How To Fix Runtime Broker High CPU Usage (RuntimeBroker.exe) On Windows

High CPU usage while using a PC affects user experience and the hardware. This is why no one wants to encounter it, and the processes that cause the CPU to overwork should be avoided. That said, which operations should be avoided and what should be done if you face the error? This blog explains the best ways to fix RuntimeBroker.exe issues.  

What is Runtimebroker.exe Error?

Runtimebroker.exe system error is an integral process on Windows that often takes most of your CPU usage. It is also called a mediator for the applications as it takes care that other running applications have permission to use resources. 

However, while maintaining these permissions and resources, the runtime broker process often becomes unresponsive, resulting in heavy processes taking up more than 50% of your CPU. If your PC keeps hanging, you might have encountered the error Runtimebroker.exe stopped working. 

In this post, let us understand how exactly the RuntimeBroker should work, what the limit for CPU usage for this process should be, and how you can fix Runtime Broker’s high CPU usage in Windows 10.11.

Understanding the Basics Behind RuntimeBroker.exe System Error

The Runtime Broker is a common Windows process that can be initiated using the runtimebroker.exe file located in the System32 folder of your Windows files. This process is a system mediator between the permissions and applications you run on your PC.

For instance, Zoom requires media permissions to access your microphone, camera, and internal storage. RuntimeBroker ensures that you get the ideal permissions to use these resources.

What it means is, ultimately, any application you use will come in contact with the runtimebroker.exe. Sometimes when you are using corrupt applications or any application that is too heavy to handle, the runtime broker tends to malfunction. 

Hence you may come across the runtimebroker.exe stopped working error, or worse, it might raise your CPU usage, making your PC lag.

Whenever CPU usage rises, it affects the entire system’s use. This is why it is important to eradicate the runtime broker high CPU usage issue on a Windows PC. 

Ways to Handle the Runtime Broker High CPU Usage on Windows 10,11

Microsoft clearly says that if the Runtime Broker process takes up more than 15% of your CPU or RAM, you should terminate the process immediately. And that is the right thing to do as it is a system process; it will automatically restart for you and start working properly. 

However, if the high CPU usage issue continues, the problem might not be with the runtimebroker.exe; instead, it can be some other application. Here are a few ways you can fix the runtime broker’s high CPU usage error – 

Method 1 – End the Process Using Task Manager

The first thing you should do is check whether the sudden slowdown in the performance of your PC is caused due to the runtime broker process. If that is the case, end the process right away.

Here’s how to do it – 

1. Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc on your keyboard to bring up the Task Manager.
2. In the Task Manager, click on CPU usage to filter the processes taking the most CPU usage.   
3. If the runtimebroker.exe shows up in the top consumers, end the process immediately by selecting the process and then using the End Process button in the task manager or simply right-clicking on it to find the extended menu.

This should give your PC some instant relief. Let the PC settle down after the change. If the high CPU usage was caused solely due to the runtime broker, it would be fixed. However, if the error lies in other applications or your PC, the issue may arise again.  In such situations, check out the next few fixes. 

Method 2 – Disable Windows Get Tips

If ending the process for runtimebroker.exe doesn’t help, there might be an issue with installed applications. Start by disabling the Windows tips applications, as many users have reported that the tips keep bugging the runtime broker for multiple permissions simultaneously, which causes the error. 

To do that, follow these steps – 

1. Press Windows + I to Open Settings.
2. In Settings, go to Notifications.   
3. In Notifications, scroll down to find Additional Settings.   
4. Expand the Additional Settings and uncheck the get tips and suggestions when using Windows.

Once you have stopped this service, it should allow your PC to run smoothly without causing high CPU usage. 

Method 3 – Uninstall Faulty Applications

When you are using heavy applications for your PC in terms of resources required or anything else, you need to uninstall them immediately. The high CPU usage with runtimebroker.exe often takes place when a faulty application keeps trying to push the limits of permissions and resources that it can get. 

To remove the faulty applications, you first need to realize when the issue started to appear. After which application did you experience high CPU usage with the time broker on Windows? 

Once you know that, use the following steps – 

1. Bring up the Run search using Windows+R Keys.   
2. Use the Control command in Run to open the Control Panel.
3. Click on Uninstall a program. This will take you to the Windows Uninstaller.
4. You can click on Installed to sort the application based on the date these were installed. Or you can click on the Installed tab to bring the dropdown and sort the applications based on the dates you installed them.
5. Once you have sorted them based on your last stable state, uninstall the faulty applications one by one.

This should do the job for you. Once you are done uninstalling, restart your PC, and you should be good to go.

Method 4 – Optimize Your PC

While users pay attention to what antivirus to use, which process to stop, and which to run, they often avoid optimizing their PC.

Cleaning and keeping the PC tuned is one of the most important aspects of making the most of the limited resources available. 

The Runtime broker’s high CPU usage issue is also caused when you try to use an unoptimized application on your PC. Not to mention, when a heavy application is used without optimizing your current resources directly leads to errors like high CPU usage on your PC. 

PC optimization is not a single process it requires you to perform multiple tasks, such as – 

1. Manage your startup applications to speed up the startup process on your PC.
2. Handle disk speeds and manage disk usage to support speedy processing.
3. Keeping your registries optimized for your PC to maintain a healthy work environment.

The list of things to take care of can go on and on. The only downside here is that only some are aware of these issues, and those without technical knowledge can only maintain some of these, as it takes a lot of time. 

The best way to optimize your PC is to use a dedicated optimizer. Advanced System Optimizer is easy to use and does everything in a single scan. Here’s how it works. 

1. Download the application using the link below.   

2. Run the application and click on Start Smart PC Care to examine your PC’s state of optimization.
3. This will give you the option to start a scan. Click on it, and the software will start looking for issues with the stability of your PC.
4. The scanner measures your PC with four scans. It looks thoroughly through each sector of your PC to analyze all the possible issues causing High CPU usage and runtime broker errors.
   
5. Once the scan is over, the software allows you to optimize the issues. Simply click on optimize, and it will do the needful.

Optimization might take some time; however, it is a background process. Once the optimization is completed, restart your PC, and all the issues, including the Runtime Broker High CPU usage, will be resolved!

Runtime Broker High CPU Usage is not an Issue Anymore!

With the help of the above practices, you can eliminate the performance issues you are experiencing due to the runtimebroker.exe system error. Optimizing your PC usage is critical to making the most out of available resources. 

Use the Advanced System Optimizer for PC-related issues, as many users have shared that it is helpful. That’s all for this post. Comment below, and I would love to hear from you all! Good luck!

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