Desktop Window manager Windows 10 high GPU

The desktop window manager is responsible for approving visual effects on your desktop. The manager controls high-resolution support, 3D window transitions animations, and more. The Desktop window manager is always running in the background as long as your system is powered on and in use.

Often, high GPU usage is good because it means that the GPU is operating at maximum levels with no issues, providing you with the highest possible FPS. However, the Desktop window manager high GPU issue could come up when it affects the FPS of other applications or functions in the system. This could cause lagging and general frustration with the use of the system. We will be discussing the possible causes and best fixes for the Desktop window manager high GPU issue in this article, let us know which fix works best for you.

What Causes Desktop Window Manager High GPU?

The Desktop window manager high GPU issue could be caused by outdated or corrupted GPU drivers. If the drivers are corrupted or outdated, it might affect the operation of the Desktop window manager and cause it to take up a higher GPU than it normally should.

DWM Overload

Another cause of the Desktop window manager high GPU issue is the overload of the Desktop window manager. The manager is responsible for a lot of activities and functions on the desktop and when a lot of these functions are running at the same time, it could cause the Desktop window manager to use a higher GPU than normal.

How to Fix Desktop Window Manager High GPU

To fix the Desktop window manager high GPU issue, you should first run system maintenance. System maintenance is used to troubleshoot or diagnose computer problems and it can be useful in this case as well. To do this:

1. Search for Control Panel in your taskbar and open it
2. Click on Troubleshooting, then select View all on the left side of the display
3. Find System Maintenance and open it
4. Click on Next and select Try troubleshooting as an administrator
5. Follow the onscreen prompts to complete the troubleshooting

Fix 2: Turn off Background Apps

One fix that might work for the Desktop window manager high GPU issue is to turn off the applications that are running in the background. The Desktop window manager is responsible for a lot of apps and might make use of a higher GPU if the majority of these apps are running simultaneously.

1. Open Settings and click on Privacy
2. Scroll down to find Background apps in the list of options on the left side of the display
3. Then toggle off Let apps run in the background

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Fix 3: Edit Display Settings

To fix the Desktop window manager high GPU issue, you could also try to change the display settings on your desktop. Some display effects might be causing the Desktop window manager to consume a higher GPU.

1. Open Settings and click on System
2. Scroll down to Scale and Layout on the right side of the display
3. Click on Advanced scaling settings
4. Then toggle off Let Windows try to fix apps so theyre not blurry

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Fix 4: Update, Reinstall, Or Roll Back GPU Drivers

If your drivers are corrupted or outdated, they might cause the Desktop window manager high GPU issue and this can easily be fixed by either an update, reinstall, or rollback of the GPU drivers.

To update your drivers:

1. Press the Windows + X keys together
2. Select Device Manager
3. Click on the arrow icon next to the Display Adapters option
4. Right-click on the driver and select Update driver
5. Then click on Search automatically for updated driver software

To reinstall your drivers:

1. Press the Windows + X keys together
2. Select Device Manager
3. Click on the arrow icon next to the Display Adapters option
4. Right-click on the driver and select Uninstall device
5. Go to the manufacturers website and download the most recent version of the graphics driver
6. Then open the setup file of the new graphics driver folder to install it

To roll back your driver updates:

1. Press the Windows and X keys together
2. Select Device Manager
3. Click on the arrow icon next to the Display Adapters option
4. Right-click on the driver and select Properties
5. Then switch to the Driver tab and select Rollback driver
6. Pick a reason and select Yes

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Fix 5: Try a Clean Boot

If none of the fixes above help you with the Desktop window manager high GPU issue, then you might want to retry them again but in a clean boot environment. To perform a clean boot:

1. Sign in to your computer as an administrator
2. Search for msconfig in your taskbar and open System configuration
3. Switch to the Services tab, check Hide all Microsoft Services and then click on Disable all
4. Switch to the Startup tab and click on Open task manager
5. Under the Startup tab in Task Manager, click on each item and then select Disable
6. After this is done, close Task Manager
7. Under the Startup tab of System configuration, click OK
8. Then restart the computer and retry the troubleshooting steps
9. After doing that, reset your computer with the following steps
10. First, repeat step 2 above
11. Then, switch to the General tab and click on Normal startup
12. Switch to the Services tab, uncheck Hide all Microsoft Services and then click on Enable all
13. Switch to the Startup tab and click on Open Task Manager
14. Under the Startup tab in Task Manager, click on each item and then select Enable
15. Select Restart when you are prompted to restart the computer

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