What is “Windows Modules Installer Worker” and Why is it Running on My PC?

What is Windows Modules Installer Worker?

The Windows Module Installer Worker (TiWorker.exe) is one of the most important processes in the Microsoft Windows Operating System. This system process plays an important role in the Windows Update service, which is responsible for the updates that take place in the Windows 10 Operating System.

Every time a Windows update is being browsed for, downloaded, being installed, or being rebooted after the install of the update the Windows Modules Installer Worker can be found running in the background. You can find this in the Task Manager.

Why Is It Using So Much CPU?

Sometimes you may notice that the TiWorker.exe process, which is the executable for the Windows Modules Installer Worker, is using more CPU resources than usual. This happens for a short time when there is a large Windows update being installed. If the CPU usage is high for a short period of time, it is normal. 

But if this persists, you may not be able to run other programs. Even if you are able to run a program, the performance of the CPU dedicated to running it will be very low causing the program to run slowly. 

Usually, the high CPU usage issue is caused when it has to be employed by the Windows Update service. There are reported cases of this issue, where the CPU usage has spiked up to 100 percent. 

This will take place only when the update is being checked, downloaded, or installed. This shouldn’t take very long. Once it is done, the Windows Modules Installer Worker process will stop using a lot of CPU memory and stop or become normal, once again. If it does not, there is a problem that has to be looked into.

Is the Windows Modules Installer Worker process a harmful virus or any other form of malware?

No, it is not a virus or a malware file in any form. There have been no recorded reports of the Windows Modules Installer Worker process being a virus or a malware file. 

This question might arise to you when it comes to your knowledge that this process is taking up a lot of your CPU memory. The Windows Modules Installer Worker or TiWorker.exe is a process that monitors OS’ new updates. There is nothing to worry about it being a virus. If this is not convincing to you, you can always run a full system scan with trustworthy antivirus software. 

Can the Windows Modules Installer Worker be disabled?

No, there is no way for users to disable the Windows Modules Installer Worker or the Windows Update services on their Windows 10 PC. 

If any such attempts were made to delete this process, it can disrupt other Windows operations. It can even crash your computer and prevent it from running. 

Fixing Windows Module Installer Worker system process high CPU usage issue on Windows 10

There are five possible solutions to fix the Windows Modules Installer Worker High CPU usage issue that occurs on your computer. 

These are what you can do to resolve this and bring your CPU usage back to normal:

1. Delete the SoftwareDistribution folder
2. Reboot the Windows Updates Service
3. Troubleshoot using the Windows Update Troubleshooter
4. Locate corrupt system files with the System Update Readiness Tool and remove them
5. Find and remove corrupt system files with the System File Checker

Methods to fix Windows Modules Installer Worker high disk usage problem

The following are methods and the steps they have to fix this issue caused by the Windows Modules Installer Worker process on your computer. All of these steps may not work for all computers. The fixes work based on where the issue arises from. All the methods are targeted towards removing the cause of the High CPU issue that comes during a Windows update. 

Method 1: Run the windows update troubleshooter

A troubleshooter can figure out almost every problem with the computer when launched. There are specific troubleshooters for all aspects of a Windows 10 OS. Thereby, some troubleshooters check if you have a new Windows Update, with the help of the Windows Update service. 

Automatic updates can be causing problems for you. Running the Windows update troubleshooter can help you find the problems and fix it if the problems arise during the elaborate Windows update process. 

These are the steps to launching the Windows Update troubleshooter on your Windows 10 PC.

1. Open the Windows Settings on your computer. You can search for it in the search bar on the Start bar or select the Settings icon on the left side of the Start menu. 

2. In the Settings window, select the Update & Security option to open it.

3. On the left pane, select the Troubleshoot sub-menu. 
4. In the Troubleshoot section, click on the Additional Troubleshooters button.

5. You will see all the troubleshooters that are available for troubleshooting different components of the computer. From the list, under the Get up and running section, select the Windows Update option. 

6. From the dropdown, select Run the Troubleshooter. 
7. The troubleshooting process begins. It takes a while for the process to finish.

8. If there was a problem, you’ll see the details about the problem and information about whether the issue was fixed or not. 

Method 2: Convert your internet to a metered connection

A metered network is a connection with a limit to the amount of data that passes through it. Mobile data connections are metered, by default. Ethernet and Wi-Fi connections can be modified to be metered or unmetered, through the network settings. Changing your network’s settings to set it to be metered can help solve this High disk usage problem. 

This is how you can set your network to be a metered connection. 

1. Open the Windows Settings. 
2. Select the Network & Internet settings, in the window. 
3. In the left pane, you’ll see a sub-menu with the title as the type of network you are connected to. ie) If your device is connected to a wifi network, you’ll see a Wi-fi option. If you are connected to an Ethernet, you’ll see an Ethernet option. Click on the option. 

My PC is connected to Ethernet. So, I have the Ethernet options. The upcoming options are the same for any type of network.

4. Click on the Network you are connected. Under the Metered Connection section, click on the Set as Metered Connection toggle switch to turn it on.

Your network will be limited. Once you use up all the data in the limit, you will remain connected to the internet but will not receive any data.  

Method 3: Delete the SoftwareDistribution folder

All of the files required for Windows updates can be found in the SoftwareDistribution folder. In this location, the Windows Module Installer Worker discovers and executes the Windows update files. Removing this folder by hand will alleviate the problem of excessive CPU utilization.

This is the directory, where you can find this folder and delete it: 

Local Disk (C:) > Windows. 

Locate the SoftwareDistribution folder, right-click on the folder, and select Delete.

Method 4: Disable the Windows Update service

Stopping the Windows Update service can reduce the use of CPU resources and this is a possible fix to the Windows Modules Installer Worker High CPU usage issue. This is how this system process can be stopped. 

1. Press the Windows key + R key on your keyboard to launch the Run tool.
2. Type services.msc in the Open field and click on the Ok button.

3. The Services screen opens. Locate the Windows Update service among all your system processes. Right-click on it and click on Stop. This will disable the Windows Update process. You can also double-click the process and click on stop.

Here the services.msc is the command for launching the Services window. 

Method 3: Check for Disk Drive Errors on your PC

If there are errors on your disk, it might affect your computer by causing a lot of resource usage. High disk usage is not safe for your computer. 

To fix this, by checking for such errors, these are the steps.

1. Open the Command Prompt tool as the administrator.
2. Type in the following command in the tool:

CHKDSK c:/f/r/x 

3. Press the enter key. This is the check disk command. If any related errors are detected in the scan, you can do a manual repair. Once this process is done, Windows will restart automatically. 

Method 4: Run the System Update Readiness Tool (DISM)

The System Update Readiness Tool or the DISM tool can be used to remove corrupt files or other related data that might be causing trouble for your PC, automatically. 

Users can use the Command Prompt to fix their system, this way.

1. Open the Command Prompt tool as the system administrator. Search for it in the search bar, you’ll see the option.
2. Type in the following command and press the enter key: 

Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

3. The system will run a scan. Once finished, restart your computer and check if the Windows Module Installer Worker (TiWorker.exe) is still taking up a lot of related resources in the Task Manager. 

Do not switch off or reboot your system when these processes are ongoing.

Method 5: Run the Software File Checker (SFC) Tool

The Software File Checker (SFC) tool is used to locate corrupt files from the computers and remove them, automatically. This tool can be used to remove files that may be tampering with the Windows updates. 

This is how you can fix it. 

1. Open Command Prompt tool as an administrator. 
2. In the Command Prompt window, type in sfc /scannow.

3. Press the enter button to start the operation. 

Your Windows system will be checked for corrupt or missing files. They will be repaired, automatically, if it is with the abilities of the SFC tool. If not, the users will have to download them. 

Do not shut down or restart, while the process runs. 

These are all the possible solutions to the High CPU usage caused by the Windows Modules Installer Worker service. Every time you finish a fix, reboot the device to apply the changes. Right-click and refresh the computer. 

Check in the Task Manager to see if the problem is fixed. Download and install updates regularly. Windows updates come out on Tuesdays. Updates may be released on other days, if there are big updates. You can also enable automatic updates.

Check out our article if you are getting a message that Your PC will automatically restart in one minute. 

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