What should I disable in Windows 11 for better performance?

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In this tutorial, we will answer the Question what should I disable in Windows 11 for better performance?.

So, let’s begin!

What happens when you disable Windows 11 services?

When you disable a Windows 11 service, it means you are preventing that service from running. This can have various effects on your system depending on the specific service that is disabled.

Some Windows 11 services are essential for the proper functioning of the operating system, so disabling them may cause issues or prevent certain features from working. For example, disabling the “Windows Audio” service would mean you won’t be able to hear any sound on your computer.

On the other hand, disabling certain non-essential services can help improve system performance and reduce resource usage. For example, disabling the “Windows Search” service can reduce the amount of CPU and disk usage, but it may also mean that searching for files and programs will take longer or be less effective.

It’s important to note that disabling services should only be done if you have a good understanding of what they do and the potential consequences of disabling them. Disabling the wrong service can cause issues or even prevent your computer from starting up properly. So, it’s recommended to do some research or consult with an expert before disabling any Windows 11 services.

Create a system restore point first!

Creating a system restore point is a good practice before making any significant changes to your Windows 11 system. It’s a way to protect your computer in case something goes wrong during the process of disabling services or making other changes.

Here’s how to create a system restore point in Windows 11:

Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
Type “systempropertiesprotection” in the box and press Enter.
In the System Properties window, go to the System Protection tab.
Click on the Create button to create a new restore point.
Enter a description for the restore point that will help you remember why you created it.
Click on Create to start the process of creating the restore point.

Once the restore point is created, you can proceed with making changes to your system, such as disabling services, knowing that you have a way to revert back to a previous state if needed.

To restore your system to a previous restore point, follow these steps:

Open the System Properties window as described above.
Go to the System Protection tab.
Click on the System Restore button.
Follow the prompts to select the restore point you want to use and start the restoration process.

Note that restoring your system to a previous restore point will undo any changes made to your system after that restore point was created, including the disabling of services.

What should I disable in Windows 11 for better performance?

There are several things you can disable in Windows 11 to potentially improve its performance. Here are some suggestions:

Startup programs: Disable unnecessary startup programs to reduce the time it takes for your computer to boot up. To do this, open the Task Manager (right-click on the taskbar and select “Task Manager”), click on the “Startup” tab, and disable any programs that you don’t need to launch automatically.
Visual effects: Disabling some of the visual effects in Windows 11 can help improve performance. To do this, right-click on the Start menu and select “System”, then click on “Advanced system settings”, go to the “Advanced” tab, click on the “Settings” button under the “Performance” section, and choose the “Adjust for best performance” option.
Background apps: Disable any unnecessary background apps that are running in the background. To do this, go to Settings > Privacy > Background apps and toggle off any apps that you don’t need.
OneDrive: If you’re not using OneDrive, you can disable it to improve performance. To do this, right-click on the OneDrive icon in the system tray and select “Settings”, go to the “Account” tab, and click on “Unlink this PC”.
Windows Search: Disabling Windows Search can improve performance, especially if you don’t use it often. To do this, open the Services app (type “services.msc” in the Start menu), find “Windows Search” in the list, right-click on it, and select “Properties”. Change the “Startup type” to “Disabled” and click on “Apply” and “OK”.

It’s worth noting that disabling some of these features may not necessarily result in a significant performance boost, and may even make your experience less enjoyable or efficient. Therefore, it’s recommended to only disable features you are sure you do not need.

How to disable Windows 11 services for better performance and gaming

1. Fax Service

If you don’t work in a corporate, or rarely send or receive Fax, you may choose to disable the Fax service running in the background. To disable the Fax service on Windows 11, do the following –

Press Win + R to launch the Run dialog.
Type “services.msc” and hit OK.
When the Services window launches, scroll down to the Fax Service.
Right-click on it and select Properties.
Change its startup type to “Disabled” on its properties window and hit Apply > OK.

Note: If you ever receive a fax, you need to reverse the above steps i.e. change the startup type to “Enabled“.

2. Downloaded Maps Manager

Windows 11 has a native map application and for this to work accurately, there’s a service running in the background. If you don’t use this navigation feature by Windows, you must disable this service on your PC.

Open the Services window and search for Downloaded Maps Manager by scrolling down. When found, right-click on it and choose Properties. Change its startup type to “Disabled” and hit Apply > OK.

That’s it, downloaded maps manager will stop running in the background when you restart your PC.

3. Universal Telemetry Client (UTC)

The universal telemetry Client is a service that runs in the background and accumulates data on how well your device is operating or functioning. In fact, it runs different diagnostic services in the background and sends the full report to the Microsoft servers. Though it sends info for the betterment of Windows, it unnecessarily consumes system resources and makes your device slow.

If you do want to disable a service because your device is running slow, you must disable it. To do so, launch Services and look for Universal Telemetry Client on it. When found, right-click on it and select Properties. Change its startup type to “Disabled” and hit Apply then OK.

Note: Disabling it will free up some system resources and unnecessary data waste when sending information from your computer to Microsoft Servers.

4. Windows Biometric Service

Windows biometric service is useful on laptops where you do have a finger scanner. If you are using an old system, it must be lacking a fingerprint scanner. Well, in that case, one may opt to disable Windows biometric service on his/her device.

To disable Windows Biometric Service on Windows 11, do the following –

Launch the Services window first.
Look for the Windows Biometric Service on the Services window.
When found, right-click on it and hit Stop.

By default, Windows Automatic Service is set to start automatically when you power On your PC. This is so because you need to unlock your computer using your fingerprint. Stopping this service one time will not resolve this problem as this can restart the moment you reboot your PC.

To permanently disable Windows Biometric Service, reach out to its Properties window and change its Startup type drop-down menu to “Disabled”. Don’t forget to click Apply and then OK to confirm this change.

5. Windows Mobile Hotspot Service

Windows Mobile Hotspot Service is a very useful service that can make your device a hotspot for nearby devices. This indeed is a great thing, however, what if you never make your device a hotspot? Well, then it is unnecessarily running and consuming system resources. It is completely safe to disable this service as you won’t be missing anything on your computer. To do so, follow these steps –

Right-click on the Windows icon and select Run.
Type “services.msc” on it and hit OK to enter the Services window.
Scroll down to Windows Mobile Hotspot Service and right-click on it.
Select Properties on the context menu.
Change its startup type to “disabled” and hit Apply > OK.

After successfully disabling the Mobile hotspot service, do reboot your PC.

Sign back into your device again and the Windows Mobile hotspot Service must not be running on your computer. If you ever wish to re-enable this service, re-open the Services and change its Startup type to “Enabled” on its Properties window.

6. OneSyncSvc

OneSyncSvc is a sync service by Microsoft and it keeps all Windows apps in sync when used on two or more devices. It could be your Microsoft account, Mail & Calendar, and several other apps. If you do use these apps on your laptop or personal computer only, there’s no need to keep these apps in sync.

So, it is quite safe to disable this OneSyncSvc on your Windows PC. Open Services and come down looking for this service. When you locate this service, right-click on it and select Properties. On its properties window, use the drop-down menu next to Startup type and change it to “Disabled“.

7. Security Center

Security Center seems to be a service having something to do with system security. Well, it isn’t. All it does is keep running in the background and check if any new update is available for your operating system. This definitely sounds like a not-important service, isn’t it?

If you are not concerned about system resources being wasted, you may keep this service On and running. Else, follow the below steps to disable it permanently on your computer.

Press Win + S, and type “Service” in the search bar.
Click on the top result to launch the Services window.
Scroll down to Security Center, and right-click on it.
Click Properties and change its startup type to “Disabled”, followed by Apply > OK.

After you disable this service, do restart your PC. You will find your computer running more efficiently from the next login.

8. Print Spooler

Print Spooler is an essential service when you do use a printer attached to your computer. However, if you don’t print anything from your system, there’s no point in keeping this service On and running.

To disable this service, launch the Services window first. Scroll down and locate the Print Spooler service over here. When found, right-click on it and select the option – Stop.

To ensure this doesn’t start automatically when you restart your PC, double-click on the Print Spooler service. Change its startup type to “Disabled” and hit OK. Doing so will keep this service disables even when you reboot your device.

How to Fix Print Spooler Service issues on Windows 10

9. Disable Windows Defender Firewall

Windows Defender Firewall prevents your device from installing untrusted applications, software from malicious sites, etc. This is a good thing but it comes non-relevant if you are already using a third-party antivirus on your computer.

Keeping Windows Firewall running along with an external antivirus will only consume unnecessary system resources. So, you better disable Windows Defender Firewall by following the below steps –

Launch Control Panel.
Click Windows Defender Firewall.
Select “Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off” on the left pane.

Enable or Disable firewall in windows 10

On the next screen, turn off Windows Firewall for both Private as well as Public networks. See the Snapshot below.

Click OK to confirm disabling Windows Defender Firewall.

Note: If you don’t use any other antivirus on your computer, restarting your computer will re-enable Firewall.

Can I disable Windows Update Service in windows 11 ?

While it is possible to disable the Windows Update service in Windows 11, it is generally not recommended to do so. The Windows Update service is responsible for downloading and installing updates that can help improve the security and performance of your computer, as well as fix bugs and other issues.

Disabling the Windows Update service means you will not receive any updates, which can leave your system vulnerable to security threats and may cause other problems. In addition, some applications or devices may require specific updates to work correctly, so disabling updates can lead to compatibility issues.

That being said, there are some situations where you may want to disable the Windows Update service temporarily, such as when troubleshooting or when updates are causing problems. If you decide to do so, here are the steps:

Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
Type “services.msc” in the box and press Enter.
In the Services window, scroll down to find the “Windows Update” service.
Right-click on the service and select “Properties”.
Under the “General” tab, change the “Startup type” to “Disabled”.
Click on “Apply” and “OK” to save the changes.

Keep in mind that disabling the Windows Update service can have consequences, so it is recommended to re-enable it as soon as possible and keep your system up to date.

What other Services you may disable on Windows 11?

Apart from the above list, you may disable these services safely on your Windows 11. It is to be noted that these services will restart the next time you restart your computer. So, you must change their Startup types to “Disabled” on their properties window.