TrustedInstaller.exe (TiWorker.exe) or Windows Modules Installer Worker is the system process for Windows that runs automatically to check for updates. It allows automatic modification, removal, and installation of the Windows system updates and free elements. In addition, it is also a Windows update service for the automatic installation of any available updates. 

However, sometimes, while this service is running, you may notice that the Windows Modules Installer Worker is causing high CPU usage on your Windows device. Thus, the PC gets slow and after a certain time, it freezes. 

This issue can be caused due to various reasons including corrupted or missing system files, problems with the internet connection, etc. 

How to Fix “TrustedInstaller.exe (TiWorker.exe) or Windows Modules Installer Worker High CPU Usage”

Being a common problem, it is quite easy to fix the situation where this TrustedInstaller.exe takes up a high CPU. Here we are going to provide some of the easy and effective methods to fix this issue on your own.

So, follow the fixes one by one and find the fix that works best for you.

Method 1 – Stop and Turn Off the Windows Update Service

If the Windows update service is running then you may find that the Windows Modules Installer Worker is causing high CPU usage on the system. Therefore, you need to stop and disable this service as soon as possible. 

1. Press the Windows Home button and R key together to launch the Run box.
2. Type services.msc and then click on the OK option or hit the Enter button.
3. When you are in the Services window, look for the Windows Update service, right-click on it and select the Stop option from the menu list.
4. Thereafter, again right-click on the service and then select Properties.
5. From the Properties window, set the startup type to Disabled from the drop-down menu list. 
6. After that, click on Apply and then OK to save the changes. 
7. Restart your computer and then check if the system’s CPU usage is back to normal or not.

Method 2 – Remove the SoftwareDistribution Folder

Sometimes, the SoftwareDistribution folder can cause this problem on the device. So, you should remove this folder by following these steps:

1. First, you need to stop the Windows Update service by following Method 1.
2. Next, press the Windows button and E key at the same time to launch the Windows Explorer window.
3. From the Windows Explorer window, follow this path C: > Windows 
4. Locate the SoftwareDistribution folder, right-click on it and then choose the Delete option from the list. 
5. After performing these steps, restart the PC and then check for updates. To do that, navigate to the following section: Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Check for update. If it fails to solve this issue, then move to the next fix. 

Method 3 – Change the Internet Settings

Incorrect internet settings can also result in the “Tiworker.exe Windows Modules Installer Worker causing high CPU usage” on your PC. So, you need to change the internet settings. To know more about it, follow the steps given below:

Using WiFi Network

1. Press the Windows Home key and then click on the Settings icon.
2. From the Settings window, go to the Network & Internet section and then select the WiFi tab from the left panel.
3. On the right of the  window, click on Advanced Options and then locate ‘Set as metered connection.’ After that, move the toggle from Off to On.

Using an Ethernet Network

1. Right-click on the Start button and then choose Run.
2. Type Regedit in the Run box and then press the Enter key or click on the OK option. 
3. When you are in the Registry Editor window, navigate to the following folder: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SOFTWARE > Microsoft > Windows NT > CurrentVersion > NetworkList > DefaultMediaCost
4. After that, locate the DefaultMediaCost folder, right-click on it and then choose Permissions.
5. In the Permissions window, click on Add… Thereafter, enter the Username under the object names box and then click on Check Names. Then click on the OK option.
6. From the Permissions for DefaultMediaCost window, select the user that you have added and then mark the box Allow for Full Control. After that, click on the OK button.
7. Next, go to the DefaultMediaCost folder, find Ethernet, double-click on it. After that, set the ‘Value Data is’ to 2  and then click on the OK option to save the changes. 
8. Once you are done, restart the PC and then check if the problem is solved or not. 

Method 4 –  Run the Windows Troubleshooter

Running the Windows update troubleshooter can resolve many problems that you encounter. To run this tool, follow the steps cited below:

1. Press the Windows button and X key at the same time to launch the WinX menu list and then select Settings.
2. Once the Settings window opens, navigate to the Update & Security section and then select the Troubleshoot tab.
3. On the right, find the Windows Update troubleshooter section, select it and then click on the Run the troubleshooter option. 
4. After the troubleshooting process finishes, reboot your PC and then check if the system works normally without any problem. 

Method 5 – Set the Windows Modules Installer to Manual

Another effective method through which you will be able to get rid of the ‘Windows Modules Installer Worker high CPU usage’ from the system is setting the startup type of this service to Manual. For doing that,

1. Press the Windows Home button and R key to launch the Run box.
2. Type services.msc and then press the Enter button or click on the OK option. 
3. From the Services window, scroll down the page and find Windows Module Installer, right-click on it and then choose Properties.
4. In the Properties window, set the Startup type to Manual from the drop-down menu list and then click on Apply followed by the OK button to save the changes. After doing this, check if it solves the issue or not.

Method 6 – Perform a Clean Boot

Performing a clean boot can resolve this issue on the system. Here’s how to do that:

1. Press the Windows Home button and R key to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type msconfig and then hit the Enter key or click on the OK button.
3. From the System Configuration window, click on Normal startup under the General tab.
4. Go to the Services tab and mark the box next to the Hide all Microsoft services and then click on the Disable all option.
5. Once you are finished with these, restart the Windows system and then check if the problem is gone or not. 

Method 7 – Run the System File Checker and DISM Tool

If the above methods do not help you out then you can try running the System File Checker tool and the DISM tool on your device to solve the ‘Windows Modules Installer Worker causing high CPU usage’ on the PC. Here are some steps that you can follow:

System File Checker Tool

1. Press the Win + X to open the WinX menu list and then select Command Prompt (Admin).
2. Type SFC/scannow and then press the Enter key on the keyboard.
3. Once the tool finishes scanning, restart the computer.

DISM Tool

1. Launch the Command Prompt
2. Type DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth and then hit the Enter key.
3. After the tool completes scanning, reboot your Windows device and then check if the glitch is eliminated or not. 

Hope, the above methods will be sufficient to get rid of the ‘Windows Modules Installer Worker causing high CPU usage’ from the device.