Fixed: Microsoft Compatibility Telemetry High CPU in Windows

Is your computer slow, lagging, or freezing? Or is the fan running at a high speed, applications not running smoothly, or is the high disk usage causing trouble? Then, you should be concerned about the Microsoft Compatibility Telemetry high CPU usage. 

The Compatibility Telemetry (CompatTelRunner.exe) is a Windows 10 service carrying technical data related to your computer’s usage and performance. It helps Microsoft improve Windows to enhance your user experience. 

However, this service sometimes puts too much pressure on the system resources, degrading its performance. Hence, in this article, we help you fix the Windows Compatibility Telemetry high CPU usage through quick, easy, tried, and tested fixes, such as disabling the service, reducing its data collection to basic, updating Windows, restarting the service, and more. 

Before going into the details of these solutions, let’s first answer the basic questions: what does this service do, and why is CompatTelRunner taking so much CPU? Knowing the answers to these questions will help you troubleshoot better. 

What Does Microsoft Compatibility Telemetry Do

The core function of CompatTelRunner.exe is to make it easy for Microsoft to identify operating system bugs. Through this feature, Microsoft collects your system data and uses it to improve its service quality, and it helps you properly update the system to the latest OS version. 

However, when this service occupies too many resources on your system, it slows down, even freezes, the computer. The Compatibility Telemetry high CPU usage can be a result of many factors; let’s discuss them next. 

Why Is CompatTelRunner Taking So Much CPU

Multiple factors can cause Microsoft Compatibility Telemetry High CPU usage, such as the following. 

• Corrupt system files
• Bad service configuration
• Malware infection
• Outdated operating system
• Collection of more than necessary data

After learning about Windows Compatibility Telemetry and its high CPU usage, let’s help you fix it. 

How to Fix Microsoft Compatibility Telemetry High CPU Usage

 As mentioned in the previous sections, the most effective ways to fix the Windows Compatibility Telemetry high CPU usage include disabling this service, changing its data collection to basic, updating Windows, restarting this service, manually replacing the CompatTelRunner file, running the SFC tool, removing CompatTelRunner.exe, and scanning the computer for malware infection. 

Below is a detailed explanation of these solutions. However, you are not required to perform all of them. You can start your troubleshooting session with the first fix and stop when the Microsoft Compatibility Telemetry CPU usage returns to normal. 

Fix 1: Try disabling Microsoft Compatibility Telemetry

Turning off Windows Telemetry is among the easiest ways to fix its high CPU usage. If you wonder if it’s okay to turn off Microsoft Compatibility Telemetry, disabling this service is a great way to enhance your privacy and system performance. Hence, below is how to disable Microsoft Compatibility Telemetry in the easiest way possible. 

• To begin with, use the Windows+R keyboard shortcut to access the Run utility.
• Once the Run box appears, type taskschd.msc in the on-screen Run box and press Enter to open the Task Scheduler.

• After the Task Scheduler window appears, select the Task Scheduler Library from the left section of the on-screen window.
• Next, select Microsoft from the available options.
• In this step, select Windows from the options available in the Microsoft category.

• Now, choose Application Experience from the Windows options.
• Next, right-click the Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser in the right pane and choose Disable from the on-screen options.
• Lastly, restart your computer to complete the process.

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Fix 2: Change the data Microsoft collects to basic

The Compatibility Telemetry high CPU usage may occur if the service collects more data than necessary. Hence, you can solve this problem by reducing the amount of data collected by Microsoft and changing the data collection settings to basic. Here is how. 

• To begin with, use the Win+I shortcut to open Settings.
• Next, navigate to the Privacy settings and then choose Diagnostics & Feedback.
• In this step, navigate to the Diagnostic data section and select Required diagnostic data from the on-screen options.
• Now, toggle off the option to Send optional diagnostic data.
• You can now toggle off the Let Microsoft use your diagnostic data option.

Fix 3: Perform Windows update

An outdated OS may have bugs responsible for many issues, the high Microsoft Compatibility Telemetry usage being one of them. Hence, below is how to update Windows to solve the problem. 

• To begin with, click on the Windows icon and type check for updates in the on-screen search bar.

• Now, click on the button to check for updates to allow Windows to find the latest updates available for your operating system.

• In this step, download & install the latest updates on your computer.

• Lastly, perform a PC restart to complete the Windows update process.

Fix 4: Start the Microsoft Telemetry Service again

Technical glitches may have caused Windows Compatibility Telemetry to have high CPU usage. Hence, you can follow these steps to restart the service to solve the problem. 

• In the first step, apply the Win+R shortcut to access the Run utility.
• Next, type services.msc in the on-screen Run box and click OK to launch the Services window.

• In this step, find and right-click on the Connected User Experience and Telemetry service.
• Lastly, choose Restart from the on-screen menu to get the service restarted.

Fix 5: Replace the CompatTelRunner.exe file manually

If the CompatTelRunner.exe file (the file that runs the Microsoft Telemetry process) gets corrupted, it may lead to high CPU usage and other issues. Hence, you can replace this file manually to fix the issue. Here is how. 

• Begin by clicking on the Windows icon and typing Command Prompt in the search bar.
• Next, right-click Command Prompt in the search results and choose Run as administrator from the on-screen menu.
• Now, copy and paste the following command in the command line and press Enter.

takeown /f C:\Windows\System32\CompatTelRunner.exe

• You can now replace the CompatTelRunner.exe file with its fresh copy from another PC.

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Fix 6: Run the System File Checker (SFC) tool

Since corrupted system files or hard drive errors are other factors responsible for Microsoft Compatibility Telemetry’s high CPU usage, below is how to fix these issues using the System File Checker (SFC) utility. 

• First, click on the Windows icon, type Command Prompt in the on-screen search box, right-click the first search result, and then click Run as administrator.
• Once the Administrator Command Prompt appears, copy and paste the following command in the Command Prompt and press the Enter key.

sfc /scannow

• Next, copy and paste the following command and press Enter.

chkdsk /r

• In this step, type Y and press your keyboard’s Enter key when you get the “Chkdsk cannot run because the volume is in use by another process. Would you like to schedule this volume to be checked the next time the system restarts?” message.
• Lastly, restart your computer after completing the above steps.

Fix 7: Scan your computer for malware

High Windows Compatibility Telemetry CPU usage is one of the many problems malware can cause on your computer. Hence, you can detect and remove malware using one of the best anti-malware and protection software for Windows. 

Microsoft Compatibility Telemetry High CPU Windows Issue Fixed

The above solutions help you fix the Microsoft Windows Compatibility Telemetry high CPU usage for a fast and smooth system performance. You can apply these fixes sequentially until the problem is resolved. 

However, if you find better solutions, have any confusion, feel stuck, or have any suggestions/feedback about this article, do not hesitate to get in touch through comments.