Q: AppleMobileDeviceService.exe is hogging up to %50 of CPU

I am running Windows XP and had this issue for several weeks where AppleMobileDeviceHelper was at 50% of my CPU capacity. Also, iTunes could not go to the iTunes Store. I followed the instructions above to uninstall all of the Apple software in order as suggested on the site. Reinstalled the new version of iTunes (10.5) and same problem. The uninstall / reinstall did NOT fix anything.

I saw another suggestion and tried this from a command prompt: netsh winsock reset

Rebooted and everything works again! This was a small miracle after trying so many things. This took about 5 minutes to try. Read more about it here.

http://www.thebambers.me.uk/wordpress/?p=316

Good luck!

sorted it and can now backup update iphone etc. (Uninstall/reinstall did not work after several times)

check out http://www.thebambers.me.uk/wordpress/?p=316

or http://brianmorristech.com/?p=762

I had luck with the following:

Start... Run

services.msc

select Apple Mobile Device Service

right click to open Properties

change from startupType automatic to startupType automatic (delayed)

reboot

Happyfrosh post seems to be a better workaround.

I tested it out and the Service still starts but this time without the High CPU Usage. No need to restart Winsock.

But I also found that I couldn't open the Itunes store. I'll stick with this until Apple actually fixes the issue. =|

Same problem here, Windows 7 64 bit.  Appears MANY have this problem.  No response form Apple so far it appears. 

I had exactly the same experience.  I am using Windows XP.  Thank God the problem is finally fixed!!

How do we convince Apple that this is a problem with their last iTunes update???

I had same problem with applemobiledeviceservice.exe taking 50% of processor. Then when itunes is opened it takes the rest and doesn't connect to the store properly. I had to uninstall my anti-virus software and now it works. Just disabling the firewall didn't do it, it had to be completely uninstalled. Gotta figure out how to get anti-virus working.

timothyfrombarneveld,

What antivirus program are you using? Does it have web filtering built-in that you know of? I'm thinking that your A/V program adds an LSP in the TCP/IP.

User "amandav2" posted a fix that cured it for me.  It required going to a command prompt as administrator, then entering: 

netsh winsock reset

After a reboot, problem gone...

I was using CA internet security suite. Thought I'd be able to re-install and tweak it but I'm having problems with the install. Before uninstalling CA I did try the netsh command with a reboot and it did not work for me.

timothyfrombarneveld,

Bingo -- here is where I found that CA does use a LSP:

http://cainternetsecurity.net/KB/KD.aspx?KDId=1151

This is it -- APPLE FIX THIS PROBLEM FOR ALL OF US WITH LSPs THAT WE ACTUALLY NEED!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I had another problem. I am using windows vista and have two user accounts on the laptop. Uninstalling CA solved the problem for my account (administrator) but when my kids logged into their account they still could not get to the itunes store. I had to turn off parental controls for it to work on their account. Thought this may be helpful to someone else. Still haven't re-installed CA.

I have this problem for long time, and the following worked;

Go to DOS command prompt

issue the following command:  "netsh winsock reset"

Reboot your computer

"netsh winsock reset" fixed the Problem on my computer running Windows XP, but not on my laptop running Vista, anyone have any successful results?  If so, how?

FYI, have mulitple Users Set-up and Norton Security Suite, but I have the same set-up on the XP box that it worked just fine.  Still searching for a solution with Vista!  Anyones accurate solution is appreciated.