Recent Windows 10 updates are causing the Input Method Editor (IME) for Chinese languages to become unresponsive or use a lot of CPU.

A Windows Input Method Editor, or IME, is a tool that can be installed to help enter complex characters in Asian languages.

Since the release of the release of the latest Windows 10 cumulative updates, users have been reporting [1. 2] that if they have a Chinese IME installed, Windows would utilize a lot of the computer's CPU.

"After installing KB4516058 update on my Windows 10 Home 1803, I get high CPU on Microsoft IME and my language input stops working. I have Chinese input characters installed and it doesn't work anymore."

In a recent post to the Windows 10 Health Dashboard, Microsoft has confirmed a bug in recent Windows 10 and Windows Server updates where the Chinese Simplified (ChsIME.EXE) and Chinese Traditional (ChtIME.EXE) IMEs can experience high CPU usage problems.

"Some Input Method Editor (IME) may become unresponsive or may have high CPU usage. Affected IMEs include Chinese Simplified (ChsIME.EXE) and Chinese Traditional (ChtIME.EXE) with Changjie/Quick keyboard."

This issue is affecting Windows 10 version 1607 and newer and Windows Server 2016 and newer.

Microsoft is working on a fix to be released in a future update, but have provided a temporary workaround.

Temporary workaround

If you have a Chinese IME installed and you are experience high CPU usage or the IME hangs, you can perform the following steps provided by Microsoft.