Fix: WaasMedic.exe High CPU Usage Issue on Windows

What is WaaSMedic Agent.Exe?

WaaSMedic Agent.Exe is an executable file of Windows updates that helps to install upcoming updates. It is also known as WaasMedicSvc. When Windows detects the updates, WaaSMedic Agent.Exe gets active and runs in the background to complete the installation. You can find Windows Update Medic Service under wusvcs in the Task Manager.

Microsoft releases Windows updates to prevent viruses and malware from the computer by implementing new security features in the form of services. WaasMedicSvc is one such service that runs in the background to deliver error-free updates. However, some users think it is malware as it consumes an excessive amount of CPU and Memory resources. However, that is not true as it is an executable file of the Windows update component.

How To Fix WaaSMedic Agent.Exe Causing High CPU Usage?

This issue often occurs when Windows is trying to install news updates, but for some reason, it frequently fails, and due to that, Windows Update Medic Service causes high CPU usage.

Many reasons can cause Windows updates to not install successfully, such as system file corruption, connection issues, and corrupted software distribution folder. These are the common causes, you can read the following ones to get understand in more detail:

• Corrupt System Files- Usually, high CPU or Memory usage can be caused by corrupted system files. It’s not just about the corrupted system files, you might even encounter this issue when you have a corrupted third-party application file running in the background. Hence, you will need to repair the corrupt system file to fix this issue.
• Corrupted Software Distribution Folder- The software distribution folder stores the Windows update files that are downloaded by the Windows update. If these files are corrupted, you will not be able to install the Windows updates, and due to that reason, the Windows Update Medic Service file will run and cause high CPU or Memory usage until you fix this issue.
• Unstable Internet Connection- To counter this issue, you have to determine what prevents you from downloading and installing the Windows updates. If Windows updates are not downloading and installing due to a lack of internet speed, you have to wait till the internet speed gets stable.

1. Check For Windows  Update

As a first method, we recommend trying to update your Windows version. Once you install the Windows updates successfully, Windows Update Medic Service will stop running in the background, which will solve the WaaSMedic Agent.Exe causing high CPU or Memory Usage. Follow the steps:

1. Click the Start Menu and type Windows update
   

   

2. Open the Windows update settings and click Check For Updates, or if there is an option to retry, click it to try installing the update.

   

2. Boot Windows in Safe Mode

If the Windows updates did not install after so many tries, boot your Windows in safe mode to disable all the services related to Windows updates. The advantage of enabling the safe mode is you won’t need to disable the Windows update service. Below are the steps to boot your Windows in a safe mode:

1. Launch Run Window by pressing the Win + R keys together
2. Type msconfig in the box and click OK
   

   

3. Click on Boot from the top bar to view the options
4. Now under Boot Options, tick the Safe Mode
5. Click Apply and click OK

   

6. Restart your computer to boot Windows in safe mode.

2.1 Clear Software Distribution Folder

After enabling the safe mode, you will have to clear the software distribution folder to remove all the update files that are downloaded by Windows. Software distribution is a folder located in the Windows directory that contains the files that Windows requires while updating. So it is important to remove the files as they can get corrupted and causes various issues. Follow the below steps:

1. Open the Run Window by hitting Win + R keys simultaneously
2. Copy and paste the following directory in the search box and click OK

   C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution

   

3. Now select all the files under this directory and press the Delete key on the keyboard

   

4. Once you have deleted all the files, close the Window and restart your computer
5. After restarting, click Start Menu and type Windows update
6. Open the Windows update settings and click Check For Updates to download and install pending updates

   

7. Once you have successfully installed all the updates, open the task manager and check if it resolves your issue.

3. Disable WaaSMedic Agent Exe Via Registry

If the issue persists, try disabling the WaaSMedic service via the registry editor. Even though Windows does not allow its users to disable the WaaSMedic service from the services Window, so we have to disable WaaSMedic by using the registry editor.

Before making changes to the registry editor, we recommend creating a full registry backup. To disable WaasMedicAgent.exe, follow the steps:

1. Press the Windows key and type Registry Editor
   

   

2. Open the registry editor and navigate to the following path

   Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\WaaSMedicSvc

3. Double-click the Start entry on the right pane
4. Change its value data to 3
5. Click OK and restart your computer to check if the issue is fixed.

   

4. Run DISM / SFC Commands

DISM, or Deployment Image Servicing and Management, is an inbuilt utility that includes three commands for repairing, scanning, and restoring system files. In comparison, the SFC or System File Checker is only a single command used to repair the system files such as DLL, exe, and others. Follow the steps to execute DISM or SFC commands:

1. Click Start Menu from the bottom left
2. Type Command Prompt in the search box
3. Right-click the command prompt and choose Run As Administrator
   

   

4. Once the terminal is opened, paste the following commands and wait for the process to be done

   DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
   sfc /scannow

   

   Executing Repair Commands
5. Once done, check if the issue is resolved. If not, try installing the Windows update manually.

5. Try Install the Windows update Manually

The final method for this solution is to install the Windows update manually via the Microsoft Catalog. If your Windows is not installing the updates after multiple tries, it is possible that either the files are corrupted or there is some problem with your Windows.

Rather than determine the source of the problem, download the Windows update from the Microsoft catalog, a website that contains all the Windows updates released so far. Before downloading the Windows update, first, you need to clear the software distribution folder. Below are the instructions you can follow to install the Windows update manually:

1. Press the Windows key and type Services
   

   

2. Open the services Window and select the Windows Update service
3. Click on the Stop button on the left pane

   

4. Repeat the same process with Windows Update Medic Service
5. Once you stop both services, press the Windows + R keys to open Run Window, then paste the following directory in the search box and click OK

   C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution

   

6. Delete all the files here
7. Click the Start Menu and type Windows update
   

   

8. Open the settings and click View Update History
   

   

9. Here, copy the updates names that were not installing

   

10. Then, go to the Microsoft Catalog and search for the update with the copied name
11. Click the Download button on the right side of the update

    

12. A short Window will appear with downloading link
13. Click on it to download

    

14. Once done, double-click the update to install it on your computer
15. Once the updates are installed, check if the issue is fixed.

In case none of the methods fixed your issue, try resetting or restoring Windows to a previous state by following the steps composed in the articles.