What is the Windows Modules Installer and how can it be saved?.
As one of the many system processes on your Windows PC, the Windows Modules Installer plays an important role in how Windows works. You may not know this yet, but this process helps to ensure that Windows Update is working properly. Like ntoskrnl.exe and others, you cannot stop or disable it.
This does not mean that you should not be wondering what exactly the Windows Modules Installer workflow does and whether it is safe, especially if you see it with high CPU usage in Task Manager. To help you, here’s what you need to know about this important process, including how to fix it if problems arise.
What Is Windows Modules Installer Worker?
The Windows Modules Installer workflow (tiworker.exe) is part of the Windows Update service that keeps your computer up to date. When Windows Update scans, downloads, and installs updates to your computer, the Windows Modules Installer workflow will be launched.
The service will also run in the background when Windows boots after the upgrade, completing your PC setup after the upgrade. In most cases, you don’t need to pay much attention to tiworker.exe, as this process will be done effortlessly (unless you manually install updates).
Given how important Windows Update is as a Windows component, it’s fair to say that the Windows Modules Installer workflow is safe to run. Attempting to terminate the process if it is running, or otherwise interfere with it, can cause problems that could lead to incorrect Windows updates.
Unable to disable Windows Update service in Windows 10 including tiworker.exe. If you try to do this, it can have unintended side effects, including disrupting other Windows processes or, in the worst case, stopping your PC.
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What Causes Windows Modules Installer Worker High CPU Usage Issues?
Unlike other system processes like csrss.exe, it’s fair to say that you may need high CPU usage from the Windows Modules Installer workflow. Windows Update will consume a lot of system resources, especially when installing a major update.
This is inevitable, but the impact on your computer will depend on the available system resources. If a Windows update is being installed, it is recommended that you close other running applications and wait for the process to complete. This will ensure that the requirements for your PC are reduced.
Since tiworker.exe is only used by Windows during the preparation or installation of updates, you can expect any problems with CPU, RAM, or disk usage to be tracked by Windows Update.
After the Windows update is complete, the Windows Modules Installer workflow should return to normal or stop altogether until it is needed again. If it doesn’t, you will need to troubleshoot Windows Update to try to fix the problem.
Troubleshooting Windows Update Issues
If Windows Update is having problems, you will see that the Windows Modules Installer workflow is overloaded in Task Manager. In this case, you can check the current status of Windows Update (and troubleshoot further) in the Windows settings menu.
- To check the current status of Windows Update, right-click the Start menu and select the Settings option. The Windows settings menu will open.
- In Windows Settings, select Update & Security> Windows Update. If any updates are in progress (or if the update failed to update), they will be listed in the Update Status section. You can check the status of previous updates by selecting the “View update history” option.
- If updates fail (or fail to install), you can use the Windows troubleshooter to investigate the problem. From the Windows Settings menu, select Update & Security> Troubleshoot> Advanced Troubleshooters to access the Troubleshooter menu.
- From the Advanced Troubleshooters menu, select the Windows Update option to begin troubleshooting the Windows Update service (including the associated Windows Modules Installer process) by clicking Run the troubleshooter troubleshooting “to confirm.
- A separate Diagnostic Troubleshooter window opens in which the Windows Troubleshooter automatically scans and checks Windows Update for problems. If they are found, it will try to fix them automatically or advise you on further steps you can take to fix them.
- If you want to view detailed information about Windows Update, you can select the View detailed information option after the process is complete. This will give you a breakdown of the checks performed, allowing you to pinpoint any potential problems with the service.
How to Check If Windows Modules Installer Worker is a Genuine System Process
In some cases, malware will try to hijack your Windows installation by impersonating system process files such as tiworker.exe. While this is a rare occurrence in Windows 10, it can still happen, so if your system is infected, you may not realize that there are not genuine processes running until it is too late to prevent damage.
If you see a Windows Modules Installer workflow with high CPU usage and you are sure that Windows Update is not running (even in the background), then it could be due to a fake system process. Fortunately, it is very easy to check if the tiworker.exe service running on your computer is genuine or not.
- To do this, you need to open the Windows Task Manager. To do this, right-click the taskbar, then select the Task Manager option.
- In the Task Manager window, click the Processes tab and find the working Windows Modules Installer (or tiworker.exe in the Details tab). Right-click the process, then select the Open File Location option.
- The location where the tiworker.exe file is running will open in Windows Explorer. If the file is a genuine system process, it will be located in a subfolder under C: Windows WinSxS.
If Windows Explorer opens anywhere else, then the process running on your computer is unlikely to be a genuine Windows Update process. In this case, you will need to schedule an antivirus scan using Windows Defender or third-party antivirus software.
Protecting Against Rogue Windows Processes
The Windows Modules Installer workflow is just one of the many important system processes that you will see from time to time in Windows Task Manager. Windows cannot function without them, as they act as cogs that hold the entire system together, from basic processes like yourphone.exe to the very core of the system.
Of course, if you find a rogue service on your computer posing as a system process, you will need to stop and run a malware scan as soon as possible. Although rare, malware can and will act to hide itself by attaching or replacing system processes. If all else fails, you may have to erase and reinstall Windows to fix this problem.
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