WUDFHost.exe constantly on 12-20% CPU

Solution 1:

Analyzing the ETL with WPA shows, that the driver iMDriver.dll causes the WUDFHost.exe cpu usage

^{(Click images to enlarge)}

Maybe this file is also part of the Lenovo Quick Optimizer. This process also causes a lot of CPU usage:

The driver and the program do IO calls via Windows Usermode Driver framework (WUDF) and this is the usage you see.

Solution 2:

Another program that can cause this issue is the DisplayLink Driver, which is installed when you use (most) Docking Stations, in my case one from Toshiba.

However, they are aware of the problem and are actually improving the driver in every update.

Support Thread: http://www.displaylink.org/forum/showthread.php?t=64887

Driver Update: http://www.displaylink.com/downloads

Solution 3:

This indicates that a driver of some kind is repeatedly creating a task and hogging the CPU. I've had the problem for a few weeks with the CPU running at 100% with most taken up by WUDFHost.exe

No doubt it occurred after the last major Windows update. Some kind of conflict.

In my case I eventually tracked it down to a driver I had for NFC from NXP semiconductors. I had left this on after doing some development work about a year ago and it seemed innocent enough. I removed the NXP stuff and the drivers then rebooted. Instant solution as the CPU dropped immediately.

It just shows you need to keep things tidy and not go off into flights of fancy in finding a solution. Most 'advice' that I found on the internet relating to this issue were a complete waste of time and many were plain dangerous.