Windows 10: Windows Push Notifications User Service Issue - Process Maxes Out CPU and Memory

After updating Windows 10 today, I've run into a strange issue: a single process, Windows Push Notifications User Service, will regularly start and then slowly use nearly all my available CPU and Memory until either I end the process or the computer ceases to function. When I end the process, it is dormant for a while but always restarts again and goes through the same cycle of using up all available CPU and Memory.


From what I can tell, the issue is not with any particular app trying to send a push notification but rather with the Windows Push Notification Service itself. I have all notifications turned off; however, I find that the process always starts up when I got to the Notification Settings tab. When I do that, no apps are shown under "Get notifications from these senders" nor are any of the lower down options shown either; instead, I just get the loading circular dots animation under "Get notifications from these senders" while the Windows Push Notifications process slowly uses up all available CPU and Memory. When I forcibly end the task using the Task Manager, the loading dots are replaced by the following text: "No senders have provided notifications yet."


Does anyone know how to prevent this from happening? I spoke with Windows technical support but they were unable to fix the problem - nearly as soon as I got off the phone with them (thinking the issue was fixed), it happened again. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

:)

 

Runaway push notification process using multiple GB of memory

1. Have been able to get a hint about which App might be running and causing the issue?

Start - Settings - type in --> Notifications

Or Start - Settings - System - Notifcations

See if turning off ALL notifications or even particular ones stop the problem.

Even with "get notificaitons from apps and other senders" and all the other toggles in "notifications & actions" turned off, it still does that.

When I scroll down to "get notifications from these senders" I just get the spinning dots (left it running for several minutes without it displaying any apps).

2. While that is showing Right Click the Taskbar - Task Manager - find it and if there is a little arrow on the left expand it to see what is causing it to run.

The process says "Service Host: Windows Push Notifications User Service_49b3a" and when you click the arrow next to it a sub entry of "Windows Push Notifications User Services_49b3a" shows up.

3. Try Process Explorer while it is running to also see if that help determine cause.

Process Explorer says the hog is svchost.exe using 20,xxx,xxx k private bytes, 9,xxx,xxx k working set and 12.xx cpu.

If needed you can also try a Clean Boot.

No luck with clean boot. Still happens with all non-microsoft services disabled as well as all startup items disabled.

Autoruns

Just installed and ran it. Not really sure what I'm looking for on it that is not in the task manager startup list. Nothing really jumps out as being inappropriate.

 

Runaway push notification process using multiple GB of memory

In Windows 10 Home, the "Windows Push Notifications User Service 4e086" begins using up multiple gigabytes of memory after running for a few minutes. I can end task the process, but it comes back later or on reboot. I have tried disabling the process by
unchecking it in msconfig, but it still starts when I restart the computer. I have tried running a clean boot by disabling all non-microsoft services in msconfig and disabling all startup entries in task manager, but the issue still occurs.

I have run virus scan and Malwarebytes anti-malware scan and found nothing. This has been ongoing for multiple weeks.

I'd like to resolve the issue, but if the best I can get is somehow disabling push notifications entirely and stopping that process from ever starting, I would be happy with that too.

 

High Memory Usage by "Service Host: Windows Notifications User Service_3c1f5"

For us to know if it's a faulty or outdated driver, can you send us a screenshot of associated file. Here are the steps:

• Type in Task Manager in the search bar
• Right-click Service Host: Windows Push Notifications User Service_3c1f5
• Click Properties and go to the General tab
• Send us a screenshot of the Properties

We'll wait for your response.