Windows services are background processes that handle various system functions, such as network connectivity, installing Windows updates, or printing functions. While many Windows Services are critical, others are optional and consume CPU, memory, or disk resources. If your Windows PC feels slow or unresponsive, disabling unnecessary background services can free up system resources and help speed up your system. Disabling non-essential services reduces resource usage, it’s particularly helpful for older or lower-powered PCs. This article outlines five Windows services you can consider disabling to make your PC run faster.
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Windows Search: Stop the Indexing Overload
The Windows Search creates a local index of files (audio, documents, folders, programs, etc.), as well as non-file items like contacts and Outlook messages. This usually helps your files to make search results appear faster when you use the Start menu or File Explorer. However, if you don’t use Windows Search much or at all, the indexing process just drains CPU and memory resources for no real gain.
Turning off this service stops background indexing and can noticeably reduce system lag, especially on systems with mechanical hard drives. You can still search for files; it’s just a little bit slower.
- Press Windows + R to open the Run box.
- Type services.msc and hit Enter. This opens the Services window.
- Scroll down to Windows Search and double-click it.
- Click Stop to pause the service.
- In the Startup type dropdown, choose Disabled.
- Go to the Recovery tab and set all failure options to Take No Action (so it doesn’t restart automatically).
- Click OK to apply and save changes.
SysMain (Superfetch): Skip the App Preloading
SysMain, formerly called Superfetch, tries to boost app launch times by preloading frequently used programs into memory. It sounds cool, but on systems with SSDs or limited RAM, it often causes high disk usage and slowdowns instead.
Disabling SysMain won’t break anything; your apps will still launch just fine. If you’re on a low-end system with under 4GB of RAM, this tweak is a game-changer.
- Open the Services window (press Windows + R, type services.msc, and hit Enter).
- Find SysMain and double-click it. Click Stop to halt the service.
- Change the Startup type to Disabled, click OK, and reboot your PC.
Windows Update Delivery Optimization: Keep Your Bandwidth
Windows Update Delivery Optimization (WUDO) shares your internet bandwidth to send updates to other PCs. It’s nice for Microsoft, but it can slow down your internet and PC, especially during big updates.
In addition, temporarily disable the Windows update service, free up bandwidth, and reduce CPU usage, especially during times when you need your system to run at full speed. It won’t affect your daily use, but you’ll need to re-enable the Windows update service manually to stay updated.
- Go to Start > Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options.
- Click Delivery Optimization. Turn off Allow downloads from other PCs.
- In addition, go to the Services window (Windows + R, type services.msc).
- Look for Windows Update or Delivery Optimization and double-click.
- Click Stop, set Startup type to Disabled, and click OK.
Note: Just remember to check for Windows updates manually now and then to stay secure.
Remote Desktop Services: No Remote Access, No Problem
The Remote Desktop Services lets someone control your PC from afar, which is great for IT pros. Well, if you never use Remote Desktop, this service runs in the background for no reason.
Disabling Remote Desktop Services won’t impact your internet, your apps, or anything else you normally do—it just cuts down on unnecessary background processes, which helps free up system resources and can slightly improve performance.
- Open Services (Windows + R, type services.msc, and hit Enter).
- Look for Remote Desktop Services and double-click it.
- Click Stop to shut it down, Set Startup type to Disabled and click ok.
Note: If you ever need remote access, you can re-enable it following the same steps. (Just right-click on Start the service.)
Connected User Experiences and Telemetry: Less Data Sharing
This service collects system data like what apps you use or how your PC’s doing, and sends it to Microsoft to help improve user experience and troubleshoot issues. While that might sound useful, it’s not essential for your PC to function. Disabling it won’t affect your ability to use apps or receive updates. What it will do is reduce background data collection and free up a bit of CPU and network activity.
- Open Services (Windows + R, type services.msc, and hit Enter).
- Find Connected User Experiences and Telemetry and double-click it.
- Click Stop to pause it, Set Startup type to Disabled, and click ok.
After disabling these services, your PC should feel faster. To confirm, open Task Manager (press Ctrl + Shift + Esc) and check the Performance tab. If you don’t notice a difference or run into issues (like slow searches without Windows Search), you can always re-enable a service: Go back to services.msc. -> Double-click the service -> Set Startup type to Automatic or Manual and click Start.
In addition, if you need extra optimization:
- Run the Disk Cleanup tool to remove temporary files and other unnecessary data. Remove unused applications to free up disk space and reduce potential conflicts
- Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc), go to the Startup tab, and disable programs you don’t need at boot
- Use Windows Security (Start > Settings > Windows Security) to check for malware that might slow things down.
- Go to Device Manager and check for outdated drivers to keep everything running smoothly.
- Go to System > Advanced system settings > Performance > Settings and select “Adjust for best performance” to reduce graphical overhead.
Disabling non-essential Windows services won’t harm your daily computing, but can help clean up system performance, especially on older computers.
