How to Fix Spotify High CPU Usage on Windows

What Causes This?

Spotify can use too much CPU on Windows when hardware acceleration misbehaves, the app cache becomes bloated or corrupted, or a background feature keeps refreshing content too aggressively. In some cases, outdated audio drivers, Windows power settings, or conflicts with other startup apps can make the problem worse. Browser-based Spotify tabs can also spike CPU if multiple tabs or extensions are running at the same time.

Common Symptoms

• Spotify shows unusually high CPU usage in Task Manager
• Music playback stutters when you open other apps or browser tabs
• Your laptop fan gets louder while Spotify is open
• Windows feels sluggish even when Spotify is only playing music
• Battery drains faster than normal during playback

How to Fix It Manually

1. Confirm Spotify is the process using CPU

   1. Open Task Manager with Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
   2. On the Processes tab, look for Spotify.
   3. Check the CPU column and confirm usage stays high for more than a few seconds, especially when Spotify is idle or only playing audio.

2. Turn off Hardware Acceleration in Spotify

   1. Open Spotify.
   2. Click your profile picture or the three-dot menu, then open Settings.
   3. Scroll down and click Show Advanced Settings if needed.
   4. Find Hardware Acceleration and turn it Off.
   5. Fully close Spotify, then reopen it and check CPU usage again in Task Manager.

3. Clear Spotify cache

   1. In Spotify, go to Settings.
   2. Scroll to Storage or Offline storage location depending on your app version.
   3. If there is a Clear cache option, use it.
   4. If not, close Spotify completely.
   5. Press Windows + R, type %appdata%, and press Enter.
   6. Open the Spotify folder and delete the Storage folder contents.
   7. Reopen Spotify and let it rebuild the cache.

4. Disable unnecessary startup and background apps

   1. Open Task Manager with Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
   2. Go to the Startup apps tab.
   3. Disable apps you do not need running all the time, especially overlays, RGB tools, browser launchers, and chat apps.
   4. Restart your PC.
   5. Test Spotify again to see if another background app was causing extra CPU load.

5. Update Spotify and your audio driver

   1. In Spotify, click your profile picture and install any available update.
   2. Then right-click the Start button and choose Device Manager.
   3. Expand Sound, video and game controllers.
   4. Right-click your audio device and select Update driver.
   5. Choose Search automatically for drivers.
   6. Restart Windows after the update.

6. Reinstall Spotify if usage is still high

   1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.
   2. Go to Apps > Installed apps.
   3. Find Spotify, click the three dots, and choose Uninstall.
   4. Restart your PC.
   5. Reinstall Spotify from the Microsoft Store or Spotify’s official installer.
   6. Sign in and test CPU usage before changing any settings.

Fix It Automatically with Kudu

Kudu can scan your system for background apps, startup clutter, misconfigured settings, and other common causes of high CPU usage that affect Spotify. Instead of checking each Windows setting manually, Kudu helps you identify and fix the performance issues quickly so Spotify runs more smoothly.

Download Kudu Free →