Shell Infrastructure Host High CPU [FIXED]

Hey there! Are you experiencing high CPU usage due to the Shell Infrastructure Host on your Windows computer? Unfortunately, an annoying issue can slow down your system’s performance and ruin your overall user experience. Don’t worry, though! In this blog post, we will be discussing the causes of this problem and some effective troubleshooting methods you can use to fix it. By the end, you’ll be an expert in resolving high CPU usage caused by the Shell Infrastructure Host.

What is Shell Infrastructure Host?

The Shell Infrastructure Host is a super important process that runs in the background of your Windows operating system. It’s in charge of ensuring all the fancy stuff like the Start menu, taskbar, and desktop look and behave as they’re supposed to. In addition, it’s part of the Windows Shell, responsible for all the visual stuff you see on your screen. Usually, the Shell Infrastructure Host does its thing without causing any problems. Still, sometimes it can use up much of your computer’s processing power and slow things down.

How To Fix Shell Infrastructure Host High CPU

Fix 1: Update Windows

Microsoft has tried to reduce this issue on Windows 10/11, and installing pending Windows updates helped many users solve the problem. So try it first!

Here’s how to update Windows to the most recent version:

1. Tap the Windows key + I simultaneously to open the Settings app.
2. Click on Update & Security.
3. Click on the Check for Updates button to search for any available updates. 
4. If updates are available, click the Install Now button to install them. 

Fix 2: Use a Static Desktop Background

You could always switch to a dull, static desktop background. It’s not as fun, but it might save you from dealing with a slow and laggy computer. Here’s how you can make the switch:

1. Click on the Start button and choose Settings.
2. Select Personalization from the list of options.
3. In the Background section, choose either a Picture or Solid color.

If changing the background does not alleviate the high CPU usage, proceed to the following troubleshooting method.

Fix 3: Use a Different Photo Viewer App

One of the main reasons for the high CPU usage problem with Shell Infrastructure Host is the memory leak issue with the default Windows photo viewer. This bug causes sihost.exe to query the registry, resulting in high CPU usage constantly.

There’s an easy fix! Switch to a different photo viewer software by following the steps below:

1. Click the Start button and select Settings.
2. Choose Apps from the list of options.
3. Select Default apps, then click on Photos (which is the default photo viewer app in Windows).
4. Choose another app to switch to as the default.
5. Check if changing the default app resolves the issue. If the problem persists, you may need to repair corrupt system files.

Following these steps, you can easily change your default photo viewer app and troubleshoot any related issues.

Fix 4: Run System Maintenance Troubleshooter

Why not try running the System Maintenance Troubleshooter to solve this issue? It’s a great tool that can fix many problems related to system maintenance on your computer. Here’s how you can run it:

1. Right-click the Start button and select Run.
2. Type the following command into the given command line: %systemroot%\system32\msdt.exe -id MaintenanceDiagnostic
3. Press Enter.
4. In the pop-up box, click.
5. Click Run as administrator.
6. Click Next to allow the system maintenance tool to troubleshoot any issues on your computer.
   
7. Please wait for the tool to complete its troubleshooting and notify you when it’s done.

If the issue is resolved after running the system maintenance tool, congratulations! If the issue persists, there is one more fix you can try to resolve the problem.

Fix 5: Run SFC and DSIM

Here is how you can do the SFC scans:

1. Search for the “Command Prompt” on the Windows search box, right-click its icon, and select Run as administrator.
2. Type SFC /scannow in the command prompt window and press Enter to execute it.
3. Wait for the scan to finish. It might take a few minutes.
4. Once the scan is completed, you can install updates properly.

Here is how you can do the DISM scans:

1. Open the Command Prompt window with administrator privileges, as mentioned earlier.
2. Type “DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth” and press Enter to execute the command.
3. Wait for the DISM command to finish running. This might take a few minutes.
4. After executing the command, try installing updates again to see if it works.

Fix 6: Run a Microsoft Defender Malware Scan 

To scan your Windows computer for the Shell Infrastructure Host using the built-in antivirus software, follow these steps:

1. Go to Start and select Settings.
2. Choose Update & Security.
3. Select Windows Security, then click on Virus & threat protection.
4. In Scan options, choose Full or Custom Scan to scan for the Shell Infrastructure Host specifically.
5. If you want to perform a Custom scan, select that option.
6. Wait for the scanning process to complete.
7. Follow the on-screen instructions to troubleshoot any issues that are detected.

Following these steps, you can use the built-in antivirus software to scan your computer for the Shell Infrastructure Host and troubleshoot any detected issues.

Fix 7: Perform a Clean Boot

A clean boot, huh? It sounds like a fancy way to eliminate pesky apps hogging your CPU! Let me show you how to do it:

1. Right-click the Start button and select Run.
2. Type the words “msconfig” and press Enter.
3. In the visible System Configuration window, go to the Services tab and choose “Hide all Microsoft services.”
4. Then, select “Disable all” and click Apply.
5. Switch to the Startup tab in System Configuration and click Open Task Manager.
6. In Task Manager, navigate to the Startup tab and disable each startup item by selecting it and clicking Disable.
   
7. Return to the System Configuration window and tap on OK to save the changes.
8. Restart your PC by clicking “Restart.”
9. Check to see if the issue has been resolved.

Following these steps, you can disable startup services and troubleshoot any issues on your Windows computer.

Reset the Computer to Start Normally After Clean Boot Troubleshooting

To reset your computer to start, usually, after troubleshooting, follow these steps:

1. Right-click the Start button and select Run.
2. Type “msconfig” and press Enter.
3. In the System Configuration window, navigate to the General tab.
4. Select “Normal startup.”
5. Switch to the Services tab and clear the check box beside “Hide all Microsoft services.”
6. Select “Enable all” and then click Apply.
7. Navigate to the Startup tab and select Open Task Manager.
8. In Task Manager, enable all of the startup programs that you had previously disabled.
9. When prompted to restart the computer, select Restart.

Following these steps, you can reset your computer to start, usually after troubleshooting.

Summing Up

The problem of high CPU usage caused by the Shell Infrastructure Host can be a real annoyance but fear not, and there are easy ways to deal with it. You can identify and resolve the issue on your Windows computer by implementing the methods discussed here. It’s always important to keep your system safe by regularly scanning it for viruses and malware. However, none of the troubleshooting steps work. In that case, it’s best to seek help from a professional or contact Microsoft support for assistance. We hope our post has helped address your Shell Infrastructure Host’s high CPU usage issue.

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