How to Fix WMI Provider Host High CPU Usage on Windows Server 2012 R2

Hello Dev, are you facing performance issues on your Windows Server 2012 R2 due to high CPU usage by WMI Provider Host? If yes, then you are not alone. Many users have reported this problem while using applications like Task Manager, PerfMon, or PowerShell. This article will provide you with a comprehensive guide on how to fix WMI provider host high CPU usage on your Windows Server 2012 R2. So, let’s get started!

Understanding WMI Provider Host

Before we dive into the solutions, let’s understand what WMI Provider Host is and why it is causing high CPU usage on your Windows Server 2012 R2. WMI stands for Windows Management Instrumentation, which is a set of tools that allows administrators to manage local or remote computers through scripts or applications. WMI Provider Host is a process that runs in the background and provides information to applications and scripts that are querying the system. It collects data about the system configuration, performance, and status and makes it available to the querying applications. However, sometimes, WMI Provider Host can cause performance issues by consuming a high amount of CPU resources, which slows down the system.

Causes of WMI Provider Host High CPU Usage

There can be several reasons why WMI Provider Host is causing high CPU usage on your Windows Server 2012 R2. Here are some common causes:

Causes	Solutions
Large WMI Repository	Rebuild WMI Repository
Corrupted WMI Repository	Repair WMI Repository
Third Party Applications	Disable or Uninstall Third-Party Applications
Malware or Virus	Run Malware or Antivirus Scan

Large WMI Repository

If the WMI Repository on your Windows Server 2012 R2 is too large, then it can cause high CPU usage by WMI Provider Host. The Repository contains information about the system configuration, and when it grows too big, it can slow down the querying process. You can check the size of the WMI Repository by following these steps:

1. Open Command Prompt as administrator
2. Type wmic repository list /format:value and press Enter
3. Look for the Size attribute and check its value

If the size of the WMI Repository is too big, then you can rebuild it by following these steps:

1. Stop the WMI service by running the command net stop winmgmt
2. Rename the folder %windir%\System32\Wbem\Repository to %windir%\System32\Wbem\Repository.old
3. Start the WMI service by running the command net start winmgmt

This will create a new WMI Repository, which should solve the high CPU usage problem caused by a large Repository.

Corrupted WMI Repository

If the WMI Repository on your Windows Server 2012 R2 is corrupted, then it can cause high CPU usage by WMI Provider Host. You can repair the Repository by following these steps:

1. Open Command Prompt as administrator
2. Type winmgmt /salvagerepository and press Enter
3. Wait for the repair process to complete
4. Restart the WMI service by running the command net stop winmgmt followed by net start winmgmt

This will repair the Repository and should solve the high CPU usage problem caused by a corrupted Repository.

Third Party Applications

If you have installed any third-party applications that use WMI to collect information about the system, then it can cause high CPU usage by WMI Provider Host. You can disable or uninstall these applications to solve the problem. Here are the steps to disable an application:

1. Open Task Manager
2. Go to the Details tab
3. Look for the application that is causing high CPU usage by WMI Provider Host
4. Right-click on it and select Set affinity
5. Uncheck the box next to WmiPrvSE.exe
6. Click OK

This will disable the application from using WMI and should solve the high CPU usage problem.

Malware or Virus

If your system is infected with malware or virus, then it can cause high CPU usage by WMI Provider Host. You can run a malware or antivirus scan to remove the infection. Here are the steps to run a scan:

1. Install a reputable malware or antivirus software
2. Update the software and its database
3. Run a full scan of your system
4. Follow the instructions to remove any detected malware or virus

This will remove the infection and should solve the high CPU usage problem.

Conclusion

WMI Provider Host is an important process that provides information to applications and scripts in Windows Server 2012 R2. However, if it causes high CPU usage, then it can slow down the system. By following the solutions mentioned in this article, you can fix WMI Provider Host high CPU usage and improve the performance of your system. We hope this article was helpful to you. If you have any questions or feedback, please leave them in the comments section below.

FAQ

Q1. What is WMI Provider Host?

WMI Provider Host is a process that runs in the background and provides information to applications and scripts that are querying the system. It collects data about the system configuration, performance, and status and makes it available to the querying applications.

Q2. Why is WMI Provider Host causing high CPU usage on Windows Server 2012 R2?

WMI Provider Host can cause high CPU usage on Windows Server 2012 R2 due to several reasons, including a large or corrupted WMI Repository, third-party applications, or malware or virus infection.

Q3. How to check the size of WMI Repository on Windows Server 2012 R2?

You can check the size of WMI Repository on Windows Server 2012 R2 by opening Command Prompt as administrator, typing wmic repository list /format:value, and looking for the Size attribute with its value.

Q4. What is the solution for a large WMI Repository on Windows Server 2012 R2?

The solution for a large WMI Repository on Windows Server 2012 R2 is to rebuild it. You can do this by stopping the WMI service, renaming the folder %windir%\System32\Wbem\Repository to %windir%\System32\Wbem\Repository.old, and starting the WMI service again.

Q5. How to run a malware or antivirus scan on Windows Server 2012 R2?

You can run a malware or antivirus scan on Windows Server 2012 R2 by installing a reputable malware or antivirus software, updating the software and its database, running a full scan of your system, and following the instructions to remove any detected malware or virus.