Windows Audio Device Graph Isolation Hogging Your CPU? Here Is How To Fix It

If you frequent Task Manager to take control of what is running on your device, you will sometimes see Windows audio device graph isolation going heavy on your CPU.

Since the name doesn’t exactly say much about what the program does, an occurrence like that will surely cause discomfort. Here is a piece of good news, we know what it is and what you should do with it.

What Is Windows Audio Device Graph Isolation?

Windows audio device graph isolation is part of your Windows and it is the audio engine that helps third-party apps play sounds on your device. You can also call it digital signal processing if you want.

What Happens If You Disable Windows Audio Device Graph Isolation?

Basically, you can stop it from working, and we know how to disable Windows audio device graph isolation but that would be a very bad idea.

The program is a part of Windows and it’s responsible for ensuring that your computer is audible. Disabling it and you won’t hear a thing from your device anymore.

So if you notice Windows audio device graph isolation high CPU, the best you can do is to find the root cause of the problem and fix it.

How To Fix Windows Audio Device Graph Isolation

Make Sure It Is Not Malware That Is Causing Problem

If you see Windows audio device graph isolation eating up your resources, it might be because of malware. So before you do anything else, we recommend doing a full scan of your computer.

For this task, you can entrust a third-party antivirus tool if you know a reputable name or use Windows Defender – the built-in security suite of Windows.

Here is how to use it:

On Windows 7:

• Press the combination of Windows + S.
• Type Defender in the search box.
• Choose Windows Defender.
• Once the program is activated, choose ‘Scan.”
• Find the arrow near Scan and click on it.
• Choose ‘Full Scan.’

On Windows 8 or 8.1:

• In the Start menu, find the Search bar.
• Search for Windows Defender.
• When the program opens, choose Update.
• In Home, choose Scan.
• After selecting Full, choose Scan now.

On Windows 10:

• In the Start menu, find and click on the Settings gear.
• In Update & Security, choose Windows Defender.
• Open Windows Defender.
• When the Windows Defender Security Center window appears, navigate to the left panel and click on the shield icon.
• Click on Advanced scan and then Select Full scan.

If the abnormal activity of Windows audio device graph isolation is just a cover for malware, with these two methods, you will be able to eliminate the threat.

Disable All Sound Effects

If Windows audio device graph isolation high memory isn’t caused by malware, what you should do is to tweak the sound settings. Here is how:

• Navigate the Taskbar and right-click the speaker icon.
• Choose Playback devices.
• Under the Playback tab, pick Speakers / Headphones.
• Choose Properties.
• Under the Enhancements tab, choose 'Disable all sound effects.'

Fix Your Audio Drivers

If you have tried to find malware and disabled sound effects and nothing change, the problem might stem from issues with the driver. If the audio drivers are out of date or not functioning properly, Windows audio device graph isolation might go rogue.

Here are some ways you can fix this problem:

Update your drivers manually

If you want to, you can update all of the drivers manually. However, the process is kind of boring and if you are not careful, you may install the wrong thing.

Use An Automated Driver Updater

If you want to save yourselves some time, using a dedicated tool is advisable. There are a lot of options on the market for you to choose from.

Utilize Device Manager

Your Windows has a program called Device Manager that can help you search for the needed driver.

One Windows 7:

• Open Start menu
• Right-click on Computer and choose Manage.
• In Computer Management, find and click on Device Manager.
• Right-click on your audio device.
• Update the device.

On Windows 8:

• Click on the Windows icon.
• Choose Device Manager from the Quick Access menu.
• Choose your audio device from the list
• Right-click on the device and update it.

On Windows 10:

• Press the combination of Windows logo + X.
• Choose Device Manager.
• Find your audio device.
• Right-click on it and update it.

When Device Manager finds the drivers, install the software by following the instructions.

By now your Windows audio device graph isolation should go back to normal. If it doesn’t, we recommend doing a full scan of your device and perform a system-wide cleanup.

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