Do you live high CPU usage under Windows 11/10 due to Audio/Video Control Transport Protocol (AVCTP)? If so, you are not alone. This common issue is known to slow down the device and disrupt the Bluetooth audio experience. In this article we will see what to do if there is High AVCTP CPU usage.

What is the AVCTP service?

AVCTP means Audio/Video Control Transport Protocol. It allows controlling audio and video streams between devices, primarily via Bluetooth connections. You often find AVCTP in Bluetooth-enabled devices such as wireless headphones, speakers, and car audio systems, where it handles audio and video playback.

Fix AVCTP High CPU Usage on Windows 11/10

If you are facing AVCTP high CPU usage issue on your Windows computer, run the solutions mentioned below:

1. Run the Bluetooth Troubleshooter
2. Update Windows
3. Update or reinstall the Bluetooth driver
4. Disable the AVCTP service

Let’s start with this troubleshooting guide.

1) Run the Bluetooth Troubleshooter

Excessive AVCTP CPU resources may indicate underlying connectivity issues or configuration issues. To identify and fix the problem, we will run the Bluetooth troubleshooter.

To do the same, go to the search bar, type Bluetooth Troubleshooter and select the first option i.e.: Find and fix problems with Bluetooth devices. Once the Bluetooth Troubleshooting window opens, click on the Advanced option to apply the repair automatically and press the Next button.

Alternatively, we can use the Bluetooth Get Help troubleshooterclick on Windows Search and type Get help. Select and open the Get help application, and once opened, enter the problem we are experiencing and press the button Enter button. Once the scanning and repair procedure is completed, resolve the issue.

2) Repair your operating system

Since AVCTP is a system component, we will try to repair the system image. If it is corrupted, you will encounter this problem. To do this, open Command Prompt as administrator and run the following commands.

To run System File Checker:

sfc /scannow

HAS run DISM tool:

Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth

Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth

Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Alternatively, you can repair Windows computers using installation media.

3) Update or reinstall the Bluetooth driver

An outdated or corrupt Bluetooth driver can cause high CPU demands. Because AVCTP handles media commands, a faulty driver can overload the CPU when processing these commands.

You should update the bluetooth driver first using the Windows driver and optional updates.

If this does not resolve the issue, uninstall the Bluetooth driver using Device Manager, then download it from the manufacturer’s website.

4) Disable the AVCTP service

AVCTP enables multimedia control commands such as Play, Pause and Stop between Bluetooth devices and PC. In some cases, the AVCTP driver may malfunction or encounter compatibility issues, leading to high CPU usage. Users can disable AVCTP; however, this may disable Bluetooth Media control functionality. It is therefore recommended to restart the service before deactivating it. Here’s how to do it.

1. Go to the search bar, search for Services and open it.
2. Find AVCTP Services, double-click it and select the Stop option in the Services Management Console.
3. Wait for a while and then click the Start button. Now check if the issue is resolved, if not, go to the Service Management Console again and click on AVCTP Service.
4. Go to the Startup type drop-down menu and select the Disabled option.
5. Finally, click the Stop button, then click the Apply and OK buttons.

Hopefully this will fix the AVCTP high CPU usage issue.

Read: What Windows Services Can You Safely Disable in Windows 11?

How do I fix excessive CPU usage?

To fix excessive CPU usage, users should identify the processes that are consuming the most resources using Task Manager. Closing unnecessary programs and tasks, while ensuring that the operating system and all drivers, especially the graphics driver and Bluetooth driver, are up to date, can be an effective solution. See the article above if the high CPU usage is caused by AVCTP.

Read: App Services and Controller High CPU Usage in Windows 11

Is it safe to disable AVCTP services?

Disabling AVCTP services is generally safe; however, this involves some compromises. If this decision is driven by high CPU usage, users should try stopping AVCTP services. If the high CPU usage persists, they can follow the steps mentioned above to turn it off.

Read also: Fix 100% Disk Usage, High CPU, Memory or Power Usage on Windows.