If you don’t know what is Runtime Broker, we are here to help. Well, if you’re reading this post, it’s pretty likely that you encountered the Runtime Broker process in your Task Manager window and didn’t know what it was or why it spikes CPU usage from time to time. We’ve got all the answers to your questions in this article.
What is Runtime Broker?
Runtime Broker is a core Microsoft procedure that debuted in Windows 8 and has been maintained in subsequent versions of the operating system. The tool is used to ensure that all of the permissions granted to universal apps downloaded from the Windows Store are correctly declared. When you launch a universal app, however, you should expect that the activity of your background service will rise. You can think of it as a middleman connecting your unified apps with your trust and privacy settings.
Why is Runtime Broker using memory?
When it’s not in use, Runtime Broker consumes very little memory (about 20-40 MB). When you launch a universal app, your machine’s RAM usage is likely to rise to between 500 and 700 megabytes.
While launching additional universal apps may use up more memory, Runtime Broker should not be affected. When you terminate all active universal apps, Runtime Broker’s memory usage should return to the 20-40 MB range.
Why is Runtime Broker spiking my CPU usage?
Runtime Broker typically uses less than one percent of your CPU when it’s just running in the background. When you launch a universal app, its usage should briefly rise to 25-30% and then return to normal. That’s typical behavior. If you discover that Runtime Broker is frequently utilizing 30% or more of your CPU, displaying higher than expected memory usage, or spiking usage even when no universal app is running, there are a few things you should check.
If you’ve recently upgraded to Windows 10, you may have noticed that Windows tempts you with notifications from time to time. This activity, for whatever reason, seems like a global app and activates the Runtime Broker process. To avoid this, simply disable the tips. To get to Settings > System > Notifications & Actions, go to Settings > System > Notifications & Actions and switch off “Get tips, tricks, and suggestions as you use Windows” under the “Notifications & Actions” section.
It’s also conceivable that a misbehaving program is using more resources than it should. If that’s the case, you’ll have to figure out which app is causing the problem. Make sure there is a new version of the app. If that doesn’t work, try deleting and reinstalling the program. If that doesn’t work either, make sure you let the developer know about the issue.
Can I disable Runtime Broker?
Now you’ve learned what is Runtime Broker, let’s learn how to disable it. Runtime Broker can’t be disabled. And you shouldn’t want to. When running cross-platform apps, it’s critical for your security and privacy. The Runtime Broker service is lightweight and doesn’t require much maintenance. It’s also useful since it isn’t disabled by default, which means that there’s not really a compelling reason to turn it off. If you think the Runtime Broker is malfunctioning, you can always terminate the process by right-clicking it in Task Manager and selecting End Task.
The task of launching Runtime Broker manually occurs after a few seconds. Just keep in mind that universal apps won’t be able to access trust settings and may not run properly for a few seconds until it relaunches.
Is Runtime Broker process a virus?
The actual Runtime Broker process is a genuine Windows component. While it’s possible that a computer virus has replaced the real Runtime Broker with its own executable, it’s extremely improbable. You can double-check the file’s location. If the file is in your Windows/System32 folder, you can be confident that you’re not dealing with a virus.
However, if you still want more peace of mind, you may always scan for viruses with your preferred virus scanner. We hope that you enjoyed this article and found it useful. Now you’ve learned what is Runtime Broker.
