How to Fix Software Reporter Tool High CPU usage

Software Reporter Tool is a legitimate Google Chrome process (it is not a virus) used by the browser to find out the conflicting applications/ processes. But in some cases, the Chrome Software Reporter tool starts to use excessive system resources (causing high CPU usage).

Before moving on with the solutions to disable the Google Software Reporter Tool, please do note that disabling this process may hamper Chrome’s ability to detect the conflicting/problematic applications, so, advance with extreme care and at your own risk. Also, if the issue is temporary, then ending the Software Reporter Tool process through the Task Manager may (temporarily) solve the problem for you.

1. Update Chrome to the Latest Build and Clear its Cache

The Software Reporter Tool may show high CPU usage if Chrome’s installation is outdated (it may create incompatibility between the other OS modules) or its cache is corrupt. In this context, updating Chrome to the latest build and clearing its cache may solve the problem.

1. Launch Chrome and near the top right, click on the menu (i.e., three vertical ellipses).
2. Now select Settings and steer to the About Chrome tab.

   

3. Then, in the right pane, make sure Chrome is updated to the latest release.

   

4. Once Chrome installation is updated, relaunch the Chrome browser and check if the high CPU usage issue is resolved.
5. If not, launch chrome and click on the three vertical ellipses. Now hoover the mouse over More Tools.
6. Then, in the sub-menu shown, select Clear Browsing Data, and in the window shown, click on Sign-out (near the bottom of the window).

    

   

7. Now open the dropdown of Time-Range and select All Time.
8. Then checkmark all the categories and click on the Clear Data button.

   

9. Once completed, reboot your PC and launch Chrome to check if the Software Reporter Tool’s CPU usage is back to normal.

2. Disable the Software Reporter Tool from Chrome Settings

The Software Reporter Tool is a Chrome process and disabling its relevant settings in the Chrome browser may solve the problem.

1. Launch Chrome and near the top right of the window, open its menu (by right-clicking the three vertical ellipses).
2. Now choose Settings and in the left pane, expand Advanced.
3. Then select System (under Advanced) and in the right pane, disable the option of “Continue Running Background Apps When Google Chrome is Closed”.

   

4. Now open Clean Up Computer and uncheck the option of Report Details to Google About Harmful Software….

   

5. Then relaunch Chrome and check if the Software Reporter Tool issue is resolved.

3. Delete/Rename the Exe File of Software Reporter Tool

Renaming the Exe file of Software Reporter Tool may solve the problem as it will not run automatically in the background

1. Firstly, make sure no process related to the Chrome browser (including the Software Reporter Tool) is operating in the Task Manager of your system.
2. Then right-click Windows and select Run.
3. Now navigate to the following directory (copy-paste the address):

   %localappdata%\Google\Chrome\User Data\SwReporter

   

4. Then open the folder with the Chrome version (currently, 90.260.200) and delete the software_reporter_tool.exe file (if you want to play safe, then rename the file e.g., OldSoftwareReporterTool.exe).

   

5. Now reboot your PC and check if the Software Reporter Tool issue is resolved.

Keep in mind the Exe file may be recreated when the Chrome browser is updated, if so, then you may remove its permissions (as discussed earlier).

4. Edit the Permissions of the Software Reporter Tool Folder

Editing the permissions of the Software Reporter Tool folder to block access to its EXE file can solve this issue.

1. Firstly, close the Chrome browser and make sure no process related to Chrome (including Software Reporter Tool) is operating in the Task Manager of your system.
2. Now, right-click Windows and select Run.
3. Then navigate to the following path:

   %localappdata%\Google\Chrome\User Data\

4. Now right-click on the SwReporter folder and select Properties.

   

5. Then navigate to the Security tab and click on the Advanced button (near the bottom of the window).
6. Now click on the Disable Inheritance button (near the bottom left of the window) and select “Remove All Inherited Permissions from This Object”.

   

7. Then apply your changes and reboot your PC to check if the Software Reporter Tool is not causing the high CPU usage.

   

If in the future you want to reverse the process, then repeat steps 1 to 6, but at step 6, choose Enable Inheritance.

5. Edit the System’s Registry

If none of the solutions did the trick for you, then editing the system’s registry to block the execution of the Software Reporter Tool may solve the problem.

5.1 Use the Policies Key to Disable the Execution of Software Reporter Tool

1. Exit Chrome and End Task of its related processes (including the Software Reporter Tool) in the Task Manager.
2. Then click Windows, type: Registry Editor, and right-click on it. Then choose Run as Administrator.

   

3. Now navigate to the following registry path (copy-paste the address):

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\

4. Now check if the folders with the Google > Chrome are present. If so, head to step 7.
5. If not, then in the left pane, right-click on Policies and choose New > Key.

   

6. Now name the key as Google and then right-click on the Google key.
7. Then select New > Key and name it as Chrome. After that right-click on the Chrome key.

   

8. Now choose New > Dword (32-bit) Value and in the right pane, name the key as ChromeCleanupEnabled.
9. Then double-click on it and set its value to 0.
10. Again, in the left pane, right-click on the Chrome key and select New > Dword (32-bit) Value.
11. Now, in the right pane, name it as ChromeCleanupReportingEnabled and set its value to 0.

     

12. Then close the editor and reboot your PC.
13. Upon reboot, check if the Software Reporter Tool is not causing the high CPU usage.

5.2 Use the DisallowRun Key to Block the Execution of Software Reporter Tool

1. Navigate to the following path:

   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies

2. Now, in the left pane, right-click Policies and select New>> Key.
3. Then name the key as Explorer and right-click on Explorer.
4. Now choose New>> Key and name it as DisallowRun. So, the complete registry path will be:

   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\DisallowRun

5. Then right-click on DisallowRun and choose New>> String.
6. Then name it as 1 and double-click on it.
7. Now set its value to Software_Reporter_Tool.exe and exit the editor.

   

8. Then reboot your PC and hopefully, the high CPU usage issue is resolved.

If the issue persists, then you may create a batch file that kills the Software Reporter Tool whenever it is launched.