[Guide] Windows 10 and Windows 11 Services that can be Disabled Safely

UPDATE: This tutorial will also work in latest Windows 11 operating system.

This tutorial is the 5th addition to our exclusive “Which Windows services are safe to disable” series. In past we have posted similar tutorials for other Windows versions which can be found at following links:

Our Windows services configuration tutorials are few of the our most popular articles which have been featured on various famous websites including Microsoft Technet and MSDN websites as well.

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Our services configuration guides became popular because of their simplicity and easy to follow nature. Although you can find similar guides to configure Windows services on a few other websites but those guides require lots of expertise and knowledge to follow them. On the other hand AskVG’s Windows services configuration guides don’t require any expertise at all. Anyone can follow and use these guides without any problem. You don’t need to be a computer geek or master to follow these guides.

Now lets talk about today’s guide!

Actually in Windows operating system, many services (including Windows default built-in services as well as 3rd party software or driver services) run in background and consume lots of system resources. Among these services, some are essential and required by Windows to function properly but some services are unnecessary and can be disabled or set to manual start to save CPU resources and RAM.

This tutorial will help you in finding which Windows services are unnecessary in Windows 10 and you’ll be able to safely disable or set them to manual start so that those services don’t start with Windows and don’t take your valuable system resources.

So without wasting time let’s start the guide to configure and find Windows 10 services that can be disabled safely:

STEP 1:

First of all we’ll need to open Services Manager to configure Windows 10 services. You can open Services Manager using several ways as given following:

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1.a. Press WIN+X keys together to show quick access menu and then select “Computer Management” option. It’ll open a new window. Now click on “Services and Applications -> Services” in left-side pane.

1.b. Same thing can be done by clicking on “Computer -> Manage” in “This PC” ribbon toolbar.

1.c. You can also right-click on “This PC” icon on Desktop and select “Manage” option.

1.d. Or press WIN+R keys together to launch RUN dialog box and type services.msc and press Enter. It’ll directly open Services Manager.

STEP 2:

Now we’ll configure Windows 10 services in Services Manager program. Services Manager shows a huge list of all Windows services along with their status and startup type as shown in following image:

Configure_Windows_10_Services.png

The Status section shows whether a service is currently running in background or not. Startup Type section tells you whether a service is set to automatically start with Windows or not.

We’ll set some unnecessary services startup type to MANUAL so that they don’t start automatically with Windows and thus don’t consume system resources.

NOTE: Always set a service’s startup type to MANUAL and never set it to DISABLED. We suggest this because if a service is set to MANUAL start and Windows needs the service, it’ll be able to start the service and there will be no affect on OS functionality. But if a service is set to DISABLED and Windows requires that service, it’ll not be able to start the service and you may face problems.

Following are some services which can be safely set to MANUAL/DISABLED:

  • Connected User Experiences and Telemetry (To turn off Telemetry and Data Collection) (Check this and this)
  • Diagnostic Policy Service
  • Diagnostic Tracking Service (To turn off Telemetry and Data Collection)
  • Distributed Link Tracking Client (If your computer is not connected to any network)
  • dmwappushsvc (To turn off Telemetry and Data Collection)
  • Downloaded Maps Manager (If you don’t use Maps app)
  • IP Helper (If you don’t use IPv6 connection)
  • Program Compatibility Assistant Service
  • Print Spooler (If you don’t have a printer)
  • Remote Registry (You can set it to DISABLED for Security purposes)
  • Secondary Logon
  • Security Center (Check this)
  • TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper (If you are not in a workgroup network)
  • Touch Keyboard and Handwriting Panel Service (If you don’t want to use touch keyboard and handwriting features)
  • Windows Defender Service (If you don’t use Windows Defender program)
  • Windows Error Reporting Service
  • Windows Image Acquisition (WIA) (If you don’t have a scanner)
  • Windows Search (If you don’t use Windows Search feature frequently) (Check this)

Apart from the above mentioned services, You can also set a few other services startup type to MANUAL such as services installed by your graphics card driver (Intel, nVidia, AMD, etc), your sound card driver (Realtek, Creative, etc).

STEP 3:

That’s it. After configuring services startup type, close Services Manager and restart your computer to take effect.

After reboot, you’ll notice a lot of improvement in your Windows 10 computer performance. By any chance if you face any issue with any software program, you can restore the services startup type to Automatic again using Services Manager to fix the issue.

Further read:

Master Tutorial to Make Windows 10 Super Fast

[Guide] Make Windows 11 Super Fast on Slow or Old Hardware Devices

Published in: Windows 10, Windows 11

About the author: Vishal Gupta (also known as VG) has been awarded with Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional) award. He holds Masters degree in Computer Applications (MCA). He has written several tech articles for popular newspapers and magazines and has also appeared in tech shows on various TV channels.

Comments

NOTE: Older comments have been removed to reduce database overhead.

  1. VG how to find driver links downloaded by windows update in windows 10 ?
    Neither WindowsUpdate.txt from C:/Windows nor Powershell Command giving links.

  2. Great guide as always. Definitely looking forward to the guide we readers have been waiting for – the Master Tutorial!

    Thanks and more power to you!

  3. Great guide as always VG. Very helpful to know this information.

    @Goldi, Windows Updates are downloaded to “C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download” folder. Please keep in mind these files will have no extension names, so some may have to be renamed and some you will have to use 7-zip to view and extract. From my understanding, they stay there for about a week or so.

  4. Windows Defender Service CAN NOT DISABLE because it’s always not show Button Disable :|. I rename process of it.

  5. “Distributed Link Tracking Client” is good to disable for home network connections.

  6. it is better to disable Windows Update too especially if you are internetting with a quota service provider. Last Win 10 update took about 9 GB of my quota as I had forgotten to disable it.

  7. Thanks for this Vishal. I was about to reinstall Win 10, or change to another operating system, even though I would have a ton of setup to redo. You have saved me all this trouble! And you have probably saved me from throwing my computer out the window. My downstairs neighbors thank you too.

  8. This is my list of absolute bare minimal Win10 services for personal home/individual users (not enterprise/corportate duties, remote cloud assistance, etc.) to fully operate at the fastest speed possible withlut compromising safety, security and productivity. This configuration is perfect for low-end machines on personal productivity tasks such as streaming, office, email, teleconferencing, social networks, printing, scanning, gaming, programming, etc. Hope it help you, guys:

    Note*: (I) Immovable. Windows fixed grayed-out, restricted to disable,
    (P) Priority. Inexorable for proper functionallity
    (O) Optional. Recommended for specific tasks if needed.

    – (I) Application Identity
    – (I) AppX Deployment Service (AppXSVC)
    – (P) Windows Audio Endpoint Builder (audio enhance)
    – (P) Windows Audio (audio enhance)
    – (I) Background Tasks Infrastructure Service
    – (I) Client License Service (ClipSVC)
    – (I) CoreMessaging
    – (P) Cryptographic Services (critical for trusted certification, activates automatically)
    – (P) Device Association Service (critical for boot/sleep modes functionallity)
    – (O) Device Install Service (mobile – ADB interface – devices recognition/installation)
    – (P) DHCP Client (WiFi dependable)
    – (I) Enterprise App Management Service
    – (P) Windows Event Log (WiFi dependable)
    – (I) Group Policy Client
    – (I) Local Session Manager
    – (O) Windows Firewall (security dependable, activates automatically)
    – (I) Windows Installer
    – (P) Network List Service (depends on DHCP Client)
    – (I) Microsoft Passport Container
    – (I) Microsoft Passport
    – (P) Network Location Awareness (depends on DHCP Client)
    – (P) Network Store Interface Service (WiFi dependable)
    – (P) Power (boot/sleep fundamental)
    – (I) RPC Endpoint Mapper
    – (I) Task Scheduler
    – (O) Print Spooler (printer services dependable)
    – (I) State Repository Service
    – (I) System Events Broker
    – (I) Tile Data model server
    – (I) Time Broker
    – (P) Windows Connection Manager (WiFi dependable)
    – (P) WLAN AutoConfig (WiFi critical)
    – (O) Windows Driver Foundation (enhance USB-to-VGA external monitors and special drivers)
    – (I) CDPUserSvc_3c43b
    – (I) MessagingService_3c43b
    – (I) all immovable ‘_3c43b’ sub-services.

  9. Thank you VG. I set some of the services to manual and restarted my pc. Now I am feeling my pc is faster than before. CPU usage are also lesser.

  10. Windows 10 definitely has loads of bloatware and unnecessary services running. If you have a latest CPU/16GB/SSB probably you are ok keeping all the services running. IMO average users running Windows 10 on less powerful hardware will get some improvement setting services to manual.

  11. Sure !! I did press [WinKey] + [R] and typed Services.msc and remove this:

    AVCTP service: if you don’t use Bluetooth Audio Device or Wireless Headphones.
    BitLocker Drive Encryption Service: if you don’t use BitLocker storage encryption.
    Bluetooth Support Service: if you don’t use any Bluetooth device.
    Computer Browser: this will disable Network discovery of systems on the local network.
    Connected User Experiences and Telemetry: it will disable Feedback, Telemetry and Data Collection.
    Diagnostic Policy Service
    Diagnostic Tracking Service: it will turn off Telemetry and Data Collection.
    Distributed Link Tracking Client: if you don’t need to use a network.
    Downloaded Maps Manager: if you don’t use the Bing Maps app.
    File History Service: if you don’t intend to use Windows Backup or System Restore.
    IP Helper: if you don’t use IPv6 connection.
    Infrared monitor service: if you never use File transfer via infrared devices.
    Internet Connection Sharing: it is an old service that can be disabled.
    Netlogon: if you are not on a domain controller environment.
    Program Compatibility Assistant Service: it will hinder your running in the Compatibility Mode though.
    Print Spooler: if you don’t use a Printer.
    Parental Control: if you don’t use the Parental Control feature.
    Remote Registry: you’d better disable it. Then, no one can access your Registry remotely.
    Secondary Logon
    TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper: if you are not a part of a Workgroup network.
    Touch Keyboard and Handwriting Panel Service: if you don’t use a touch device.
    Windows Error Reporting Service: if you don’t need to save or send error reports.
    Windows Image Acquisition: if you don’t use a Scanner.
    Windows Camera Frame Server: if you never use a webcam or an integrated camera.
    Windows Insider Service: if you are not a part of the Windows Insider Program.
    Windows Search: if you never use Windows Search.

  12. THANK YOU ! For your time to write this Post with Your Guide and instructions to make a Windows * (10) System Speedy / Faster.

  13. You should not disable “Touch Keyboard and Handwriting Panel Service” even if you don’t have a touch device. Disabling this prevents Input Method Editors such as the Simplified Chinese IME, Emoji input, etc. will not work.

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