How to Fix Ntoskrnl.exe High Disk Usage in Windows 11

There are various factors that can cause the Ntoskrnl high disk and CPU usage including Corrupt system files, or outdated drivers particularly for the storage device are common.

Steve Ballmer

September 15, 2025 Modified date: September 24, 2025

Windows 11 relies on several core system processes to function properly, and ntoskrnl.exe (short for Windows NT Operating System Kernel) is one of them. This process is responsible for critical system tasks such as memory management, process handling, and hardware virtualization. However, sometimes you may notice ntoskrnl.exe causes high disk usage in Windows 11. Users report the process ntoskrnl.exe is always writing/reading at full 100% and making the system unresponsive. Well, several possible reasons cause this issue such as corrupted system files, outdated drivers, misconfigured virtual memory, or even malware infections. In this article, we will discuss different solutions to fix Ntoskrnl.exe High Disk Usage in Windows 11.

Contents

1 Why Ntoskrnl.exe High Disk Usage?

Why Ntoskrnl.exe High Disk Usage?

As discussed, the common cause of this Ntoskrnl.exe High Disk Usage problem is outdated or corrupted device drivers, particularly for graphics cards or storage devices. Again, malware infections, Corrupt system files or conflicts from recent Windows updates also cause high disk usage on Windows 11.

Corrupted System Files: Missing or damaged system files, including ntoskrnl.exe itself, can cause instability and errors.
Malware or Virus Infections: Malicious software can cause significant system resource spikes, including high disk usage by system processes.
Hard Drive Issues: A fragmented hard drive or other physical problems with the drive can hinder its performance and lead to high resource consumption by the kernel.
Memory Problems: Faulty RAM modules or issues with your system’s virtual memory settings can strain the kernel’s memory management, increasing disk activity.
Outdated or Corrupted Device Drivers: Faulty or outdated drivers for your hardware can cause the system kernel to work harder, leading to high resource usage.

Update Your Device Drivers

Outdated or incompatible drivers, especially for storage controllers (like SATA or NVMe), can cause ntoskrnl.exe to overuse disk resources. Updating them with the latest version ensures compatibility and better communication between Windows and your hardware.

Press Win + X and select Device Manager.
Expand Disk drives, IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers, and Display adapters.
Right-click each device and select Update driver.
Choose Search automatically for drivers.
Restart your PC after updates.

Update the IDE ATA ATAPI Controller

Alternatively, you can download the latest drivers from the manufacturer’s website (Intel, AMD, or NVIDIA).

Run System File Checker (SFC) and DISM

Corrupted system files may force ntoskrnl.exe to mismanage disk operations. Running SFC and DISM scans repairs these files and restores stability.

Press Win + S, type cmd, and select Run as administrator.
Type the command sfc /scannow and hit the Enter key.
This will scan for missing system files if found any the SFC utility will restore them from a special folder located in %WinDir%\System32\dllcache.
Wait until 100% complete the process. After that, run the DISM command DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
This scans for and repairs issues within the Windows component store and system image.
The scanning may take some time, depending on the corruption level. Once done restart your PC.

Optimize performance

Adjusting Windows for performance will manage everything including processor scheduling and memory usage to stop memory leaks and ntoskrnl.exe High Memory Usage.

Right-click on ‘This PC’ and select ‘Advanced’ settings on the left pane.
Under the ‘Advanced’ tab, go to ‘Performance’, followed by ‘Settings’.
Check ‘Adjust for best performance’ and click OK.
Restart and check if the issue is solved.

Adjust Virtual Memory Settings

Windows uses a page file (virtual memory) to extend RAM. Misconfigured virtual memory can cause ntoskrnl.exe to excessively access the disk. For a number of users, setting Virtual Memory to automatic usually resolves the issue.

Press Win + R, type sysdm.cpl, and press Enter.
Go to the Advanced tab → Performance → Settings.
Select the Advanced tab again and click Change under Virtual memory.

Uncheck Automatically manage paging file size for all drives.
Select your system drive (C:), then check System managed size.
Click Set → OK → Restart your PC.

Disable Unnecessary Startup Programs

Too many startup applications run in the background, consuming disk resources linked to ntoskrnl.exe. Disabling unnecessary ones frees up resources.

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
Go to the Startup tab.
Right-click on non-essential apps and select Disable.
Restart your system.

Scan for Malware or Hidden Processes

Again, some malware disguises itself as ntoskrnl.exe, consumes unnecessary disk resources, and slows down your system. Running a scan ensures the process is genuine.

Open Windows Security from the Start menu.
Click Virus & threat protection.
Select Full scan and let it complete.
If threats are found, remove them and restart your PC.

Pause Windows Search Indexing and Updates

Windows indexing service and background updates can sometimes spike disk usage under ntoskrnl.exe. Temporarily disabling them helps identify if they’re the culprits.

Press Win + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
Locate Windows Search.
Right-click → Properties → set Startup type to Disabled.
Do the same for Windows Update if disk usage spikes during updates.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What is ntoskrnl.exe in Windows 11?
Ntoskrnl.exe (Windows NT Operating System Kernel) is a core system file responsible for memory management, process handling, and hardware support.

2. Is ntoskrnl.exe a virus?
No, it’s a legitimate Windows file. However, malware can sometimes disguise itself with the same name. Running an antivirus scan can confirm its authenticity.

3. Why does ntoskrnl.exe cause high disk usage?
It usually happens due to outdated drivers, corrupted system files, virtual memory misconfiguration, or malware.

4. Can I disable ntoskrnl.exe?
No. It’s a critical system file, and disabling it will crash your system. Instead, fixing the underlying cause will resolve high disk usage.

5. Will upgrading RAM or SSD help with ntoskrnl.exe issues?
Yes. Upgrading hardware reduces system strain and helps Windows handle memory and disk usage more efficiently.