Windows 11 bug eats CPU resources — Microsoft identifies Cross Device Service as cause, no fix ready yet

Windows 11 Logo
(Image credit: Microsoft)

Continuing the trend of Windows 11 Insider builds receiving heavy criticism (albeit for different reasons, lately), the June Windows 11 Insider builds thus far have suffered from a persistent high CPU usage bug tied to a specific Service. This issue was originally reported by leginmat90 on June 5, 2024 via the Microsoft Community Forums, and can be manually fixed by end users willing to disable the Microsoft Cross Device Service.

Unfortunately for Windows 11 Insiders who actually want to use the Cross Device Service, though, Microsoft has yet to release a fix. Per Neowin's reporting of an Insiders-only Feedback Hub response, Microsoft engineer Jennifer G was quoted saying "Appreciate your patience, we've identified the cause and are working on a fix." a week ago... but no fix has yet been released.

It is speculated that this bug emerged due to new feature improvements to Windows 11's Cross Device Service, which basically does exactly what it sounds like — by allowing your PC to more easily synchronize with your phone for file-sharing and such. Phone Link support was identified as the most likely culprit, but older changes made to Cross Device Service within this year's Insider Builds could also be responsible.

Perhaps the higher-ups at Microsoft should re-evaluate their priorities in developing Windows? Having up to 10% CPU usage taken up on a user's system while it's doing nothing at the same time privacy concerns around Recall and the like are getting worse than ever is not a good look. Granted, Microsoft continues pushing Recall's features while withdrawing it from the main Windows 11 build, so perhaps they truly don't care about using their Insiders as guinea pigs.

At least Windows 10 users don't have to worry about all this stuff yet... although Windows 10 support is set to end with Version 22H2 in 2025. AMD is already starting to drop Windows 10 compatibility from some of its newer CPU releases as well... so hopefully for the Windows PC market, Microsoft gets better at listening to its users and providing what they actually want instead of continuing to force features no one asked for.

Though Microsoft paying attention to the customer is starting to seem more and more like wishful thinking, each day.

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Christopher Harper
Contributing Writer

Christopher Harper has been a successful freelance tech writer specializing in PC hardware and gaming since 2015, and ghostwrote for various B2B clients in High School before that. Outside of work, Christopher is best known to friends and rivals as an active competitive player in various eSports (particularly fighting games and arena shooters) and a purveyor of music ranging from Jimi Hendrix to Killer Mike to the Sonic Adventure 2 soundtrack.

  • adamXpeter
    Please stop the drama, you are speaking about beta software.
    Reply
  • Alvar "Miles" Udell
    At least Windows 10 users don't have to worry about all this stuff yet

    Nor do users of Windows 11 who don't opt in to be beta testers.
    Reply
  • baboma
    >>so perhaps they truly don't care about using their Insiders as guinea pigs.

    Insiders aka beta testers are by definition guinea pigs.

    >>Though Microsoft paying attention to the customer is starting to seem more and more like wishful thinking, each day.

    >Please stop the drama, you are speaking about beta software.

    This is SOP for THW's freelancers, who can't differentiate reporting from Windows-hating bellyaching. Harper is just one of several who like to pander to the "Windows sux" resident contingent here, in fishing for clicks.
    Reply
  • ezst036
    This is nearly a non-headline.

    Linux has alpha/beta builds that anybody can go install and find all sorts of bugs. A bug in Windows testing rounds is hardly a black spot on Microsoft's resume, just the same.
    Reply
  • Joseph_138
    adamXpeter said:
    Please stop the drama, you are speaking about beta software.
    The only difference between the Insider Preview Release, and the official update to retail, is about 3 weeks, so everyone has it by now.
    Reply
  • das_stig
    THW reporters going the way of Anadtech, fast lane to irrelevant with the current quality of stories !!
    Reply