What Are USO Core Worker and USO Client Processes in Windows?

If you’ve noticed processes like usocoreworker.exe and usoclient.exe running on your Windows PC, you might be curious about what they are. These processes often appear in the Task Manager, and their activity can sometimes raise questions, especially if they seem to be consuming system resources. Let's dive into what these processes are and whether you need to worry about them.

What is usocoreworker.exe?

usocoreworker.exe is a component of the Windows Update system, related to the Update Session Orchestrator (USO). This process is responsible for managing update sessions, including checking for, downloading, and installing updates on your PC.

This process was introduced in the newer versions of Windows 10 and is also present in Windows 11. It replaced the older wuauclt.exe process used in previous Windows versions. It operates in the background, automatically starting when the system checks for updates or installs them.

What Does usoclient.exe Do?

usoclient.exe is another part of the Windows Update service, designed to execute update tasks via the command line. It helps notify users about available updates and manages their installation. You might see this process in the Task Manager when the system is performing an update check.

Typically, usoclient.exe runs during system startup or based on a schedule set by the Windows Update service. However, you can also manually trigger it using the command line to force an update check:

usoclient.exe startscan

This command initiates a scan for available updates from Microsoft’s servers.

Why Do usocoreworker.exe and usoclient.exe Use System Resources?

These processes might consume CPU or disk resources when the system is actively checking for updates or downloading them. This can be more noticeable on older or less powerful computers, where the update process might take longer and use more resources.

If you find that usocoreworker.exe or usoclient.exe is using a lot of resources, it could be due to:

  • Failed attempts to download updates.
  • Stuck or improperly installed updates.
  • Network connection issues.

Can You Disable usocoreworker.exe and usoclient.exe?

While it is technically possible to disable these processes, it’s generally not recommended, as they are crucial for the Windows Update service. Disabling them could prevent important security patches and bug fixes from being applied to your system.

If you want to temporarily pause updates, you can do so as follows:

  1. Open Windows Settings (Win + I).
  2. Go to Update & Security.
  3. Select Pause updates and choose a suitable duration.