Remote Desktop Services causes High CPU in Windows 11

If you notice high CPU usage by dwm.exe when you use the Magnifier app through RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol) connection to a Windows 11/10 computer, then this post is intended to help you. In this post, we will identify the potential cause of this issue, as well as provide the solution you can try to mitigate this issue.

Let’s take a look at a typical scenario where you can encounter this high CPU usage issue.

When you use the Magnifier app on a remote Windows computer through a Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) session, the CPU usage of the dwm.exe process spikes. This occurs when smoothing is enabled in Magnifier. This feature is enabled by default in Windows 11/10.

You experience this issue because RDP uses the software renderer, which uses the CPU to run graphics commands.

Magnifier app cause high CPU usage in RDP connection

When you use the Magnifier app via RDP connection in Windows 11/10 and if this causes high CPU usage dwm.exe, you can follow the instructions prescribed below to resolve the issue.

Windows 11

If the Remote Desktop Services causes High CPU when using Magnifier in Windows 11:

1. Open Windows 11 Settings
2. Open Accessibility settings
3. On the right side, click on Magnifier
4. Locate Appearance settings
5. Toggle the slider to Off for Smooth edges of images and text.

Windows 10

To improve performance, disable smoothing in the Windows 10 Magnifier app.

Here’s how:

• Press Windows key + I to open the Settings app.
• Select Ease of Access.
• Select Magnifier.
• Now, clear the Smooth edges of images and text check box.
• Exit Settings app.

Once you complete this action, the high CPU usage by dwm.exe when you use the Magnifier app through RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol) connection to a Windows 11/10 computer, should be resolved.

What is Desktop Window Manager (dwm.exe)?

Desktop Window Manager (DWM, previously Desktop Compositing Engine or DCE) is the window manager in Windows 11/10 enables the use of hardware acceleration to render the graphical user interface of Windows. DWM.exe renders all those visual effects in Windows like the transparent windows, live taskbar thumbnails, Flip3D Alt-tab windows switcher, and even high-resolution monitor support.