How To Fix Microsoft Compatibility Telemetry High CPU Usage

Do you feel that your PC is running slow? To fix it or find the culprit, did you check the services and processes running on your PC using the Task Manager? Was the Microsoft Compatibility Telemetry service consuming the most CPU usage? If yes, you have come to the right place. Today, we will explain the Microsoft Compatibility Telemetry service and how you can reduce the high CPU problem. Sadly, if the steps do not help, you will have to disable this process.

What Is Microsoft Compatibility Telemetry

It is a feature in Windows that collects and sends usage and diagnostic data to Microsoft. With the help of this data, Microsoft claims to improve the performance, reliability, and security of Windows and its applications. The telemetry includes hardware configurations, software usage, and system performance information.

Note—Users can manage their telemetry settings through the Privacy section in Windows settings, where they can choose how much data they want to share with Microsoft.

Read Also: How to Fix High CPU Usage in Windows

Why Does the Microsoft Compatibility Telemetry Process Use So Much CPU

No exact reasons are identified as of now for why it consumes most of your CPU resources. Experts have speculated that this can occur due to a lack of Windows Updates, corrupted system files, interference by temporary files, or conflicts between services. But do not worry, as we have explained the best methods to fix this issue quickly.

How To Fix Microsoft Compatibility Telemetry High CPU Usage

Method 1 – Turn Off Microsoft Compatibility Telemetry

The telemetry service regularly transmits data to Microsoft to enhance your system’s performance and user experience. However, this process can significantly slow down your PC and may collect private information, making it advisable to disable it. It’s not recommended to delete it, as it’s a core part of the Windows OS and could lead to stability issues if removed.

1. Press the Windows key and type Task Scheduler. Click on the search result with the same name.

2. Click on Task Scheduler Library > Microsoft > Windows > Application Experience in the left panel of the Task Scheduler window.
3. In the central panel, look for Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser and right-click on it to choose Disable.

Doing this will forcibly terminate Microsoft’s Telemetry Service process, effectively preventing Microsoft from collecting any data about issues impacting your PC.

Method 2 – Reduce The Amount Of Data Collected By Microsoft

You can prevent data-sharing services from sending certain information to Microsoft through the Settings menu. This should significantly reduce the high CPU usage of the Microsoft Telemetry Service. Here is what you need to do.

1. Press Win + X and click on Settings.
2. Next, click the Privacy & security tab in the left panel and then click on the Diagnostics and Feedback option in the right section.

3. Locate the Send optional diagnostic data option and turn off the toggle button next to it.

4. Next, click on the Tailored Experiences option to view more settings.

5. Disable the toggle button next to Let Microsoft use your diagnostic data.

Method 3 – Restart The Telemetry Service

The Microsoft Telemetry Service may be experiencing technical issues leading to unusually high CPU usage. Restarting the Telemetry Service can be beneficial in these situations.

1. Press Win + R to open the RUN dialog box.
2. Type “services.msc”  and press the OK button to open the Service box.

3. Locate the Connected User Experience and Telemetry service.
4. Right-click on this service and choose Restart from the context menu.

Method 4 – Update Windows

Microsoft releases update patches to fix bugs and issues on Windows PCs. It is quite possible that the Microsoft Telemetry service might be using a lot of resources after a recent update. In this case, many experts would have notified Microsoft via Forums and a new update would have been released to fix this issue. Here are the steps to update your Windows.

1. Press Win + I to open the Settings box.
2. Click on Windows Updates in the left panel.
3. Next, click on the Check for Updates button in the top right corner.
4. The Windows Updates Service will automatically download and install the latest updates on your PC.
5. Next, click on Advanced Options on the same page.

6. Then, click on Optional Updates (Features, Drivers, etc.).
7. Look for updates related to Windows features and check the box before it.
8. Click on the Download & Install button and wait for the process to complete.
9. Restart your computer.

Also Read – 9+ Ways To Fix Windows Stuck on “Checking for Updates”

Method 5 – Activate System File Checker

The System File Checker or SFC is an inbuilt tool for repairing system files, including files related to Microsoft Compatibility Telemetry. Here are the steps to run this tool.

1. Press Win + R to launch the RUN box.
2. Type “cmd” and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to open the Command prompt in admin mode.
3. Copy and paste the following command followed by the Enter key.

sfc /scannow

4. The tool will scan your system files for integrity violations. This may take some time, so be patient.
5. Once the scan is complete, you’ll see a message indicating whether any issues were found and if they were repaired.
6. Reboot your system.

Method 6 – Activate Deployment Image Servicing and Management

1. Press Win + R to launch the RUN box.
2. Type “cmd” and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to open the Command prompt in admin mode.
3. Copy and paste the command below and press the Enter key.

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

4. The DISM tool will start to check the health of your system image. This process may take some time, so please be patient.
5. Restart your PC after the process is completed.

Method 7 – Manual Replacement Of The CompatTelRunner File

The CompatTelRunner.exe file runs the telemetry process. If this file becomes corrupted, you may encounter high memory usage. If the file does not get replaced even after running SFC and DISM, you will have to manually replace it. The simplest method is copying the file from another system where telemetry functions properly. Here’s how to do it.

1. Press the Windows key and type CMD.
2. The Command Prompt will appear in the search results. Click on Run as administrator.
3. Copy and paste the following command followed by the Enter key.

takeown /f C:\Windows\System32\CompatTelRunner.exe

The steps above will grant you ownership of the file. After that, replace the CompatTelRunner.exe file on your device with a working copy from another computer. If this solution doesn’t resolve the issue, consider disabling telemetry using Group Policy Editor or Windows Registry as a last resort.

Method 8 – Use The Group Policy Editor To Disable Microsoft Compatibility Telemetry

If you’ve tried all of the above solutions and the problem remains unusually high, you can try disabling the process through the Group Policy Editor.

1. Press the Windows key and type “gpedit”.

2. Click on the Edit Group Policy in the search result.
3. In the left panel, click on the following items one by one.

Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Data Collection and Preview Builds.

4. Now look in the right section and locate the key labeled as Allow Diagnostic Data (Windows 11) or Allow Telemetry (Windows 10).
5. Double-click on this key, and a new box will open.
6. Choose the Disable option and click on Apply, followed by OK.

Method 9 – Disable Microsoft Compatibility Telemetry Using Windows Registry

If you cannot disable the Microsoft Compatibility Telemetry service using the Group Policy Editor, you can make changes to the Windows Registry to do so. Here is what you need to do.

1. Press the Win + S keys and type Regedit in the Windows Search box.
2. Click on the Yes option in the UAC prompt box.
3. Copy and paste the following path in the address bar of the Windows Registry Editor and press Enter.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SOFTWARE > Policies > Microsoft > Windows > DataCollection

4. Right-click on the DataCollection folder in the left panel and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
5. Rename this new key as Allow Telemetry.
6. Double-click this key and under Value Data, type “0” and click on OK.
7. Exit the Windows Registry Editor and restart your system.

Method 10 – Delete Temporary And Junk Files From Your PC

If you wish to keep the Microsoft Telemetry service up and running with low CPU usage, some experts have recommended cleaning all the temporary and junk files from your PC. These files are useful when created, but over time, they accumulate and interfere with system processes and services, creating conflicts. To get rid of all the junk files and recover your valuable storage space, you will need to use Advanced System Optimizer. Here are the steps.

1. Download & Install Advanced System Optimizer.

2. Open the app and click on the Start Smart PC Care button.

3. Wait for the app to scan your PC and then click on the Optimize button.
4. This app will automatically detect and remove all junk files, repair Registry issues, Update Drivers, clear cache and cookies, scan for malware, and maintain your PC for Optimal performance.
5. Restart your system after the optimization process is completed.

Have You Fixed the Problem

We hope you can now reduce your PC’s Microsoft Compatibility Telemetry High CPU Usage by changing the related settings. If that doesn’t solve your issue, you can always disable the service using the Group Policy Editor or the Windows Registry to fix the issue. Let us know your thoughts on this issue and how you fixed it in the comments section below.

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