High CPU usage in VS Code when opening Flutter project.

Type: Performance Issue

Open VS Code and load a Flutter project folder.

Observe CPU usage via Task Manager or the VS Code process explorer (run Developer: Open Process Explorer from the command palette).

Note that multiple "Visual Studio Code" processes spike to high CPU (e.g., 85%+) consistently when the project is active.

Confirm that this behavior does not occur when non-Flutter projects are open.

Expected Result:

CPU usage should stabilize after the initial indexing period rather than remaining at a high percentage indefinitely.

Actual Result:

VS Code remains at very high CPU utilization (97% total system load) for an extended period, suggesting an issue with the Dart/Flutter extension or language server.

VS Code version: Code 1.129.0 (125df4672b8a6a34975303c6b0baa124e560a4f7, 2026-07-15T00:08:44Z)
OS version: Windows_NT x64 10.0.26200
Modes:

System Info

|Item|Value|
|---|---|
|CPUs|AMD Ryzen 7 250 w/ Radeon 780M Graphics (16 x 3294)|
|GPU Status|2d_canvas: enabled
GPU0: VENDOR= 0x1002, DEVICE=0x1900 [AMD Radeon 780M Graphics], DRIVER_VENDOR=AMD, DRIVER_VERSION=32.0.21030.11004 *ACTIVE*
GPU1: VENDOR= 0x10de, DEVICE=0x2dd8 [NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 Laptop GPU], DRIVER_VERSION=32.0.16.1062
GPU2: VENDOR= 0x1414, DEVICE=0x008c [Microsoft Basic Render Driver], DRIVER_VERSION=10.0.26100.8875
Machine model name:
Machine model version:
direct_rendering_display_compositor: disabled_off_ok
gpu_compositing: enabled
multiple_raster_threads: enabled_on
opengl: enabled_on
rasterization: enabled
raw_draw: disabled_off_ok
skia_graphite: disabled_off
trees_in_viz: disabled_off
video_decode: enabled
video_encode: enabled
webgl: enabled
webgpu: enabled
webnn: disabled_off|
|Load (avg)|undefined|
|Memory (System)|23.31GB (8.67GB free)|
|Process Argv|--crash-reporter-id 1dd84626-ed8a-4c0b-84f4-3afe57518843|
|Screen Reader|no|
|VM|0%|

Process Info

```
CPU % Mem MB PID Process
0 167 29028 code
0 153 4020 shared-process
1 330 5528 gpu-process
0 350 13160 window [1] (main.dart - pvc_v2 - Visual Studio Code)
0 40 16992 crashpad-handler
0 58 21832 utility-network-service
0 138 26960 pty-host
0 15 3640 "d:\Users\hvkio\AppData\Local\Programs\Microsoft VS Code\125df4672b\resources\app\node_modules.asar.unpacked\node-pty\build\Release\conpty\OpenConsole.exe" --headless --width 80 --height 30 --signal 0x5d8 --server 0x568
0 109 32572 "C:\Program Files\PowerShell\7\pwsh.exe" -noexit -command "try { . \"d:\Users\hvkio\AppData\Local\Programs\Microsoft VS Code\125df4672b\resources\app\out\vs\workbench\contrib\terminal\common\scripts\shellIntegration.ps1\" } catch {}"
0 15 32964 "d:\Users\hvkio\AppData\Local\Programs\Microsoft VS Code\125df4672b\resources\app\node_modules.asar.unpacked\node-pty\build\Release\conpty\OpenConsole.exe" --headless --inheritcursor --width 122 --height 17 --signal 0x5c4 --server 0x5b8
0 111 33248 "C:\Program Files\PowerShell\7\pwsh.exe" -noexit -command "try { . \"d:\Users\hvkio\AppData\Local\Programs\Microsoft VS Code\125df4672b\resources\app\out\vs\workbench\contrib\terminal\common\scripts\shellIntegration.ps1\" } catch {}"
0 127 33660 file-watcher [1]
0 576 34704 extension-host [1]
20 12 8264 "d:\Users\hvkio\AppData\Local\Programs\Microsoft VS Code\125df4672b\resources\app\node_modules.asar.unpacked\@vscode\ripgrep-universal\bin\win32-x64\rg.exe" --files --hidden --case-sensitive --no-require-git -g /lib/main.dart -g !**/.git -g !**/.svn -g !**/.hg -g !**/.DS_Store -g !**/Thumbs.db -g !**/flutter/ephemeral -g !**/Flutter/ephemeral -g !**/.symlinks -g !**/.plugin_symlinks -g !/{**/node_modules,**/bower_components,**/*.code-search,**/.dart_tool,**/build,**/.git,**/.svn,**/.hg,**/.DS_Store,**/Thumbs.db,**/flutter/ephemeral,**/Flutter/ephemeral,**/.symlinks,**/.plugin_symlinks,**/*.class,**/*.log,**/*.pyc,**/*.swp,**/.DS_Store,**/.atom/**,**/.build/**,**/.buildlog/**,**/.history,**/.svn/**,**/.swiftpm/**,**/migrate_working_dir/**,**/*.iml,**/*.ipr,**/*.iws,**/.idea/**,**/*.g.dart,**/.metadata,**/**/doc/api/**,**/**/ios/Flutter/.last_build_id,**/.dart_tool/**,**/.flutter-plugins-dependencies,**/.pub-cache/**,**/.pub/**,build/**,coverage/**,**/app.*.symbols,**/app.*.map.json,android/app/debug,android/app/profile,android/app/release,**/**/.claude/settings.local.json} --no-ignore --follow --no-config --no-ignore-global
0 8 21772 C:\Windows\system32\conhost.exe 0x4
0 64 9444 D:\scr\flutter\bin\cache\dart-sdk\bin\dart.exe devtools --machine --allow-embedding --dtd-uri ws://127.0.0.1:58086/pRnc0JTJfec=
0 8 5232 C:\Windows\system32\conhost.exe 0x4
23 57 11980 "d:\Users\hvkio\AppData\Local\Programs\Microsoft VS Code\125df4672b\resources\app\node_modules.asar.unpacked\@vscode\ripgrep-universal\bin\win32-x64\rg.exe" --files --hidden --case-sensitive --no-require-git -g !**/.git -g !**/.svn -g !**/.hg -g !**/.DS_Store -g !**/Thumbs.db -g !**/flutter/ephemeral -g !**/Flutter/ephemeral -g !**/.symlinks -g !**/.plugin_symlinks -g !**/node_modules -g !**/bower_components -g !**/*.code-search -g !**/.dart_tool -g !**/build --no-ignore-parent --follow --no-config --no-ignore-global
0 8 16852 C:\Windows\system32\conhost.exe 0x4
1 441 12112 electron-nodejs (bundle.js)
0 10 14392 C:\Windows\system32\cmd.exe /d /s /c ""D:\scr\flutter\bin\flutter.bat" "daemon""
0 8 11796 C:\Windows\system32\conhost.exe 0x4
0 13 19568 "D:\scr\flutter\bin\cache\dart-sdk\bin\dart.exe" --packages="D:\scr\flutter\packages\flutter_tools\.dart_tool\package_config.json" "D:\scr\flutter\bin\cache\flutter_tools.snapshot" "daemon"
0 122 9108 D:\scr\flutter\bin\cache\dart-sdk\bin\dartvm.exe --resolved_executable_name=D:\scr\flutter\bin\cache\dart-sdk\bin\dart.exe --executable_name=D:\scr\flutter\bin\cache\dart-sdk\bin\dart.exe --packages=D:\scr\flutter\packages\flutter_tools\.dart_tool\package_config.json D:\scr\flutter\bin\cache\flutter_tools.snapshot daemon
0 54 14804 D:\scr\flutter\bin\cache\dart-sdk\bin\dart.exe tooling-daemon --machine
0 8 31484 C:\Windows\system32\conhost.exe 0x4
19 12 19572 "d:\Users\hvkio\AppData\Local\Programs\Microsoft VS Code\125df4672b\resources\app\node_modules.asar.unpacked\@vscode\ripgrep-universal\bin\win32-x64\rg.exe" --files --hidden --case-sensitive --no-require-git -g **/{build.gradle,build.gradle.kts} -g !**/.git -g !**/.svn -g !**/.hg -g !**/.DS_Store -g !**/Thumbs.db -g !**/flutter/ephemeral -g !**/Flutter/ephemeral -g !**/.symlinks -g !**/.plugin_symlinks --no-ignore --follow --no-config --no-ignore-global
0 8 32304 C:\Windows\system32\conhost.exe 0x4
0 0 22164
0 0 25728
0 0 31984
0 8 22740 "D:\Program Files\Git\cmd\git.exe" status -z -uall
0 8 31592 C:\Windows\system32\conhost.exe 0x4
0 66 24096 C:\Python314\python.exe c:\Users\hvkio\.vscode\extensions\ms-python.black-formatter-2026.6.0\bundled\tool\lsp_server.py
0 8 31856 C:\Windows\system32\conhost.exe 0x4
0 8 26556 "D:\Program Files\Git\cmd\git.exe" for-each-ref --sort -committerdate --format %(refname)%00%(objectname)%00%(*objectname)
0 8 34120 C:\Windows\system32\conhost.exe 0x4
0 48 27980 c:\Users\hvkio\.vscode\extensions\openai.chatgpt-26.707.91948-win32-x64\bin\windows-x86_64\codex.exe -c features.code_mode_host=true app-server --analytics-default-enabled
0 8 20684 C:\Windows\system32\conhost.exe 0x4
20 12 29212 "d:\Users\hvkio\AppData\Local\Programs\Microsoft VS Code\125df4672b\resources\app\node_modules.asar.unpacked\@vscode\ripgrep-universal\bin\win32-x64\rg.exe" --files --hidden --case-sensitive --no-require-git -g /{settings.gradle,build.gradle,settings.gradle.kts,build.gradle.kts} -g !**/.git -g !**/.svn -g !**/.hg -g !**/.DS_Store -g !**/Thumbs.db -g !**/flutter/ephemeral -g !**/Flutter/ephemeral -g !**/.symlinks -g !**/.plugin_symlinks --no-ignore --follow --no-config --no-ignore-global
0 8 31408 C:\Windows\system32\conhost.exe 0x4
0 0 31944
0 0 17616
0 0 25876
0 10 32124 c:\Users\hvkio\.vscode\extensions\ms-python.vscode-python-envs-1.36.0-win32-x64\python-env-tools\bin\pet.exe server
0 8 164 C:\Windows\system32\conhost.exe 0x4
1 364 33936 D:\scr\flutter\bin\cache\dart-sdk\bin\dart.exe language-server --protocol=lsp --client-id=VS-Code --client-version=3.138.0
0 8 31124 C:\Windows\system32\conhost.exe 0x4
```

Workspace Info

```
| Window (main.dart - pvc_v2 - Visual Studio Code)
| Folder (pvc_v2): 4526 files
| File types: xml(1485) flat(1074) json(761) png(350) txt(101) class(88)
| jar(68) bin(62) dex(53) log(45) other(439)
| Conf files: cmake(12);
```

Extensions (30)

Name|Identifier|Author|Version
---|---|---|---
Claude Code for VS Code|anthropic.claude-code|Anthropic|2.1.211
Office Viewer|cweijan.vscode-office|cweijan|4.1.5
Dart|dart-code.dart-code|Dart-Code|3.138.0
Flutter|dart-code.flutter|Dart-Code|3.138.0
Python Indent|kevinrose.vsc-python-indent|KevinRose|1.21.0
LLDB DAP|llvm-vs-code-extensions.lldb-dap|llvm-vs-code-extensions|0.4.1
Black Formatter|ms-python.black-formatter|ms-python|2026.6.0
Python Debugger|ms-python.debugpy|ms-python|2026.6.0
Python|ms-python.python|ms-python|2026.4.0
Pylance|ms-python.vscode-pylance|ms-python|2026.2.1
Python Environments|ms-python.vscode-python-envs|ms-python|1.36.0
Jupyter|ms-toolsai.jupyter|ms-toolsai|2025.9.1
Jupyter Keymap|ms-toolsai.jupyter-keymap|ms-toolsai|1.1.2
Jupyter Notebook Renderers|ms-toolsai.jupyter-renderers|ms-toolsai|1.3.0
Jupyter Cell Tags|ms-toolsai.vscode-jupyter-cell-tags|ms-toolsai|0.1.9
Jupyter Slide Show|ms-toolsai.vscode-jupyter-slideshow|ms-toolsai|0.1.6
Remote - SSH|ms-vscode-remote.remote-ssh|ms-vscode-remote|0.124.0
Remote - SSH: Editing Configuration Files|ms-vscode-remote.remote-ssh-edit|ms-vscode-remote|0.87.0
CMake Tools|ms-vscode.cmake-tools|ms-vscode|1.23.52
C/C++ DevTools|ms-vscode.cpp-devtools|ms-vscode|0.5.13
C/C++|ms-vscode.cpptools|ms-vscode|1.33.4
C/C++ Extension Pack|ms-vscode.cpptools-extension-pack|ms-vscode|1.5.1
Remote Explorer|ms-vscode.remote-explorer|ms-vscode|0.5.0
HTML formatter|nikolaosgeorgiou.html-fmt-vscode|NikolaosGeorgiou|0.9.3
Codex – OpenAI’s coding agent|openai.chatgpt|openai|26.707.91948
MicroPico|paulober.pico-w-go|paulober|4.3.4
Live Server|ritwickdey.liveserver|ritwickdey|5.7.10
opencode|sst-dev.opencode|sst-dev|0.0.13
Swift|swiftlang.swift-vscode|swiftlang|2.17.20260702
Gradle for Java|vscjava.vscode-gradle|vscjava|3.18.0

A/B Experiments

```
vsliv368cf:30146710
binariesv615:30325510
nativeloc1:31344060
dwcopilot:31170013
dwoutputs:31242946
copilot_t_ci:31333650
e5gg6876:31282496
pythonrdcb7:31342333
6518g693:31463988
aj953862:31281341
6abeh943:31336334
envsactivate1:31551504
cloudbuttont:31379625
3efgi100_wstrepl:31403338
839jf696:31457053
ec5jj548:31422691
cp_cls_t_966_ss:31526232
4je02754:31466945
8hhj4413:31478653
38bie571_auto:31426784
cp_cls_t_1081:31454832
conptydll_true:31498968
e9c30283:31461165
test_treatment2:31471001
c9b86496:31447327
capico_a_098a3278:31551523
idci7584:31464702
e3e4d672:31494082
ei9d7968:31496641
chat:31457767
8hig5102:31480529
89g7j272:31518289
7e187181:31503455
i2gc6536:31499202
52612955:31516516
ghj88844:31499326
ddid_t:31478206
hmra_i5g22:31518061
7df3h592:31512476
cp_cls_t_1082:31535311
logging_enabled_new:31498466
j0d79568:31499440
jb_cp_cls_t_632:31543129
852d2892:31506239
56dj4588:31512888
32d76977:31512328
ha629193:31508444
cdk-lw-on:31524445
f9bf7985:31543584
a1ije391_t:31540920
41836166:31537719
jbcp_cls_pctr_t:31531130
61138546:31518536
cp_intellij_t_nes:31548657
jf4hg949:31526829
nes-curr-leftover-1500:31538366
h561g132:31533256
sessions_3:31532893
ihg5j128:31534457
f412h606:31551416
9gg7f176:31542112
max-result-200:31551155
nes-ex-cf-euporie-03:31542868
6i51c363:31551401

```