How to fix random disk usage spikes in Windows 11/10

If you notice a performance issue while using a PC or an application, one of the things to check is disk usage. If you notice random spikes in disk usage, this post will help you fix the issue on your Windows PC.

Peak loads are definitely one of the major concerns as they slow down your computer’s performance. But there are a couple of life hacks with which you can try to solve the problem and fix it right away.

What is the cause of random spikes in disk usage?

Several different reasons can cause this issue on Windows. Some of these reasons are listed below:

• Disk fragmentation. If you are using a traditional hard drive and enable the automatic disk optimization feature, this may result in a disk peaks error.
• CompatTellRunner.exe: This program is known for taking up disk space.
• Failed Hard Drive: There is also a good chance that your hard drive is failing and you need to replace it with a new one. But first, be sure to check the health of the hard drive.
• Windows Search failure: In Insider builds of Windows 11, disk usage increases whenever you try to use the Windows Search component.

Fix: Random disk usage spikes in Windows 11/10

I have shared some of the most effective methods for resolving disk usage issues in Windows. Try these methods and see if they help you:

1. Check app usage
2. Update to the latest build of Windows
3. Defragment your hard drive
4. Disable SysMain Service (Superfetch)
5. Run the disk check utility
6. Troubleshooting in clean boot state to check for third party process interference
7. Check hard drive health
8. Disable MSI mode

Now let me talk about all these methods one by one.

Note. If you see consistently high disk usage, please refer to the linked guide.

1. Check app usage

Open Task Manager with Ctrl + Shift + Esc. Then click the Drive column to sort it in descending order. This will help you identify the application that is causing high disk usage. If you don’t notice it right away, wait until you see a splash.

Once you have identified the application, you can reinstall it and check if the problem is still there. You will need to uninstall the app and find an alternative if this is the case.

You can also check if the application is stuck while performing an operation. For example, if it’s an Excel program and you notice a spike in disk usage while editing a file or while syncing, you need to recreate the file. If the problem is caused by the indexing service, you need to resolve it accordingly.

2. Update to the latest build of Windows

The first thing you should do is update to the latest build of Windows. There is a good chance that Microsoft has already solved the problem and released an update.

So, go to Settings > Windows Update > Check for Updates. And see if there are updates available. If there is, download and install it and see if it solves the problem for you.

3. Defragment your hard drive

If your system uses a hard drive and you have disabled the defragmentation and driver optimization feature. Then this could be the main reason for the high disk usage. Therefore, it is recommended to enable this feature. After that, it will also improve Windows performance.

To do this, follow these steps:

• Press Windows Key + R to launch Run.
• Type dfrgui.exe and press Enter.
• Then select the hard drive with the operating system and click the “Optimize”button.
• You will also be presented with a user account management menu. Click Yes to continue.

After starting the installation, wait for it to complete. Also, make sure you don’t stop the process halfway through as this can cause additional problems.

3. Disable SysMain Service (Superfetch)

SysMain, formerly known as SuperFetch, is a program used by Windows to prefetch applications into memory before running them. This feature helps you download applications as quickly as possible. However, this can sometimes lead to high disk usage errors. Therefore, you can try to disable this feature by doing the following:

• Launch R by pressing the Windows key + R.
• Type services.msc and press Enter.
• Now find the SysMain or Superfetch service and double click on it.
• Then change the startup type to “Disabled”and click “Stop”to pause the services.
• Finally, click Apply > OK.

This will reduce disk usage by 10-15%. Alternatively, you can restart your computer to minimize disk usage.

4. Run the disk check utility

You can also try a disk check to fix temporary errors. To do this, follow these steps:

• Right-click the Start menu and select Windows Terminal (Admin) to launch it.
• Then type chkdsk.exe /f /r
• This command does not initiate a system check immediately. Instead, click the Y next to it to schedule a scan the next time you restart your computer.

So, restart your computer to start the disk check process.

5. Disable the CompatTelRunner.exe process.

CompatTelRunner.exe is a common program known for taking up a lot of memory space. Therefore, it is recommended to disable this service. There are two ways to disable it: Task Scheduler and Registry Editor.

Let me talk about both options below:

Stop the CompatTelRunner.exe process through the task scheduler.

• Press Windows Key + R to launch Run.
• Type taskschd.msc and press the Enter key to open Task Scheduler.
• Then navigate to the next path using the left menu

Библиотека планировщика заданий > Microsoft > Windows > Работа с приложениями.

• Here disable all tasks by right clicking on them.
• Once disabled, restart your computer and the issue should be fixed.

Disable the CompatTelRunner.exe process through the Registry Editor.

• Press Windows key + R to launch the Run window.
• Type regedit and press Enter.
• In the Registry Editor navigate to the following path:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags\TelemetryController

• Then right-click TelemetryController and choose Rename from the context menu.
• Then rename the TememetryController key to TelemetryControllerX.
• Finally, restart your computer and you’re done.

6. Check HDD/SSD health

If your hard drive is quite old, this could be one of the main reasons behind the occasional high disk usage. If the condition of your hard drive is poor, it may cause the drive to fail or cause various issues related to the drive.

Checking the health of the hard drive is very simple. Many applications help you with your work, but it is best to use the tool offered by the OEM.

If your SSD is old, use an OEM tool to fix the performance issue.

7. Disable MSI Mode

According to some users, 100% of disk usage errors are fixed by disabling MSI mode. According to Microsoft, the high disk usage error occurs due to firmware incompatibility in Advanced Host Controller Interface PCI-Express (AHCI PCIe) controllers.

So, if your PC is using the StorAHCI.sys driver, this problem is likely to affect you. However, according to Microsoft, by disabling MSI mode, you can significantly reduce disk usage.

• Right-click the Start menu and select Device Manager.
• Expand IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers and right-click the entry.
• Next, select properties.

• Click the Driver tab and click Driver Details.
• Here, if you see StorAHCI.sys along the path, only proceed to the next step. If you don’t see anything like this, skip this method.
• Then go to the Details tab and change the device instance path from the dropdown menu.
• Now right click the value here and copy it.
• Paste the value into the Notepad file.
• Close Device Manager and open Registry Editor by navigating to the Windows Search option.
• Navigate to the following registry path:

Компьютер\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Система\CurrentControlSet\Enum\PCI\

• Now match the entry with the one you pasted into the Notepad file and expand it.

Компьютер\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Система\CurrentControlSet\Enum\PCI\

• Now in the sidebar go to Device Settings > Interrupt Management > MessageSignaledInterruptProperties.
• In the right pane, find MSISupported, open it and change the data value to 0.

Finally, close the Registry Editor and restart your computer. You will notice that your disk usage does not exceed the 10-20% mark.

Should I disable Superfetch?

If your computer is dealing with increased CPU usage, consuming more RAM, or random high disk usage, you should disable SuperFetch. SuperFetch preloads applications into memory to load them faster. However, this can be a major resource consumption issue. You will experience a noticeable drop in the performance and speed of your computer. Also, if you are using an old hard drive, this feature should be permanently disabled.

Will Chkdsk repair corrupted files?

The main purpose of the chkdsk command is to scan the file system on a disk (NFTS, FAT32) and verify the integrity of the file system, including file system metadata, and fix any logical file system errors detected by chkdsk.

What does an SFC scan do?

The SFC /scannow command will scan all protected system files on your computer and replace corrupted files with a cached copy located in a compressed folder in the Windows folder.

So, those were all the fixes for random disk usage spikes in Windows 11/10. Now go and try these methods and see if they help. Also, for any other questions, feel free to leave a comment below.