Home » SQL Server Error » How to Reduce CPU Utilization in SQL Server? Top Ways Explained
Table of Content

How to Reduce CPU Utilization in SQL Server? Top Ways Explained

Andrew Jackson ~ Modified: August 25th, 2025 ~ SQL Server Error ~ 6 Minutes Reading

While working on the SQL Server environment, it is highly necessary to optimize resource usage to ensure efficient database performance. One such doubt users often get is how to reduce CPU utilization in SQL Server. With the help of this write-up, we will examine this process and explore ways to minimize CPU usage in SQL Server. 

Learning the Impact of CPU Usage on SQL Server

When the SQL Server or database encounters high CPU usage, it significantly impacts the performance of the database and other applications relying on it. Hence, it becomes necessary for the users to understand the causes for high CPU usage and further look for appropriate solutions to help them resolve the issue. We will now take a look at the possible causes for the high CPU usage in SQL Server. 

  • Due to missing indexes or poorly written queries.
  • Because of bad execution plans in SQL Server.
  • Due to deadlocks and blocking in SQL Server. 
  • Index fragmentation or outdated statistics.

These are some of the common reasons for the high CPU usage in SQL Server. After learning the common reasons, it is required for the users to find effective solutions that will allow them to resolve the matter more securely and effectively. We will now take a look at the process and steps to resolve how to reduce CPU utilization in SQL Server. 

Step 1: Identify the SQL Queries Using High Resources

To solve the issue, it becomes crucial for the users to first figure out which queries are consuming high CPU resources. These queries can be easily detected with the help of DMVs. 

Here are the commands that will help users identify queries that are using high CPU resources. 

SELECT TOP 10 
    qs.total_worker_time / qs.execution_count AS avg_cpu_time,
    qs.execution_count,
    SUBSTRING(
        qt.text, 
        qs.statement_start_offset / 2, 
        (CASE WHEN qs.statement_end_offset = -1 
              THEN LEN(CONVERT(NVARCHAR(MAX), qt.text)) * 2 
              ELSE qs.statement_end_offset 
         END - qs.statement_start_offset) / 2
    ) AS query_text
FROM sys.dm_exec_query_stats AS qs
CROSS APPLY sys.dm_exec_sql_text(qs.sql_handle) AS qt
ORDER BY avg_cpu_time DESC;

This command helps with understanding the utilization of CPU and further helps the users to get details about the high resource-consuming queries, allowing the users to optimize them for better performance. Moving on to the next method, let’s see how to reduce CPU utilization in SQL Server.

Step 2: Optimize SQL Server Queries and Query Execution Plans

After the queries that are consuming high resources are identified, it is now time to optimize the queries. Here are some of the ways that will allow users to optimize queries and further improve the query execution plans. 

  • Review and improve the query execution plans in SQL Server. 
  • If any poorly written or inefficient query is found, rewrite them. This can be done simply by optimizing the WHERE and JOIN clauses in SQL Server to deal with how to reduce CPU utilization in SQL Server. 
  • If any long-running query is found, resolve them as they also consume high CPU resources. 
  • When required, only a specific set of data, avoid using SELECT * command. 

These steps will allow the users to optimize the queries in a much secure and effective way. The next step includes maintaining indexes in SQL Server. 

Step 3: Maintain SQL Server Indexes and Statistics

Another factor that affects the SQL Server performance and further utilizes higher CPU resources. To resolve this issue, it is better to fix missing indexes in the SQL Server database and further update the statistics. Here are the steps that will help with SQL Server Index Optimization to resolve how to reduce CPU utilization in SQL Server. 

  • The first step is to add the missing indexes in SQL Server that might be leading to high CPU consumption. 
  • Next, it is important to fix the fragmented indexes in SQL Server. This can be done by using the following command:
    ALTER INDEX ALL ON [TableName] REBUILD;
  • Remove the indexes that are not being used in the SQL Server database. 
  • Next, update the statistics in SQL Server:
    EXEC sp_updatestats;

These commands will help with maintaining the indexes in SQL Server. Let’s now proceed with the next step to fix how to reduce CPU utilization in SQL Server.

Step 4: Fixing Using a Professional Recovery Tool

Now, there can be various issues that might lead to high CPU resource utilization. Sometimes, the core reason for knowing how to reduce CPU utilization in SQL Server becomes database corruption or other issues at the data level in SQL Server. When the issue occurs due to this reason, it is always appropriate to consider using a professional solution. A solution like SQL Recovery Tool is specially designed for repairing corrupted or damaged database files. It further helps in resolving data-level issues in SQL. Using a trusted solution will not only allow to resolve the issue, but also recover any data if lost or compromised. 

Download Now Purchase Now

Step 5: Resolving Deadlocks and Blockings

When the database encounters issues as deadlocks and blockings, it starts utilizing higher CPU resources and further requires appropriate actions to resolve such matters. The user can fix the blockings with the following methods:

  • The sp_whoisactive or sys.dm_exec_requests commands will help users detect blocking sessions in SQL Server. 
  • Once the blocking sessions are detected, it is now time to optimize and repair them to determine how to reduce CPU utilization in SQL Server. 

Step 6: Regular and Continuous Monitoring & Maintenance

When it comes to maintaining the database performance and understanding the resource consumption of SQL Server, one of the most relevant ways is performance tuning. This is not just a one-time task; instead, the user must carry out the process regularly. It helps with tracking any issues that occur in the database. Here are a few steps that will allow the users to effectively monitor database performance:

  • Using DMVs to keep track of query performance in SQL Server.
  • For sudden spikes in CPU, setting up alerts will also help. 
  • To prevent such issues in the database, it will be beneficial to track and keep an eye on workload trends to keep up with future capacity needs.

Conclusion

With this write-up, we have learned thoroughly about an issue that is how to reduce CPU utilization in SQL Server. This issue occurs often and further raises concerns for them with the database performance. We have suggested a few solutions to effectively resolve the matter after understanding the causes of the error.