooting icon.
  4. On the upper left corner of the Troubleshooting window we need to click(left click) on View All
  5. Click (left click) on WINDOWS UPDATE
  6. ParanavMishra5582 suggests performing the System Maintenance troubleshoot as well.
  7. Click (left click) on Next and follow the steps presented on the screen.

I rebooted my notebook and the problem appears to be solved.

Good luck!


  • Proposed as answer by ZLK314 Saturday, May 02, 2015 6:07 AM
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
April 28th, 2015 2:06pm

Hi all,

I'm posting this as it may be of some help to others having high CPU usage with the Windows Modules Installer Worker. 

My problem started with a clean Win 8.1 install and after all the Windows updates were applied.

Follow the steps given below (From Microsoft support engineer PranavMishra5582)

  1. Press and hold the Windows button and the W button on the keyboard.
  2. In the search box situated in the upper right corner we need to write Troubleshooting
  3. Click(left click) on the Troubleshooting icon.
  4. On the upper left corner of the Troubleshooting window we need to click(left click) on View All
  5. Click (left click) on WINDOWS UPDATE
  6. ParanavMishra5582 suggests performing the System Maintenance troubleshoot as well.
  7. Click (left click) on Next and follow the steps presented on the screen.

I rebooted my notebook and the problem appears to be solved.

Good luck!


April 28th, 2015 2:06pm

Thank you, the above worked for me.
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
May 2nd, 2015 2:10am

The "Troubleshooting" fix above worked for me too, the process no longer seems to be running and laptop usable again!  Thanks
May 3rd, 2015 11:20am

Thanks. you are my hero! Keep in mind that if your operating system is in another language you might need to search for something else than the word troubleshooting. In my case I had to search for "Felskning". Good luck.
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
May 23rd, 2015 7:48am

Thanks. you are my hero! Keep in mind that if your operating system is in another language you might need to search for something else than the word troubleshooting. In my case I had to search for "Felskning". Good luck.
  • Edited by djperryboy Saturday, May 23, 2015 11:49 AM
May 23rd, 2015 11:47am

This should be at the top of the page. 

Enough said

Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
June 19th, 2015 9:39pm

Thanks - I've been having issues with my computer since a late May windows update was installed and it was driving me nuts. The fan would run all the time and my computer response time when I'd click my mouse was way off. I followed the instructions above and it's like like I have my original computer back. Thanks so much!
June 24th, 2015 3:59pm

thanks
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
July 15th, 2015 10:50am

This topic is archived. No further replies will be accepted.

Other recent topics Other recent topics