iCloud for Windows high CPU usage when PC is idle

After installing the new iCloud for Windows client on my Windows 10 VM, I've noticed that the iCloudhome.exe application used 60-80% of a CPU core constantly when the PC is idle. If you use the PC again, the usage immediately stops.

Look at this graph showing cores on my CPU. Core 08 (green line) is sitting consistently between 60% and 80% usage when the PC is idle from a 2:00am reboot until I come back to the PC at 10:14am, the usage drops back to normal.

What's running in this application that causes this? I have to kill the app manually after every reboot to stop this. I need the app for password/keychain sync!

Posted on May 7, 2024 7:24 AM

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Levi1922

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Posted on May 31, 2024 11:24 AM

I ended up disabling it from start up. it was taking my CPU from 10W idle power to 45-50W once the screen turned off. if I let my computer idle 24/7/365, that’s nearly $50 just to have icloud…doing what exactly?

(W11 23H2 KB5037771, i7 13700K)

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9 replies

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Levi1922

Level 1

20 points

May 31, 2024 11:24 AM in response to andiroo

(W11 23H2 KB5037771, i7 13700K)

Jun 9, 2024 3:11 PM in response to Andreas9999

Same here. I am running Windows 11 and I finally found when my PC is locked and idle, fan start running. In task manager, process history shows iCloud was running all the time when the PC was idle. If I killed all iCloud processes before locking my PC, fan is quiet. Easy to reproduce.

I also found that iCloudChrome.exe does not start when using bookmarks synchronisation, until I click on the iCloud extension icon in Edge. I can see the process iCloudChrome.exe start in Task Manager when clicking on the extension icon in Edge. Unless that, no sync until I click on the extension.

Please Apple, fix your app ASAP 🙃

May 14, 2024 12:31 PM in response to andiroo

I have the same problem with my Windows 11 VM. It started roughly 1 to 2 months ago. Did you find an solution?

Jun 9, 2024 4:45 PM in response to jean-francois.menard

So far, I will not use iCloud Photo and iCoud Drive, unless Apple fix their app. So, I unchecked all iCloud app related in Windows Start Menu.... nothing will be loaded at boot time.

But, I am still use the iCloud Boomark Sync for Edge. If I click on extension iCloud bookmark in Edge, it starts synching, but if I look in the task manager, only iCloudChrome.exe is loaded... nothing else. And if I lock my PC and let it locked for a while, iCloudChrome.exe does not take CPU... and PC fan are quiet. Hourray!

So this is really related to Drive or Photo!?!?!

Jun 9, 2024 11:58 PM in response to andiroo

I have also the same problem on latest Windows 11 Pro. I have disabled Drive and Photo but not help. But I found out that if you open iClous once from the taskbar and close it again in the taskbar the problem is gone.

Jul 11, 2024 8:53 AM in response to bfair66

what I did to solve (as a workaround) is to kill all iCloud related processes using a script windows execute based on a lock event ID in the event viewer… when I lock my station.

And when I unlock my station, windows start iCloud process, and again it is started based on an event ID in event viewer when unlocking occurs.

So that way, I never let iCloud running while my station is locked or idle for a while, because my station always lock itself after a period of inactivity…. no more issue since more than a month now….