The recently released KB4512941 update for the Windows 10 May 2019 update has brought with it a number of fixes but also a serious problem with extremely high and abnormal CPU and memory usage, even when idle.
Users are reporting that the high CPU usage, negatively affecting the performance of their computers as a result, is rooted in an update to the Cortana services.
Even when not in use, the Cortana service (shown as “SearchUI.exe” in Task Manager) has shown to spike CPU usage by at least 30%-40% and consume memory, slowing down some PCs to a crawl.
This issue was reported when the update was tested by Windows Insiders but it seems the update was pushed regardless.
Reports are coming through of potential fixes, but most of these fixes require editing of the system registry, which can lead to total system corruption if not done correctly.
For this or other issues with Windows 10, the specialists at Method IT are here to help! Feel free to contact us here to get in touch with one of our specialists!
UPDATE September 10, 2019:
The Cortana CPU usage issue has been fixed in KB4515384. Please update as soon as possible.
A second issue exists with discoloration of screenshots made using Snipping Tool or Snip & Sketch on some Lenovo PCs. Lenovo has posted a possible solution here.