Ever heard about Runtime broker? Wondering what this process actually is and why is it keeps running on your PC? Well, if you are curious about the same, then this guide is for you.
You probably have spotted this process in your Task Manager window and wondered what it actually is. So, we’ve got answers for you. Continue scrolling the page and find the key information about this window process here.
Let’s get started!!
Table of Contents
What is the Runtime Broker?
Shall we start with the introduction?
A Runtime broker is a window process used by Universal apps, including Microsoft Store apps. This process is mainly used to control the permissions of these apps, like location or microphone.
The concept of Runtime broker was first launched with Windows 8 and is continually running for the latest Windows. It is used to determine whether universal apps (also called metro apps in Windows 8) are declaring all of their permissions or not.
While this process runs in the background, you must have seen its activity rise when you launch a Universal app. You can take it as a middleman, hooking your universal apps to ensure the privacy and security of your device.
Why is Runtime Broker Running on Your PC?
As mentioned above, this window process runs for each universal app to maintain the security and privacy of the settings you’ve configured.
When you launch an app from the MS Store, this process checks if the app has the necessary permissions to use system resources.
The runtime broker acts as an intermediary between the apps and the resources it needs to use, so it won’t use more resources than needed or compromise your safety.
Simply put, there are two reasons why this Window process runs on your PC. These are as follows.
- To ensure the privacy and security of your PC
- To check if the app is using the appropriate resource or not.
All in all, it gives you the much-needed oversight over which apps can access which parts of your PC.
The presence of this process eliminates the need for a rogue app filled with malware asking for permission to access your hard disk or other resources. Just have this RuntimeBroker.exe file to protect your privacy.
Why a Runtime Broker Uses So Much Memory?
While this window process ensures the privacy of the settings you’ve configured for an app, it takes too much memory or CPU resources.
So, what’s the reason behind it? Why does this window process use a large amount of CPU resources or memory?
Let’s outline the reason here.
This Window process only runs when a universal app needs access to system resources. This typically requires just a few megabytes of memory.
But the thing is – this process runs constantly for apps that request permissions or have permission issues, which is why it consumes a lot of CPU storage.
However, if the process shows high CPU usage, then you can check your open apps and their permissions to identify the reason.
Here’s how to manage your app permissions on Windows 11.
- Head to the Settings > Apps > Installed Apps.
- Choose an app, click the three-dot button, and then choose Advanced options to check its App permissions.
Should I Worry About the Runtime Broker?
The simple answer is NO. There’s no need to worry about the Runtime Broker process, as it has just been added to keep you secure. It won’t consume more than a few MB of your RAM.
Besides, you can check the status of running apps under the Task Manager to check their CPU usage. If it’s using more than required, simply end the process.
The best thing about this process is that it is not malware and never compromises your system’s security under any circumstance.
You should worry when you believe that one of the Universal apps could be malfunctioning or malware could be acting like a Runtime Broker.
What to Do If Runtime Error Consumes Extra Resources on Windows?
Worried about the CPU usage spike? Don’t panic, as we have two simple methods to fix the error. Scroll down to have a closer look.
1. End Task & Reboot
The simple method is to end the task and free up all the resources it might be consuming. To do so,
- Right-click the RuntimeBroker.exe process.
- Select End Task.
- Reboot your computer from the Start menu, and it’s done.
2. Run a Scan
If ending a task doesn’t make any change, simply scan everything to see whether malware or virus is pretending like a Runtime Broker. Download the best antivirus to conduct the scan.
If you find any mysterious process running on your PC, simply send it to get rid of the error.
Summing Up
That’s all about the Runtime broker process and its essential details. This window process is mainly launched to ensure the privacy of your computer resources.
It generally requires a few MB of your RAM, so you don’t have to worry about it running on your PC.
However, if you experience more memory usage than expected, perform a malware and virus scan to be safe.
So, why wait? Have you ever experienced a Runtime error, or has everything seemed smooth until now? Share your experience in the comments below.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Is It Safe to Disable the Runtime Broker?
Ans. No, you cannot disable this process on your Windows PC. It’s vital for protecting your computer’s security and privacy when running universal apps.
Q. Why Do I Have So Many Runtime Brokers Running?
Ans. Each UPW app requires a Runtime broker to be executed; hence, the more universal apps are running on your PC, the more Runtime brokers you’ll find.
Q. What’s the Reason Behind the Runtime Errors?
Ans. Runtime errors usually appear due to a bug in software. Once it’s removed, your Runtime broker process will start running smoothly.
