Service Host: Local System is a system process that is host to many Windows services in the Windows operating systems. It includes services like Windows auto-update and many required system services as well. Service Host Local System High Disk Usage is very common error users are facing now a days. Service host allows many functions to share a standard process to reduce resource consumption. Introduced in Windows 2000, it can be found by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys simultaneously. It will open the Windows Task Manager, where you can discover Service Host as svchost.exe.
As it’s a generic host container for so many services, it not unusual for it to take up large disk, memory, RAM, and even network bandwidth. This error is mostly faced by Windows 7, 8 and 10 users. The error shows that Service Host: Local System is taking up all of your resources in Task Manager. If that’s the case, then the following measures can be applied to get through the issue and increase the efficiency and performance of your system.
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4 Ways to Fix Service Host Local System High Disk Usage
Method 1: Disabling SuperFetch
SuperFetch is a technology which was introduced in Windows Vista and is present in all subsequent versions of Windows. SuperFetch allows the system to boot in lesser time and also load applications that you frequently use more efficiently. With this being said, it is clear that SuperFetch has two tasks to perform:
1. Boot system faster
During booting, various Windows files need to be accessed at different times. SuperFetch records the manner and the time in which these files are used and then stores this data in a trace file. This is then used when booting takes place again. Also, it interacts with the defragmenter to make sure that the data that are needed during the boot process are stored in the manner in which they have to be accessed. This is done every three days.
2. Load applications faster
To perform this task, SuperFetch pre-loads the most frequently used apps in advance. It not only does this by monitoring the usage patterns but also by the time at which they are accessed. For example, by keeping a record of applications that are used in the morning and then the evening. It’ll the pre-load the ones used in the morning first, and then the evening ones.
However, SuperFetch can also be the cause for disk performance issues in Windows 8 and subsequent versions as well. Thus disabling it can help. To disable SuperFetch, follow the below-mentioned steps:
- Press Windows + X keys together and select Command Prompt (Admin).
- Type the command: ‘net.exe stop superfetch’. Press Enter.
- This will disable SuperFetch. But you can also perform a disk check by using the command: ‘chkdsk.exe /f /r’.
- Type Y to confirm.
Following the above steps, you’ll be able to disable SuperFetch on your system. Now check whether Service Host Local System High Disk Usage issue gets resolved or not.
Method 2: Windows Troubleshooter
Troubleshooters are a great tool provided by Windows to help the users fix any problems that they are facing with their system. Any issues about sound, Windows update, hardware usage, etc. can be adjusted via its help.
So it can also be helpful for fixing this error as well. You need to follow these steps:
- Click on the Windows logo and select Control Panel.
- From there, set View by to Category and then choose System and Security.
- Select Security and Maintenance.
- Click Troubleshooting.
- Further select Fix problems with Windows Update.
- Click Next and then Try troubleshooting as an administrator.
It will start detecting any problems that your system is facing and most probably fix the issue as well. If not, you can resort to other fixes mentioned herein.
Also Read: 7 Ways To Fix Windows 10 Update Error Code 0x8024a105 | Latest 2022
Method 3: Disabling certain services
You can also resort to disabling certain services that are taking up much of your storage. It’ll free up some space and improve the speed and efficiency of your system.
For this, you need to:
- Open Task Manager. To open you can either right-click on the taskbar at the bottom and click on Start Task Manager. Or you can press Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys together to open it. Or press Windows + R keys simultaneously and type the command ‘taskmgr’, followed by pressing Enter.
- Under the Processes tab, navigate to find Service Host: Local System and click on the arrow at its left side. This will show a list of processes that are taking up your CPU’s storage.
- Select any process under this category. Right click on that process and then select End Task.
- Repeat this with all the items under this category and keep a check on the CPU storage, until you find the culprit.
- Once you are successful in finding the process that is taking up CPU’s storage, go ahead and disable it.
- For disabling it, select and then right-click on it. Select Open Services.
- Locate the service with the similar name as appearing in the Task Manager and then go ahead to right-click on it and select Stop.
Disabling services will help in navigating to the actual process that is causing the Service Host Local System High Disk Usage issue and freeing up CPU storage.
Method 4: Disabling Automatic updates
This fix can be helpful to solve the Service Host Local System high disk usage issue. For doing so, follow these steps:
- Open Run by pressing Windows + R keys simultaneously.
- Type the following command: ‘services.msc’ and then press Enter.
- List of services will appear. From that, find Windows Update service and double-click on it.
- Windows Update Service Properties Screen will pop-up.
- Under the General tab, locate the Startup type.
- Select Disabled from the drop-down and click on OK to apply the change.
- You can turn on updates back again, whenever required.
Final Words
‘If a challenge exists, so does the solution.’ So even if you are faced with Service host local system high disk usage issue, there’s nothing to worry about it. You can easily apply any of the fixes mentioned above and get through the Service Host Local System High Disk Usage issue with ease.
I’m an IT Professional with diverse operational experience in IT industry. I am very passionate about technology and love helping people thrive in tech. I believe that every problem has a solution, you just have to find a way to fix it. And that’s exactly why I started this troubleshooting website to help people easily fix various technical errors in their systems easily with my cool guides.
