I Disabled These 5 Windows Services, and My PC Ran Faster (2026 Guide)

Is your Windows PC still slow, even after closing apps and browser tabs? The problem might be background services you never see, but that constantly use CPU, RAM, disk, and internet bandwidth.

Windows includes dozens of services that support various features and functions. While many of them are essential, some are designed for features that most home users never use. Recently, I reviewed the services running on my Windows 11 PC and found several that I didn’t use at all. After disabling a few unnecessary services, I noticed reduced background activity and a slightly more responsive system, especially during startup and everyday tasks.

In this guide, I’ll show you five Windows services you can safely disable, especially on older PCs or low‑spec laptops. You can free up resources and make your system feel smoother and more responsive. I’ll also explain what each service does, who should keep it enabled, and how to disable it safely without affecting normal Windows operation.

Is It Safe to Disable Windows Services?

Yes, but only if you know what the service does.

Windows includes many background services that support different features and functions. Some are essential for Windows to operate correctly, while others are only needed for specific features that many home users never use.

Before disabling any service, make sure you understand its purpose and whether you actually use the related feature. Disabling the wrong service can cause certain Windows features to stop working properly.

It’s also a good idea to create a System Restore Point before making any changes. This gives you a quick way to undo the changes if something doesn’t work as expected.

The services listed below are generally safe for most home users to disable, provided you don’t use the associated features.

How to Open the Services Manager

Before you can disable a Windows service, you need to open the Services Manager. This built-in tool allows you to view, start, stop, and configure all services running on your computer.

To open Services Manager:

1. Press Windows + R on your keyboard
2. Type services.msc
3. Click OK or press Enter

The Services window will open and display a list of all Windows services installed on your PC.

Now let’s look at the five Windows services that many users can safely disable to reduce background activity and potentially improve system performance.

1. Turn Off Windows Search Indexing (If You Rarely Use Search)

Windows Search creates an index of your files, folders, emails, and more, so search results appear very quickly when you use the Start menu or File Explorer search box.

While this feature is useful for users who frequently search for files and documents, it can consume CPU, memory, and disk resources in the background, especially on older PCs.

Who Should Disable It?

You may consider disabling Windows Search if:

• You rarely use Windows Search
• You know where your files are stored
• Your PC has limited RAM or an older hard drive
• You notice SearchIndexer.exe causing high CPU or disk usage

How to Disable Windows Search

1. Open Services Manager (Windows + R → services.msc).
2. Scroll down and find Windows Search
3. Double-click the service, click Stop
4. Change Startup type to Disabled
5. Go to the Recovery tab and set all failure options to Take No Action (so it doesn’t restart automatically).
6. Click Apply and then OK

Potential Downsides

Disabling Windows Search may cause:

• Slower file searches
• Slower Start menu search results
• Longer search times in File Explorer

If you frequently search for files, applications, or settings, it’s best to leave this service enabled. However, users who rarely use Windows Search may notice reduced background activity after disabling it.

2. Disable SysMain (Superfetch) to Reduce High Disk Usage

SysMain, formerly known as Superfetch, is a Windows service designed to improve performance by learning which apps you use most often and preloading them into memory to try to speed up launch times.

On modern PCs with SSDs and plenty of RAM, SysMain usually works well in the background. However, on some older systems, especially those with traditional hard drives (HDDs), the service can sometimes cause high disk usage, increased CPU activity, and slower overall performance.

Who Should Disable It?

You may want to disable SysMain if:

• Your PC frequently shows 100% disk usage
• Task Manager shows SysMain consuming significant resources
• Your computer uses a traditional HDD instead of an SSD
• You experience slow startup times or system lag

How to Disable SysMain

1. Open Services Manager (Windows + R → services.msc).
2. Find SysMain in the list
3. Double-click the SysMain service and click Stop
4. Change Startup type to Disabled
5. Click Apply and then OK

After rebooting, check if your PC feels smoother and if disk usage in Task Manager is lower. If you don’t like the result, turn it back on:

Potential Downsides

Disabling SysMain may result in:

• Slightly slower application launches on some systems
• Reduced performance benefits on PCs with fast SSDs

If your PC already runs smoothly and doesn’t experience high disk usage, there may be no reason to disable SysMain. However, on older systems struggling with excessive disk activity, this tweak can sometimes make a noticeable difference.

3. Limit Windows Update Delivery Optimization (Save Bandwidth and Background Resources)

Windows Update Delivery Optimization helps your PC download Windows updates from other computers on the internet and can also upload update files to other devices. Microsoft uses this feature to speed up update delivery and reduce the load on its servers.

While useful, Delivery Optimization can sometimes use network bandwidth and background system resources without users realizing it.

Who Should Disable It?

You may want to disable or limit Delivery Optimization if:

• You have a limited internet data plan
• You notice unexplained network activity
• Multiple devices share the same internet connection
• You prefer Windows updates to download directly from Microsoft only

How to Disable Delivery Optimization

1. Open Settings using Windows key + I
2. Select Windows Update
3. Click Advanced options
4. Select Delivery Optimization
5. Turn off Allow downloads from other PCs

This stops your PC from sharing updates with, or receiving them from, other machines.

Potential Downsides

Disabling Delivery Optimization may:

• Slow down update downloads on some networks
• Reduce Microsoft’s peer-to-peer update sharing benefits

For most home users, the performance improvement will be small. However, disabling this feature can reduce unnecessary background network activity and free up bandwidth for other tasks.

In addition, temporarily disable the Windows Update service to free up bandwidth and reduce CPU usage, especially when you need your system to run at full speed. It won’t affect your daily use, but you’ll need to manually re-enable the Windows Update service to stay up to date.

• 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.

Important: Do not keep Windows Update disabled long‑term. You’ll miss security updates.

When you’re done gaming or working, go back:

Click Start to re‑enable updates.

Set Startup type to Automatic (or Manual)

4. Turn Off Connected User Experiences and Telemetry (Less Data, Less Background Activity)

Connected User Experiences and Telemetry is a Windows service that collects diagnostic and usage data and sends it to Microsoft. The information helps Microsoft understand how Windows is being used, identify issues, and improve future updates.

While the service generally uses minimal resources, some users prefer to disable it to reduce background activity and limit the amount of diagnostic data being collected.

Who Should Disable It?

You may consider disabling this service if:

• You want to reduce diagnostic data collection
• You prefer fewer background processes
• You value privacy and want more control over data sharing
• You rarely participate in Windows feedback programs

How to Disable Connected User Experiences and Telemetry

1. Open Services Manager
2. Find Connected User Experiences and Telemetry
3. Double-click the service, click Stop
4. Change Startup type to Disabled
5. Click Apply and then OK

Potential Downsides

Disabling this service may:

• Reduce the amount of diagnostic information sent to Microsoft
• Limit certain feedback and analytics features
• Make it harder for Microsoft to identify issues affecting your device

For most home users, disabling this service is unlikely to have a noticeable impact on daily Windows usage. However, if you participate in feedback programs or want to help improve Windows through diagnostic reporting, you may prefer to keep it enabled.

5. Disable Xbox Services (If You Don’t Use Xbox Features)

Windows 11 includes several Xbox-related services that support Xbox apps, Xbox Cloud Gaming, Game Pass, game save synchronization, and other gaming features. If you don’t use Xbox services on your PC, these background services may be running without providing any real benefit.

Who Should Disable It?

You may consider disabling Xbox services if:

• You don’t play Xbox games on your PC
• You don’t use Xbox Game Pass
• You don’t use Xbox Cloud Gaming
• You don’t sync game progress between devices

How to Disable Xbox Services

1. Open Services Manager
2. Locate the following services:
   • Xbox Accessory Management Service
   • Xbox Live Auth Manager
   • Xbox Live Game Save
   • Xbox Live Networking Service
3. Double-click each service
4. Change Startup type to Disabled
5. Click Apply and then OK

Potential Downsides

Disabling Xbox services may:

• Prevent Xbox apps from working correctly
• Disable Xbox Game Pass features
• Stop cloud game save synchronization
• Affect Xbox multiplayer connectivity

If you never use Xbox features, disabling these services can help reduce unnecessary background activity. However, gamers and Game Pass subscribers should leave them enabled to ensure Xbox-related features continue working properly.

Which Tweaks Made the Biggest Difference?

On my PC, SysMain and Background Apps had the most noticeable impact. The other changes mainly reduced unnecessary background activity rather than providing dramatic performance improvements.

How to Check If These Changes Helped

After making these changes, use your PC normally for a day or two and see if you notice any difference.

Ask yourself:

• Does Windows start up faster?
• Do apps open more quickly?
• Is there less random lag or freezing?
• Does the PC feel more responsive overall?

You can also check resource usage in Task Manager:

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc
2. Click the Performance tab
3. Watch CPU, Memory, and Disk usage while opening and closing apps

If resource usage is lower and your PC feels more responsive, your changes are working.

If you notice something you don’t like, for example, slower file searches after disabling Windows Search, you can easily reverse the change. Simply open Services, double-click the service, change Startup type back to Automatic, and click Start.

Services You Should NOT Disable

When looking for ways to speed up Windows 11, you may come across articles that recommend disabling important system services. Doing so can cause stability problems, broken features, or even prevent Windows from working correctly.

As a general rule, avoid disabling the following services:

• Windows Update: Required for security updates, bug fixes, and feature updates.
• Windows Defender Services: Provide built-in protection against malware, viruses, and other security threats.
• DHCP Client: Allows your PC to automatically obtain an IP address and connect to networks.
• Windows Audio: Required for sound playback and recording.
• Network Connections: Manages network adapters and internet connectivity.
• Plug and Play: Allows Windows to detect and configure hardware devices automatically.

Unless you’re troubleshooting a specific issue and know exactly what you’re doing, it’s best to leave these services enabled.

Quick Summary Table

Service	Recommended?	Who Should Disable It?
Windows Search	Conditional	Users who rarely use Search
SysMain	Conditional	PCs with high disk usage
Delivery Optimization	Yes	Users who want less background activity
Connected User Experiences and Telemetry	Optional	Privacy-conscious users
Xbox Services	Optional	Users who never use Xbox features

Final Thoughts

In my experience, disabling SysMain and reducing unnecessary background activity had the biggest impact. The other changes didn’t dramatically boost performance, but they helped reduce background processes and made the system feel a little more responsive.

Remember that disabling services isn’t a magic fix for a slow PC. If your computer is still struggling, you may see bigger improvements by managing startup apps, freeing up storage space, or upgrading to an SSD.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)