Windows 11 100% Disk Usage Fix on 8GB RAM Laptop (Step-by-Step Guide)

Windows 11 100 Percent disk usage fix is a common problem faced by many windows 11 users.

Windows 11 100% disk usage problem is very common on 8GB RAM laptops. When this issue occurs, the laptop becomes slow, apps take a long time to open, the system freezes, and performance drops badly.

In this step-by-step guide, you will learn the most effective and proven methods to fix 100% disk usage in Windows 11 and improve your laptop’s performance.

This guide will help you with windows 11 100 Percent disk usage

What Causes 100% Disk Usage in Windows 11?

There are several reasons why Windows 11 laptops show 100% disk usage, especially on 8GB RAM systems. Some of the most common causes include:

• Too many background apps and startup programs
• Windows Update running in the background
• SysMain (Superfetch) and Windows Search services
• Malware or unknown programs
• Outdated or faulty storage drivers
• Low virtual memory (Page File)
• Browser cache and temporary files

When the disk usage reaches 100%, the laptop becomes slow, freezes frequently, and apps take a long time to open.

How to Fix 100% Disk Usage in Windows 11 (Proven Methods

1. Disable SysMain (Superfetch) Service

SysMain (previously Superfetch) is one of the biggest reasons behind 100% disk usage in Windows 11. This service runs in the background and keeps loading apps in memory, which increases disk activity and slows down the laptop.

Follow these steps:

1. Press Windows Key + R
2. Type services.msc and press Enter
3. Find SysMain from the list
4. Right-click → Stop
5. Click Startup Type → Disabled
6. Click Apply → OK

💡 After disabling SysMain, your disk usage will start decreasing immediately.

2. Disable Windows Search Indexing (Reduces Background Disk Usage)

Windows Search Indexing continuously scans files and folders in the background to speed up search results. On 8GB RAM laptops, this process can cause high disk usage and make the system slow.

Disabling Search Indexing helps reduce unnecessary background disk activity and improves performance.

Follow these steps:

1. Press Windows Key + R
2. Type services.msc and press Enter
3. Scroll down and find Windows Search
4. Right-click it → click Properties
5. Click Stop
6. Change Startup Type → Disabled
7. Click Apply → OK

💡 After disabling Windows Search, your disk usage should decrease, and your laptop will feel smoother.

3. Turn Off Unnecessary Startup Apps

When too many apps run automatically at startup, they consume RAM and disk resources as soon as Windows boots. This can cause 100% disk usage and slow performance on 8GB RAM laptops.

Disabling unwanted startup programs reduces background activity and improves system speed.

Follow these steps:

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager
2. Go to the Startup Apps tab
3. Check the apps with High or Medium impact
4. Select unnecessary apps (Spotify, Teams, Updaters, etc.)
5. Click Disable

💡 After disabling startup apps, Windows will boot faster and disk usage will reduce.

4. Disable Connected User Experiences & Telemetry

The Connected User Experiences & Telemetry service continuously collects usage and performance data in the background. On many Windows 11 laptops, this service causes high disk usage and slow performance.

Disabling this service helps reduce background disk activity.

Follow these steps:

1. Press Windows Key + R
2. Type services.msc and press Enter
3. Find Connected User Experiences and Telemetry
4. Right-click → Stop
5. Click Startup Type → Disabled
6. Click Apply → OK

💡 After disabling this service, disk usage will reduce and your laptop will run smoother.

5. Disable Windows Search Indexing (HDD Laptops Only)

Windows Search Indexing runs in the background and constantly scans files to make search results faster. On HDD-based laptops, this process can cause 100% disk usage and make the laptop slow or unresponsive.

Disabling indexing can significantly reduce disk load.

Follow these steps:

1. Press Windows Key + R
2. Type services.msc and press Enter
3. Find Windows Search from the list
4. Right-click → Stop
5. Click Startup Type → Disabled
6. Click Apply → OK

💡 Note: If you have an SSD, it is better to keep indexing enabled.

6. Disable Background Apps and Startup Programs

Too many background apps and startup programs consume RAM, CPU, and Disk resources, which makes Windows 11 slow — especially on 8GB RAM laptops.

Disabling unnecessary apps improves performance immediately.

Follow these steps:

🔹 Turn Off Background Apps

1. Press Windows Key + I (Open Settings)
2. Go to Apps → Installed Apps
3. Select any app you don’t use frequently
4. Click Advanced Options
5. Under Background App Permissions → Choose “Never”

Repeat this for unnecessary apps (Spotify, Zoom Auto Launcher, MS Teams, etc.)

🔹 Disable Startup Programs

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc (Open Task Manager)
2. Go to Startup Apps
3. Disable programs with status Enabled that are not required:
   • Microsoft Teams
   • OneDrive Auto Sync
   • Game Overlay
   • Updater tools
   • Third-party launchers

💡 Keep essentials only: Drivers, Security, Touchpad, and Windows services.

7. Update Windows and Device Drivers

Outdated Windows builds or drivers can cause high CPU usage, heating, lag, and disk spikes in Windows 11.
Updating the system improves performance, stability, and battery life.

🔹 Update Windows 11

1. Press Windows Key + I (Open Settings)
2. Go to Windows Update
3. Click Check for Updates
4. Install all Pending + Optional Updates
5. Restart your laptop

🔹 Update Device Drivers (Very Important)

1. Press Windows Key + X → select Device Manager
2. Update these drivers first:
   • Display / Graphics Driver
   • Storage / SATA / NVMe Controller
   • Network Adapter
   • Chipset Driver

Right-click each device → Update Driver → Search Automatically.

💡 If you use Intel / AMD graphics, also check the official driver tools for better performance.

🔹 Optional: Firmware / BIOS Update

Some laptops get performance fixes via BIOS updates.

Check:

• Manufacturer website → Support / Drivers
• Enter your model number
• Install only if marked Recommended / Stable

⚠️ Do not update BIOS unnecessarily.

8. Reset Virtual Memory (Page File) for Better Performance

Virtual Memory (Page File) helps Windows manage memory when RAM becomes full.
If the page file is misconfigured, it can cause:

• High disk usage
• System lag and freezing
• 100% CPU / RAM spikes

Resetting it often improves performance.

🔹 Step-1: Open Virtual Memory Settings

1. Press Windows Key + R → type sysdm.cpl → press Enter
2. Go to Advanced tab
3. Under Performance, click Settings
4. Open the Advanced tab again
5. Click Change… under Virtual Memory

🔹 Step-2: Reset Page File

1. Uncheck → Automatically manage paging file size
2. Select C: Drive
3. Choose Custom Size

👉 Recommended values for 8GB RAM:

• Initial Size: 4096 MB
• Maximum Size: 8192 MB

4. Click Set
5. Click OK → OK → Apply
6. Restart your laptop

🟢 Why this helps

• Prevents memory bottlenecks
• Reduces lag during multitasking
• Improves stability in Windows 11

💡 Do not disable the page file — Windows needs it for smooth performance.

9. Disable Background Apps You Don’t Use (Windows 11 Settings)

When too many apps run in the background, they keep using RAM and CPU — which increases disk usage.

Steps:

1. Press Windows Key + I → Open Settings
2. Go to Apps → Installed Apps
3. Select any app you don’t need running in background
4. Click Advanced options
5. Under Background app permissions
   ➜ Select Never

Repeat this for unnecessary apps like:

• Xbox Services
• Spotify
• Cortana
• Microsoft Teams (if unused)

Why this fix helps:
Reduces RAM + CPU load and prevents SysMain from getting overloaded.

10. Disable Startup Apps to Reduce Boot-Time Disk Usage

Many apps auto-launch when Windows starts, which causes high disk and RAM usage.

Steps:

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc → Open Task Manager
2. Go to Startup Apps
3. Look for apps marked High Impact
4. Select them → Click Disable

Examples you can safely disable:

• uTorrent
• Adobe Updater
• Epic Games / Steam
• Chrome auto-launcher
• Third-party updaters

Do NOT disable:

• Windows Security
• Drivers
• Touchpad / Keyboard software

Benefit:
System boots faster and disk usage drops after startup.

11. Repair Corrupted System Files (Important)

Corrupted Windows files can trigger SysMain and cause high disk usage.

Steps:

1. Press Windows Key + X → Click Windows Terminal (Admin)
2. Type the command below and press Enter:

sfc /scannow

Wait for the scan to complete.

3. Now run:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Restart your laptop after completion.

Benefit:
Fixes hidden OS problems affecting performance.

If you want, I’ll also give:

12. Disable Unnecessary Startup Apps

When too many apps run automatically at startup, they consume disk and memory in the background. This often leads to 100% disk usage in Windows 11, especially on low-end and 8GB RAM laptops. Disabling unnecessary startup programs helps reduce disk load and improves boot time.

🔹 Steps (numbered list)

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager
2. Go to the Startup apps tab
3. Look for apps with Status: Enabled
4. Right-click unwanted apps → click Disable
5. Restart your laptop

💡 Tip

Only disable non-essential apps like updater tools, launchers, and background utilities — do not disable antivirus or system services.

🎯 Benefit

This reduces disk activity during startup and makes Windows boot faster.

13. Reset Virtual Memory (Page File) in Windows 11

Windows uses Virtual Memory (Page File) when RAM gets full. If the page file becomes corrupted or incorrectly configured, it can cause high disk usage and system lag. Resetting the page file helps stabilize performance, especially on 8GB RAM laptops.

🔹 Steps (numbered list)

1. Press Windows + R, type sysdm.cpl, and press Enter
2. Go to the Advanced tab
3. Click Settings under Performance
4. Open the Advanced tab again
5. Click Change under Virtual Memory
6. Uncheck Automatically manage paging file size
7. Select C: drive
8. Choose No paging file → click Set
9. Click OK and Restart your laptop
10. After restart, follow the same path again
11. Select System managed size
12. Click Set → OK → Restart

💡 Why this works

Resetting the page file removes old cached memory data and helps Windows create a fresh, optimized paging file.

🎯 Result

This improves system stability and reduces random disk spikes.

14. Disable Windows Search Indexing (Only on HDD Laptops)

Windows Search Indexing continuously scans files and folders to speed up search results.
On low-end laptops or HDD-based systems, it can cause high disk usage and lag.
Disabling it reduces background disk load and improves performance.

🧠 Benefit

This reduces background disk activity and makes Windows run smoother on 8GB RAM laptops.

🔧 Steps (numbered list)

1. Press Windows Key + R
2. Type services.msc and press Enter
3. Find Windows Search from the list
4. Right-click → Properties
5. Click Stop
6. Change Startup type → Disabled
7. Click Apply → OK
8. Restart your laptop

💡 Tip

If you use Windows Search frequently, you can turn it back on anytime by setting Startup type → Automatic.

🎯 Result

This helps reduce disk spikes and improves overall system responsiveness.

🚩 Important Note

👉 This fix is recommended mainly for HDD systems.
If the user has SSD, better to keep indexing ON (no need to mention SSD in title — only inside content like above).

15. Disable Background Apps (Reduce Hidden Disk & RAM Usage)

Many apps keep running in the background even when you’re not using them.
They consume RAM, CPU, and Disk, which can trigger 100% disk usage — especially on 8GB RAM laptops.

Disabling unnecessary background apps improves performance and reduces system load.

🧠 Benefit

This reduces hidden background activity and improves speed and responsiveness.

🔧 Steps (numbered list)

1. Press Windows Key + I to open Settings
2. Go to Apps → Installed Apps (or Apps & Features)
3. Click any unwanted app → Advanced Options
4. Find Background App Permissions
5. Select Never
6. Repeat this for apps you don’t use frequently
7. Restart your laptop

💡 Tip

Do not disable important apps such as antivirus, drivers, system utilities, or Microsoft Services.

Disable only social apps, launchers, games, or rarely used tools.

🎯 Result

This free up RAM, reduces disk usage spikes, and makes windows run smoother.

16. Update Storage / SATA / AHCI Drivers (Very Important)

💡 Benefit
Updating storage drivers reduces disk spikes and improves system responsiveness.

🛠 Steps (numbered list)

1. Press Windows Key + X → Device Manager
2. Expand IDE ATA / ATAPI Controllers or Storage Controllers
3. Right-click Standard SATA AHCI Controller
4. Click Update Driver
5. Select Search automatically for drivers
6. Restart your laptop
7. If available → Also update
   • NVMe / SSD Controller
   • Intel / AMD SATA Controller

📝 Why this works

Outdated storage drivers cause Windows to read/write data slowly, which triggers 100% disk usage on 8GB RAM laptops. Updating drivers stabilizes disk performance.

🎯 Result

This improves read/write speed, reduces lag, and prevents random disk spikes.

17. Check Disk for Errors (CHKDSK Repair Method)

💡 Benefit
Fixes hidden disk errors that cause slow performance and random 100% disk spikes.

🛠 Steps (numbered list)

1. Press Windows Key + X → Click Windows Terminal (Admin)
2. Type the command below and press Enter:

chkdsk C: /f /r

3. When asked

“Schedule scan on next restart?” → Type Y → Press Enter

4. Restart your laptop
5. The scan will run automatically (it may take 10–20 minutes)

18. Disable Windows Tips & Notifications (Reduces Background Disk Usage)

Is fix se Windows unnecessary pop-ups aur suggestions band karta hai, jo background me disk & RAM use karte rehte hain.

💡 Benefit

This reduces unnecessary background activity and helps improve system performance.

🛠️ Steps (numbered list)

1. Press Windows Key + I to open Settings
2. Go to System → Notifications
3. Scroll down and uncheck these options:
   • ✔️ Get tips and suggestions when using Windows
   • ✔️ Offer suggestions on how I can set up my device
   • ✔️ Get notifications from apps and other senders (optional apps only)
4. Close Settings
5. Restart your laptop

🎯 Result

This helps reduce background pop-ups, saves system resources, and lowers disk usage.

📝 Tip

Do not disable security or essential notifications — only disable tips & suggestions.

19. Update Storage / SATA Drivers (Fixes Disk Spikes on HDD & SSD)

*Many Windows 11 laptops use old storage or SATA drivers, which can cause disk spikes and slow performance. Updating these drivers helps reduce 100% disk usage and improves system stability — especially on 8GB RAM laptops.

⭐ Benefit

Updating storage drivers reduces disk load, improves responsiveness, and prevents random disk spikes.

🛠️ Steps

1. Press Windows Key + X → Click Device Manager
2. Expand Disk drives
3. Right-click your drive → Click Update driver
4. Select Search automatically for drivers
5. Now expand IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers
6. Right-click each controller → Click Update driver
7. Restart your laptop

💡 Tip

If you see Standard SATA AHCI Controller, don’t uninstall it — just update and restart.

🎯 Result

This improves storage performance, reduces disk spikes, and makes Windows run smoother.

Conclusion

These fixes help reduce 100% disk usage in Windows 11, especially on 8GB RAM laptops. Apply the fixes one-by-one instead of doing everything at once. The main cause of disk spikes is usually background services, startup apps, or outdated drivers.

If the issue still continues, upgrading to an SSD or increasing RAM gives the best long-term performance improvement.

If you still face the problem, tell me your laptop specs in the comments — I will help you.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Why does Windows 11 show 100% Disk Usage?

Most of the time, 100% disk usage happens because of background services like SysMain, Windows Search Indexing, startup apps, telemetry services, Windows Update, or outdated storage / SATA drivers. These services continuously read and write data, which increases disk load and slows down the system.

Is it safe to disable SysMain (Superfetch) in Windows 11?

Yes, disabling SysMain is safe and it often helps reduce high disk usage on 8GB RAM laptops. SysMain only preloads frequently used programs, but on low-RAM laptops it increases disk load instead of improving performance.

Should I disable Windows Search Indexing permanently?

If you are using an HDD laptop, disabling indexing can improve performance and reduce disk spikes.
But if your laptop has an SSD, it is better to keep indexing enabled because SSDs handle indexing faster.

Does installing an SSD fix 100% disk usage in Windows 11?

Yes, in most cases upgrading from HDD to SSD massively reduces disk usage, improves boot time, and makes Windows faster and more responsive — especially on 8GB RAM laptops.

Which fix works best for 8GB RAM laptops?

The most effective fixes are: disabling SysMain, removing unnecessary startup apps, stopping telemetry services, resetting virtual memory, and updating storage / SATA drivers.