Symptom
Constant high processor usage (typically at/close to 100%). During monitoring the SearchApp.exe process continues to be displayed with high usage.
Cause
SearchApp.exe is part of the Cortana digital assistant. Earlier versions of Windows 10, this was a core part of the operating system. With later versions that core integration has been loosened and with Windows 11 that has been removed. Even if the Windows Search is disabled, the process is still started and restarted automatically which can cause high CPU usage
Possible Solutions
Cortana can be removed from Window 10 version 2004 or later by running the following command:
Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers -PackageTypeFilter Bundle -name "*Microsoft.549981*" | Remove-AppxPackage
This will remove the Cortana application for all users.
Applies To
Windows 10 version 2004 or later