All the unnecessary Windows services you can safely disable

Disabling unnecessary Windows services is one of the best ways to increase system performance and speed on a PC. Of course, This must be done carefully, since if an essential service is disabled, the result could be contrary to what was expected.So, how do you know which Windows services you can disable without fear of making things worse? Here's how.

These are all the unnecessary Windows services that you can safely disable.

Windows is synonymous with reliability, stability, and versatility in the world of desktop operating systems. However, it's undeniable that it also comes loaded with a large number of services that are not always necessary for the average userWhat many people don't know is that many of these services can be disabled, and that doing so has significant benefits for the performance of the entire system.

Windows services are simply programs that run in the background to perform specific tasks. These services are responsible for, for example, updating the system, synchronizing devices, or managing network and printing tasks. Some are essential for the operating system to function properly, while others are others are only needed in specific scenariosIn other words, they can be disabled if not in use.

Below, you'll find a list of unnecessary Windows services that you can safely disable, sorted by category. Of course, while the operating system will continue to function normally, Disabling services has consequences. Therefore, under each one you will find a brief description of its purpose and the impact of disabling it.

Printing and fax services

If you don't use a fax modem or printer, you can safely disable these unnecessary Windows services. You'll find them under the names Fax and Print SpoolerIf you install a printer later, you'll need to reactivate the service.

Connectivity and network

Under the Connectivity & Network category, there are several unnecessary Windows services that you can disable. Remember, if you have any questions, You can always do some research on the service before disabling it.The services are:

• IP Helper: Support for IPv6 and advanced networks.
• Netlogon: Domain authentication service that you can disable if you are not on a corporate network.
• Remote Registry: Allows you to remotely modify the computer's registry. Disabling this is a security benefit.
• Phone Service: Disable it if you don't connect your phone to the PC.
• Windows Mobile Hotspot: Disable this if you are not using your PC as an internet access point.

Security and encryption

Some Windows security and encryption services are unnecessary for most users. For example, if you don't use disk encryption with BitLocker you can deactivate the service BitLocker Drive EncryptionThe same goes for smart card services: Smart Card, Smart Card Device Enumeration y Smart Card Removal Policy.

Unnecessary Windows Interface and Input Services

Here are some other unnecessary Windows services you can disable without fear of the system stopping working properly. For example, if your computer doesn't have a touchscreen or fingerprint or face authentication (or you simply don't use these features), you can disable the services. Touch Keyboard and Handwriting Panel y Windows Biometric Service.

Other related services are parental Controls (to manage children's accounts) and Wallet Service (for digital payment management). Again, if you don't use them, feel free to disable them.

Gaming and multimedia services

This is one of the features that consumes the most resources unnecessarily, especially if you don't play on your Windows computer. Therefore, you can disable any service whose name begins with Xbox (Xbox Accessory Management, Xbox Live Auth Manager, Xbox Live Game Save, etc.).

Location and maps

Personally, I like Windows to know my location so I can check the weather and get some news of interest. But if that's not something you're interested in, disable the services. Geolocation Service, Downloaded Maps Manager (offline map management) and Sensor Service (management of sensors such as GPS or ambient light).

Diagnostic and telemetry services

Windows has several diagnostic tools to find and solve system problems. It also has telemetry services that collect user data and share it with Microsoft. For many, these services pose nothing more than privacy risks. If this applies to you, disable the following options:

• Connected User Experiences and Telemetry (Send data to Microsoft).
• Windows Error Reporting Services (Sends error reports).
• Diagnostic Execution Service (Runs diagnostics).
• Diagnostic Policy Service.
• Diagnostic Service Host.
• Diagnostic System Host.
• CIS Main (Customer Improvement Service).

Other unnecessary Windows services you can safely disable

The number and types of Windows services will depend on the version you have installed and the type of computer. For example, Windows 11 Home has more than a hundred services, many of which are unnecessary. If you find any of the following on your system, please disable them without fear:

• NFC/SE Payment Manager
• Time event agents
• SNMP Capture
• Hyper-V Guest Service Interface (Virtual Machines).
• Microsoft Store Installation Service (if you don't use the store).
• Bluetooth Audio Gateway Service (if you don't use Bluetooth audio devices).
• Commercial testing service.
• Microsoft Windows SMS Router Service.

How to disable unnecessary Windows services

To disable all unnecessary Windows services, The fastest way is to use Services.msc. If you want to access this window and disable services, follow these steps:

1. Press Win + R, type services.msc and hit Enter.
2. In the list of services, find the one you want to deactivate.
3. Right click on it and enter Properties
4. En Start type, change to Disabled.
5. Click on Stop (if running) and then To apply.
6. Click on Accept and ready.

Windows services that are best left undisabled

Finally, let's talk about the Windows services that are best left undisabled. These are critical services that are essential for the proper functioning of the system, so better not touch them.

• Credential Manager
• Server & Hosting
• TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper
• DHCP Client
• Network Connections
• Cryptographic Services
• Plug and Play
• DNS Client

Again: If you have any doubts about disabling a service, do some research to make sure. And if you find out it's one of the unnecessary Windows services, disable it without fear. You'll notice how Your PC boots faster, consumes fewer resources, and runs more efficiently..