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High CPU utilization #16577

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opened 2026-01-31 05:16:14 +00:00 by claunia · 3 comments
claunia commented 2026-01-31 05:16:14 +00:00
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Originally created by @KineticTheory on GitHub (Feb 1, 2022).

Windows Terminal version

1.11.3471.0

Windows build number

Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.19043.1466]

Other Software

No response

Steps to reproduce

  1. Reboot the computer
  2. Start WindowsTerminal and Open a tab for Ubuntu 20.04 (WSL2).
  3. Monitor "Windows Terminal" in Task Manager.
  4. CPU utilization starts at 2-4% and then slowly climbs to exceed 90% even though the terminal is idle and acrylic features are disabled.
  5. This behavior started after installing the January Windows 10 patches.
  6. I only see this behavior when running WSL2 tabs. No processes are using CPU (checked with ps -aux). No other Windows process are consuming significant CPU.

Expected Behavior

CPU utilization for an idle terminal should be very low (certainly less than 5%).

Actual Behavior

If left overnight CPU utilization will exceed 90% of the CPU. Killing WindowsTerminal and restarting it resets CPU utilization to 2-4%, but it will grow over time back to very high values.

wt-about

taskman

In this screenshot, cpu utilization is 28% on a machine with 12 cores (24 hw threads) and the terminal is idle (no running processes).

Originally created by @KineticTheory on GitHub (Feb 1, 2022). ### Windows Terminal version 1.11.3471.0 ### Windows build number Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.19043.1466] ### Other Software _No response_ ### Steps to reproduce 1. Reboot the computer 2. Start WindowsTerminal and Open a tab for Ubuntu 20.04 (WSL2). 3. Monitor "Windows Terminal" in Task Manager. 4. CPU utilization starts at 2-4% and then slowly climbs to exceed 90% even though the terminal is idle and acrylic features are disabled. 5. This behavior started after installing the January Windows 10 patches. 6. I only see this behavior when running WSL2 tabs. No processes are using CPU (checked with `ps -aux`). No other Windows process are consuming significant CPU. ### Expected Behavior CPU utilization for an idle terminal should be very low (certainly less than 5%). ### Actual Behavior If left overnight CPU utilization will exceed 90% of the CPU. Killing WindowsTerminal and restarting it resets CPU utilization to 2-4%, but it will grow over time back to very high values. ![wt-about](https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/17579601/152021074-77c61268-d5d4-432b-9462-372a26e84027.jpg) ![taskman](https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/17579601/152021094-03fed545-edb1-411e-907e-b71e09e59b91.jpg) In this screenshot, cpu utilization is 28% on a machine with 12 cores (24 hw threads) and the terminal is idle (no running processes).
claunia commented 2026-01-31 05:16:15 +00:00
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@zadjii-msft commented on GitHub (Feb 1, 2022):

Can you expando that Terminal entry? It shows there are 10 processes attached to the Terminal, so I can't be sure which process is the one using the CPU:

image

If it's either a OpenConsole.exe or a WindowsTerminal.exe that's using up the CPU, a dump might be helpful:

image

@zadjii-msft commented on GitHub (Feb 1, 2022): Can you expando that Terminal entry? It shows there are 10 processes attached to the Terminal, so I can't be sure which process is the one using the CPU: ![image](https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/18356694/152022655-1b1db187-c82c-408a-b54d-471c4b8eb8cd.png) If it's either a OpenConsole.exe or a WindowsTerminal.exe that's using up the CPU, a dump might be helpful: ![image](https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/18356694/135876584-e48514d6-26c0-49da-ae28-b8c5d66dc2a3.png)
claunia commented 2026-01-31 05:16:16 +00:00
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@KineticTheory commented on GitHub (Feb 1, 2022):

Here's my current session (3 Ubuntu tabs and one powershell):

image

@KineticTheory commented on GitHub (Feb 1, 2022): Here's my current session (3 Ubuntu tabs and one powershell): ![image](https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/17579601/152024427-c34fa79f-c9a6-4d36-b403-1cff3fbb4b24.png)
claunia commented 2026-01-31 05:16:16 +00:00
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@zadjii-msft commented on GitHub (Feb 1, 2022):

Welp that's a pretty solid indictment. Looks like all the processes that are spinning are wsl. I'd file this over at https://github.com/microsoft/wsl, they'll be able to help more.

@zadjii-msft commented on GitHub (Feb 1, 2022): Welp that's a pretty solid indictment. Looks like all the processes that are spinning are wsl. I'd file this over at https://github.com/microsoft/wsl, they'll be able to help more.
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Reference: starred/terminal#16577
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