What is the process csrss.exe and why does it load the processor?

If you've been using Windows for a long time, you've probably encountered one or more programs that use a lot of CPU. Some of them are not so common, others are almost automatically implemented into the system. One of the few cases where a process can heavily load the OS is the Runtime Client Server, known as "csrss.exe". It is directly linked to the Windows platform and usually requires minimal resources. But not in our case. Many users report that after checking in the task manager, they are faced with a strange process that is consuming 80-100% of the CPU. To be fair, this is a pretty serious problem, so you need to get rid of it as soon as possible.

Solving problems with CPU load by the csrss.exe process.

What is csrss.exe

What process is csrss.exe? It is the controller of the Win32 console and streaming functions. In Windows, the Win32 API (Application Programming Interface) is a text window that can be used by programs without the need to display graphics. What is csrss.exe in Task Manager? Typically, a process is split into multiple threads that share resources within a single process and operate at the CPU level. Csrss.exe assists in creating and deleting threads as needed. Some parts of the 16-bit MS-DOS and Windows 7 virtual environment are also controlled by the csrss file.

Introduction

The CSRSS subsystem – client/server run-time subsystem (client-server subsystem) is part of the Windows executive subsystem, which is responsible for console applications, creating/deleting threads and the 16-bit MS-DOS virtual environment.
We know this, but, unfortunately, this is where all the documentation of CSRSS ends. This is probably one of the most mysterious bricks of Windows. And this is not only a mysterious, but also a sensitive brick, since the CSRSS.EXE process is the only one to which the epithet “critical” is assigned, and interference with its normal execution threatens the collapse of the entire system. Let me mention this detail - for the entire (!) zoo of BSODs that the Windows kernel can generate, only two bug checks: 0x0000004C (FATAL_UNHANDLED_HARD_ERROR) and 0xC000021A (STATUS_SYSTEM_PROCESS_TERMINATED) occur when its usermode processes crash - these are the processes winlogon.exe and csrss.exe . Without these two processes, Windows cannot exist. And the saddest thing is that in the second case, if it is determined that the cause of the “blue screen” was the failure of csrss.exe (usually as a result of malware), then this will be a fatal case, leading to reinstallation of the system (or its emergency recovery).

CSRSS takes its settings not from the registry, as it might seem at first glance, but from the command line, which looks something like this:

In general, in my opinion, the main task of CSRSS is still a kind of control over the creation and destruction of processes and threads. And if so, then one cannot underestimate the possibilities that are hidden in it.

Program file location

Csrss.exe is one of the main components of Windows systems (client/server runtime subsystem), responsible for creating and deleting threads. It is part of the Win32 subsystem, operating in the so-called user mode - a space available to both components and applications of the system. Regardless of the number of copies of csrss.exe on the system, the program must be located inside the system folder (C:\Windows\system32).

IMPORTANT. If the process location is different, then it is very likely that you are dealing with malicious code masquerading as a system process.

By default, the csrss.exe file is located in C:\Windows\System32. This process was first introduced in Windows NT. It is not present in Windows 98 or other Windows operating systems released before NT.

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Why does the csrss.exe service load the processor?

Csrss is a Win32 subsystem user environment. It handles Windows API user mode and graphics API calls, passing them to the kernel. Therefore, it is a rather vulnerable component (hence why it exhibits various performance issues). There can be many reasons why csrss.exe loads the processor heavily. For example, excessively large volume and filling of the Cart. On modern drives, the default Recycle Bin size is too large, and 1-2 GB will be sufficient in most cases.

CPU usage can also be associated with poor metrics processing in programs that use a lot of fonts (typically word processing or document editing applications, web browsers, and other text display programs such as PDF viewers). If the device is also used by other users, check that other applications are running. Some programs that inject threads into other processes (such as ProcessExplorer) or capture system functions (such as firewalls) may interact poorly with other programs and csrss.

Video text

Does the CSRSS process load the GPU video card, disk, processor? Csrss.exe – what is this process, is it a virus or not, how to remove it if necessary?

Let's look at the essence of the file, why it is needed, what it is responsible for, whether it can be deleted, and how to distinguish it from a virus.

You will find out several reasons why Csrss.exe loads the processor, video card, RAM and HDD.

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How to determine if it is a virus

First of all, you need to make sure that the file is in the correct directory. To do this, launch Task Manager, right-click on the process and select “Go to file location.” If Explorer opens you to the C:\Windows\System32 folder, then you are dealing with a normal system component. Otherwise, it's most likely a virus. Anti-virus software will be an additional means of scanning. Run a full or deep scan, after which the application will show you possible threats.

How to fix the situation

Let's start by looking at the most popular cause of the csrss.exe error. System processes rarely load the CPU that much. There are indeed different possible problems when one of the main Windows services begins to depend on your resources, especially the CPU, but most often the cause lies in an external factor. Or, to be more precise, some kind of malicious program. With this in mind, we advise you to use either Windows Defender or any third-party antivirus tool. Let's look at the scanning function for viruses, crashes and malfunctions using Windows Defender as an example:

Open Windows Defender from the notification area.
Click Virus & threat protection.
Click the "Run new advanced scan" button.
Select Windows Defender Offline Scan.
Click "Run Scan Now."

Many solved the problem by simply deleting their user account and creating a new one. Since the client server's execution process is partly related to the user profile, CPU usage is not unusual. The reasons for this undesirable phenomenon lie in infection with malware, which, as a rule, damages system files or even clones them. So, even though your PC is not currently infected, the damage may already have been done.

This is a good reason to delete your user profile and try to create a new one. Yes, you will need to back up your data and reconfigure some minor things, but the problem should be resolved. Here's how to do it in a few simple steps:

In the Windows search bar, type “Control Panel” and open it.
Open "User Accounts".
Select "User Accounts".
Click "Manage another account."
Click "Add a new user" in the Computer Settings window.
Select "Add a user for this computer."
Enter the credentials for the alternate user profile and return to “Change Account Type.”
Open the newly created account and click “Change account type”.
Give her administrator rights.
Now go back and select your current profile. Back up your Documents and Desktop files and folders.
Click "Delete Account" and then "Delete Files."
Log out and log in to a new user account.
In the Windows search bar, type "Advanced options" and select "View advanced system settings."
Go to the "Advanced" tab.
Under User Profiles, click Settings.
Delete the default account and save the changes.
Restart your computer, log into the new user profile and go to the task manager to check csrss.exe CPU usage.

The final option is to turn to recovery. Or, to be more precise, “Reset this PC.” This option is similar to the factory reset that we usually use for smartphones. It completely restores Windows 10 to its original settings while preserving your data.

Press Win+I to bring up Settings.
Open the Update & Security window.
Select "Recovery".
Under Reset this PC, click Get Started.
Read also: ANT+ interface: what is it and what is it used for in smartphones
Select delete all files and the recovery procedure will begin.

The methods described above will certainly help you get rid of the problem that leads to excessive CPU usage by the csrss.exe process. If necessary, you may need to completely reinstall Windows. We hope that our article helped to understand the process in question and now you can easily understand why it is loading the processor.

The simplest ways to correct the situation

Let's start with the simplest one. So, we suspect a virus disguised as the Csrss.exe process. How to treat the system in this case? As easy as pie. First you need to “go through” the system with a powerful anti-virus scanner installed on the system, or use online scanners.

The user decides for himself which antivirus to choose. But in this particular case, it is better to use more powerful utilities, say, Kaspersky or Eset NOD32. A very interesting thing is the Panda cloud scanner, which combines the capabilities of standard standard antiviruses and online scanners. That's not the point.

Sometimes there may be situations where antivirus software does not detect threats associated with this process. Viruses are becoming much more sophisticated in their behavior. Sometimes a weak antivirus, etc., may simply be installed on the user’s computer terminal. What to do in this case?

Here we can recommend manual intervention. Of course, you can rummage through the registry, delete unnecessary keys or restore damaged ones, but you can do it much simpler. The simplest tool is the same task manager. If the user sees several processes in it that load the system to the point of impossibility, you can try to terminate each of them in turn. If the process turns out to be a virus, nothing bad will happen. It will end, that's all.

If shutdown is applied to the original service, Windows itself will immediately display a message asking whether the user really wants to end this process (Do you want to end this process?), as well as a warning that ending the process may affect stability system performance. Please note that this message is displayed only when accessing the real Csrss.exe file.