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Here's the current performance of my computer: enter image description here Recently, I've found a problem with my computer during idle: "Windows Defender Firewall" consumes 15 % of CPU While "Internet Connection Sharing" consumes 10% of CPU

I've run sfc scannow but the result is still the same

I have also checked that the Ethernet's connection sharing is off

enter image description here

In another article: https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/windows/en-US/a8d7ba9e-13aa-4410-9b3e-5c859e6ec93b/high-cpu-usage-windows-firewall?forum=w7itproperf

Someone said he has the same issue due to excessive of firewall rules being set as a bug of a 3rd party firewall (I'm now using Avast firewall to replace the windows default one). So I checked my computer to see if it's the same issue as him but seems it isn't the cause of the issue:

I've exported the firewall rule list in the default windows firewall to count the number of rules running: enter image description here enter image description here

Here's the avast firewall rules setting:

enter image description here

Is there anything that I've missed? Why is the CPU usage that high?

User2012384
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4 Answers4

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I had the same issue on Windows 10, Firewall + ICS service constantly taking up 10% of CPU time.

I don't have Windows Defender enabled so couldn't follow the top answer's instructions. Instead:

Click Start and type wf.msc

enter image description here

Click Restore Default Policy

enter image description here

I'm sure it has the same effect as the other answer

frusDev
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I was having the same issue but I do use Windows Defender's firewall. Resetting the firewall defaults worked for me.

I found the fix at https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_10-other_settings/since-windows-10-fall-creators-update-1709/d03167cc-92e7-4d13-94ce-84fda7b0f94f

Reset Windows Defender Firewall:

Settings -> Update and Security -> Windows Defender -> Open Windows Defender Security Center -> Firewall and Network Protection -> Restore Firewall default settings > Click the button to restore the defaults

Or

Use the Windows Firewall repair tool:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/17613/automatically-diagnose-and-fix-problems-with-windows-firewall

sphereinabox
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In Services Manager, change the Startup Type of the Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) service from "Automatic" to "Manual". In Task Manager, kill the ICS SVCHOST instance that hogs 10% CPU. This will disable ICS but it will stop the CPU waste.

In previous answers I tried to "provide details" (as per this website guidelines) but the moderators did not agree that those details were constructive, so they deleted them. If you're interested, write to me in private, I guess.

LeoLiberti
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Uh...I found a workaround for this (But it does not solve the problem thoroughly) In run, type msconfig enter image description here

Then find "Windows defender firewall" and "Internet connection sharing" and uncheck the checkbox. Then the usage becomes normal.

I did this because I'm sure I do not use both service (i.e. firewall since I have avast and ICS since I don't share my connection with other users or computers)

User2012384
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