How To Fix Avast Service High CPU and Disk Usage Issue on Windows 11/10

Why does Avast consume high CPU? How to fix Avast service high CPU usage?

M. Mateen
Nov 11, 2023

If you’ve found your computer slowing down significantly and noticed that Avast Service is consuming a large portion of your CPU and disk resources, you’re not alone.

Many users have encountered this issue, and it can be quite frustrating. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to address the Avast Service high CPU and disk usage problem.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the process of fixing this issue and optimizing the performance of your computer.

How To Fix Avast Service High CPU and Disk Usage

1. Repair Avast

There are chances that Avast antivirus may have some missing or corrupt files. You need to repair the Avast app by following these steps:

Open Avast GUI.
Navigate to Settings > Troubleshooting.
Click on the REPAIR APP.
Follow the on-screen instructions provided.
Reboot your computer to apply changes.

2. Reinstall Avast

If you have tried the above solutions that Avast is still using too much CPU power then try reinstalling it. Follow these steps:

Download the latest version of Avast Premium Security.
Use the Avast Uninstall Utility to remove all prior installations.
Reinstall Avast with the downloaded installer.
Reboot your computer.

3. Update Avast to Its Latest Version

Try updating to its latest version it will remove any performance-related bugs.

Open the Avast user interface by clicking on its icon in the system tray (notification area).
Click the Menu button located at the upper right corner and select “Settings.”
In the Settings menu, navigate to the “General” tab, then switch to the “Update” tab.
Look for two update buttons—one for updating the virus definitions database and the other for updating the program itself. Click both buttons to check for new updates.

After the update operation is complete, check to see if the Avast Service high CPU issue has been resolved.

4. Disable Specific Avast Features

There are certain features that tend to consume more CPU and disk usage. Follow these steps to disable them:

Go to Control Panel > Uninstall a program.
Select Avast and click on Modify > Continue.
Uncheck/disable the following features:
- Browser protection
- Avast SecureLine
- Cleanup
- Passwords
- Secure Virtual Machines (if present)
- Secure DNS
Click “Continue” and restart your computer.

5. Adjust Avast Web Shields Settings

Open Avast and go to Settings (gear icon) -> Active Protection -> Web shield – Customize -> Main settings.
Uncheck/deselect the following settings:
- Use intelligent stream scanning
- Enable HTTPS scanning
- Script scanning
Restart your computer.

6. Adjusting Scan Frequency to Reduce CPU Usage

Resetting the scan frequency to the maximum value can help disable background checks and monitoring, minimizing CPU usage. While this may temporarily impact security, it can effectively return CPU usage to normal levels. Follow these steps to make the adjustment:

Type “cmd” in the Windows Cortana search box, or press the Windows + S keys to open the search box.
Right-click on the best match Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.
Open This PC or File Explorer and navigate to the Avast folder using the following path: C:Program FilesAVAST SoftwareAvast
Check for the presence of an avast5.ini file. If found, open the file and insert the following command in line: [GrimeFighter] : ScanFrequency=999
Save the file and restart your computer. After the restart, check if the Avast high CPU issue has been resolved.

7. Disabling Avast Cleanup Tool

The Avast Cleanup tool, designed to free up resources allocated by other applications, might contribute to high CPU usage. Removing this tool can be an effective solution. Follow these steps to disable the Avast Cleanup tool:

Open the Avast user interface by clicking its icon in the system tray.
Click the Menu button in the upper right corner and select Settings.
Switch to the Components tab.
Locate the Avast Cleanup tool and click the downward-facing arrow next to it.
Choose Uninstall Component and click OK to confirm the uninstallation.
Restart the Avast program and check if the Avast service high CPU issue has been resolved.