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When you go to Task Manager, you may notice that the process runs several instances and controls too much of your CPU resources (could even be as much as 50%).

The problem may have begun after the installation of some programs or Windows updates.

The RAVBg64.exe file is a software component that belongs to Realtek HD Audio Driver or the Realtek High Definition Audio codecs. It is always located in the “\Realtek\Audio\HDA”folder in “C:\Program Files.” It is trusted and digitally signed and therefore shouldn’t cause any problems.

But it’s been reported that malware could be disguised as RAVBg64.exe. If this is the case, then it will probably be in a different location than indicated above. To check, here’s what you have to do:

  • Go to Task Manager (press Ctrl + Alt + Delete and select the option).
  • Locate the process and right-click on it. Select ‘Open file location.”

To be on the safe side, we recommend you run a scan with Auslogics Anti-Malware.

After you’ve determined that the file is genuine, it is not advisable to terminate the process in Task Manager since it’s necessary for managing audio on your PC.

So let’s go ahead to look at how to fix the high CPU usage by RAVBg64.exe.

How to Resolve RAVBg64.exe Causing High CPU Usage

There are three solutions to this problem:

  1. Disable and enable Realtek audio programs
  2. Uninstall and update Realtek audio drivers
  3. Make a registry modification

You might not need to try them all before the issue is resolved.

Let’s begin, shall we?

Fix 1: Disable and Enable Realtek Audio Programs

This may just be sufficient in resolving the issue.

You’ll have to disable the Realtek startup items in System Configuration and then go to Device Manager and disable the Realtek audio device.

Follow these easy steps to get it done:

  1. Invoke the Run dialog. An easy way to do this is to press the Windows logo + R combination on your keyboard.
  2. Enter ‘msconfig’ in the text field and press Enter or click OK.
  3. In the System Configuration window that opens, move to the Startup tab and mark the checkbox for all the Realtek listings.
  4. Now click the ‘Disable all’ button.
  5. Click Ok to effect the change.

To disable the Realtek audio device:

  1. Go to the Start menu.
  2. Type Device Manager in the search bar and click on the option from the results list.
  3. In the window that opens, scroll down and locate the ‘Sound, video and game controllers’ category. Expand it.
  4. Right-click on the Realtek audio device. Click Disable from the context menu.

After you’ve completed these steps, repeat them again and instead choose Enable for both the Realtek Startup items and audio device.

You can then go to Task Manager and check if the high CPU usage issue has been resolved.

Fix 2: Uninstall and Update Realtek Audio Drivers

If your Realtek audio driver is outdated or faulty, it could be the cause of the problem you’re facing.

To resolve the issue, uninstall the driver and then install the latest version.

Follow these easy steps to get it done:

  1. Press the Windows logo key + X on your keyboard to invoke the WinX menu.
  2. Locate Device Manager in the list and click on it.
  3. Scroll down to ‘Sound, video, and game controllers’ and expand it.
  4. Right-click on ‘Realtek High Definition Audio.’ Select Uninstall from the context menu.
  5. Click OK when presented with a confirmation prompt.
  6. Close all windows and restart your system.
  7. Now, open Device Manager as explained in Steps 1 and 2.
  8. Click Action, which is displayed on the toolbar at the top of the window.
  9. Click on ‘Scan for hardware changes.’
  10. Wait for the process to complete. The system will detect the missing Realtek driver. Then click Install Driver for the latest version to be installed automatically.

If the installation is not successful, you’ll have to visit the manufacturer’s website and download the driver manually. If you don’t want to go through the trouble, we suggest you use Auslogics Driver Updater to carry out the update automatically.

The tool will recognize your system specs and then perform a full scan to detect any missing, outdated, and faulty drivers. Afterwards, it downloads and installs the latest manufacturer-recommended versions without any effort on your part.

Fix 3: Make a Registry Modification

The high CPU usage could be due to some missing registry keys: SRS Labs and APO. If so, you’ll have to add them manually to rectify the issue.

Before we begin, ensure you back up your Registry. This way, if you make a mistake that will cause an issue, you can quickly perform a restore.

So follow these easy steps:

  1. Press the Windows key + R to invoke the Run dialog.
  2. Type ‘regedit’ in the text box and click Ok or press Enter.
  3. Click the Yes button when presented with the User Account Control (UAC) prompt.
  4. In the Registry Editor window, click File and select Export.
  5. Enter a name for the file and choose a safe location to save it in.
  6. Click ‘Save.’

We can now go ahead with the fix:

  1. Press the Windows logo + R combination on your keyboard to invoke the Run dialog.
  2. Type (or copy and paste) ‘regedit’ in the text box and press Enter or click OK to open Registry Editor.
  3. Click the Yes button when presented with the User Account Control (UAC) prompt.
  4. Expand HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE.
  5. Expand ‘SOFTWARE’.
  6. Check if you’ll find a key named ‘SRS Labs.’ If you do, then you don’t have to continue with this fix. But if the key is missing, continue to the next step.
  7. Right-click on ‘SOFTWARE.’
  8. Hover over ‘New’ in the context menu and then click on Key.
  9. Rename the new key to ‘SRS Labs’ (Don’t add the inverted commas and ensure you don’t make a mistake in the name).
  10. Right-click on the SRL Labs key and hover over ‘New’. Click Key to add a new sub key.
  11. Rename the sub key to ‘APO’ (again, don’t add the inverted commas and ensure you get the name right).
  12. Close Registry Editor and restart your computer.

You can now check if the issue has been resolved.

By the time you’ve tried one or all of these solutions, the RAVBg64.exe high CPU usage issue will have been successfully handled.

If you have any questions or remarks, please feel free to share your thoughts via the comments section below.

We’ll love to hear from you.