Windows 11’s Start Menu Under Fire for High CPU Usage

Users are reporting that simply opening the Start Menu in Windows 11 can spike CPU usage up to 80%—and the culprit appears to be React Native.

In Russia, social media users have raised alarms about unusual behavior in Windows 11’s Start Menu. Each time it’s opened, the system launches a full application built with React Native—a framework typically used for mobile apps—which can consume up to 80% of a single CPU core. Even high-performance machines are reportedly experiencing lag as a result.

Microsoft has been integrating React Native into Windows 11’s UI for some time now, using it to power settings modules like 'Your Account.' While the company claims this move helps streamline development, critics argue that relying on web technologies for core system functions leads to sluggish performance. As one user put it: 'Why should it take 80% of the CPU just to display a grid of icons?'

Some users also report that the Start Menu won’t open at all, forcing them to restart their computers just to carry out basic operations.

This growing frustration has triggered speculation online that Windows may be nearing the end of its relevance. With each new version, some claim, the OS seems to perform worse—and increasingly resembles a tool for surveillance rather than productivity.