If we notice that Windows gets heavier every day and starts more and more slowly, it could be the fault of the programs and services started in the background together with the operating system. Windows computers may experience difficulties if too many applications are installed and uninstalled; moreover, many processes open at the same time reduce the working capacity of the RAM memory, which could fill up quickly leaving programs and services active even when we do not use them. A large number of unnecessary programs are started automatically and consume resources. There are already several articles in which this blog tries to deal with a slowdown in Windows computers.
There has been talk of system optimization in general, optimizing registry keys, boot processes and tools to speed up boot, hard disk defragmentation, paging files or virtual memory and tips for unlocking Windows when the PC is freeze or slow down.
In this article we will show you which Windows services can be disabled so as to save resources and memory and speed up Windows both during startup and during normal use.
What are Windows services
Windows Services can be components of the operating system or components of programs that start automatically and act in the background, performing various functions, sometimes essential for the functioning of the computer and sometimes completely useless: for example, the Spool service allows the computer to print and the Browser service allows Windows to browse the Internet.
To check the services started on Windows we can start the MSConfig tool on Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 while on Windows 10 it is sufficient to open the Task Manager (right click on the bar at the bottom) and open the Services tab (with the extended view activated).
Alternatively, just look for the word Services in the Start menu to open the tool dedicated to managing Windows services. Using this menu or the dedicated tool we can enable and disable programs and services during loading.
Obviously we won't have to disable them all or the system will stop working properly!
This server guide mainly to understand which services can be disabled and which ones should not be touched at all, so to choose from time to time what to disable.
To deactivate a service, simply click on its name and then use the Stop item. Alternatively we open the Services tool, right click on the service we intend to deactivate, then on the Properties item and finally on Stop .
To prevent the service from restarting, select Disabled in the Startup type drop-down menu.
In case of difficulty, in another post we had seen some programs to manage, start and stop Windows services
List of Windows services
As already mentioned, there are risks by disabling important services, therefore you must pay close attention to the description of the service trying to move with great caution; if in doubt, you can put a service in Manual execution without disabling it, so as to make it available if needed.
Here is a list of the main services that you can find running automatically in Windows 10 that you can disable :
- Adobe Service : Adobe components to automatically update the products of this manufacturer; we recommend not to disable it;
- Application management : Change the setting from automatic and manual;
- Cryptography services : set the startup from automatic to manual;
- BITS: necessary to download Windows updates in the background; we recommend leaving it on;
- BFE : necessary to operate the Windows firewall, so leave it activated;
- Optimize drive : performs automatic disk defragmentation; disable if you have an SSD;
- Delivery optimization: optimizes the arrival of updates, sharing them with other Windows 10 installed; let's set it to Manual;
- Home group provider : if we do not use the Home group, we can set it to Manual;
- Geo-detection service : allows services and programs to retrieve the geographical coordinates of the PC; if we care about privacy, disable it;
- Startup optimization : allows you to use Fastboot and speed up Windows startup; leave enabled;
- Support and help : If you don't need the support center then I recommend you to deactivate it or at least set the manual start;
- Access to Human Interface devices : we recommend setting the manual start;
- Indexing service: allows you to index the programs and files on your PC; if we use other search tools we can set it to Manual;
- IPSEC services : Set manual startup;
- MS Software Shadow Copy Provider : Set up manual startup;
- NetMeeting Remote Desktop Sharing : If you don't use the Remote Desktop feature then disable it;
- NVIDIA Display Driver Service : If you don't use the function of NVIDIA Desktop, then the service can be disabled;
- Protected devices : If you do not need to encrypt the data stored on your computer then disable this function too;
- Remote Desktop Help Session Manager : If you do not use the Remote Desktop function, which you need to receive help in case of need, then deactivate it;
- Remote Procedure Call (RPC) : Sets up manual startup;
- Remote registry : If serious risks to your computer security are activated;
- Routing and remote access : Set manual startup;
- Windows Security Center : if you do not want Windows security notifications, disable it;
- Server : If your computer is not connected to a network then disable the service;
- Smart Card : If you don't use smart cards on your computer then disable it;
- Scheduler : If you are not planning to schedule a defragmentation or an error scan, then you don't need this service and you can disable it;
- TCP / IP NetBIOS Helper: If you are connected to the network set the manual start otherwise disable it completely;
- Telnet : If you use this type of services then set the manual start, otherwise disable it, especially if you don't use the computer from the office;
- Terminal services : If you don't use the Remote Desktop functions then you won't need this either, disable it;
- Host of UPnP devices : Set manual startup;
- Shadow Volume Copies : If you don't backup with System Restore or with Windows Backup then disable this function;
- Windows Update: checks the system for searching for automatic Windows updates; it is always advisable to keep it active, only in this way the system will be safe;
- Windows Defender Antivirus : controls the start of the antivirus integrated in Windows; better to leave it active if we don't have another antivirus installed;
- Windows Media Player network sharing service : if you don't have other network devices with multimedia support then you can safely disable this service;
- Windows Time : If your computer is not connected to a synchronized network, then you can disable this service;
- Network access : not needed if the PC is not in a domain
- Print Spooler is the service that allows the computer to print, useless if the PC is not connected to a printer.
- Windows Error Reporting Service : Manual Windows biometrics service : manual
These are the ones that can be found on all Windows systems; many other services can be added by specific programs, we recommend deactivating only those relating to programs that we do not use often or that are no longer present on the PC.
To further speed up the PC, we recommend reading the guide below.
READ ALSO -> How to speed up your PC to the maximum
