There are several different ways you can boost your Windows PC's performance. For example, you can debloat Windows (carefully), disable startup apps, and tweak specific settings. Another option you may not have considered is disabling background services to enhance your Windows system's performance.

Like debloating (services are a part of that), you need to be careful when turning off background services. If you turn off the wrong one, you can break Windows features. However, there are some proven and unnecessary services that I can safely disable to improve system performance. There are a few ways to do it, and we’ll go through the seven services that I disable, which are proven to make the OS more responsive. It's also important to note that if you are still rocking Windows 10, you can disable these services.

7 Telemetry

Disable usage data to free up PC resources and protect privacy

One of the more irksome features that runs in the background by default is telemetry. Microsoft states that it collects the information anonymously to enhance the Windows experience. However, you may not want your Windows usage to be sent to the mothership. In addition to added privacy, not having those services running in the background can help improve system performance. It’s also important to note that this option is a twofer. It makes the OS more responsive while also protecting your privacy.

You can turn off telemetry via the Settings app, and you can still do that. But there is also a service you will want to disable. Windows will start the service each time you reboot. So, to ensure there isn’t usage data, I turn off “Connected User Experiences and Telemetry” and “Device Management Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) Push message Routing Service.” To get there, press Win+R and type services.msc and click OK. Right-click the service, select Properties, and disable each service. Restart your PC and enjoy additional privacy and OS performance.

6 Windows Error Reporting

The fewer running services, the better

The fewer services that you have running, the more responsive Windows will be. This service appears when an app crashes and displays a “Send Error Report” message. Like telemetry, you don’t have to send these reports to Microsoft. So, I disable this unnecessary service to help system performance.

5 Program compatibility assistant

An unnecessary if you keep apps updated

This service continuously scans the apps installed on your computer for outdated apps to fix compatibility issues. If you keep your apps updated manually or using a tool like UniGetUI, you don’t need it to run and affect system responsiveness constantly.

4 Windows Search

Turns off a slow indexing search feature

This service doesn’t disable the Windows search function. However, it does turn off indexing, which can be a drawback, as it can result in slower performance. If you use an app like Everything or Listary, this can improve performance since content indexing is a resource-intensive process. Those two apps are far better at indexing files anyway, so you should probably disable this altogether and just switch to those.

3 Windows Biometric Service

For those who don’t use their face or finger sign in

If you don’t use biometrics to sign in using Windows Hello, you can safely disable this service to decrease background process activities. A lot of people still use a PIN or password to sign in to their system, and disabling this and others on this list will help boost Windows performance. Keep in mind, however, if you use your face or fingerprint to log into Windows, you want to keep this running.

2 Disable third-party background app services

Using the msconfig command

Disabling background services doesn’t always mean you need to go into “services.msc.” I also use msconfig to identify and disable third-party services to boost performance. This feature is typically used for troubleshooting a PC. However, you need to ensure you’re not disabling essential Microsoft services. Luckily, the System Configuration tool includes the ability to help with that. It will hide all essential system services. Launch the Run dialog box, type msconfig, and press Enter. Select the Services tab and click the Hide all Microsoft services box.

Now, you will see only third-party services that are available to disable. To do so, I can simply uncheck each box for the service that I don’t want to run in the background. If there are many apps installed on your PC, you might be surprised by the number of services your apps start up that run silently in the background.

For example, your browser has several startup services, as well as legacy apps like iTunes, which load the Bonjour service. The tool also includes an easy button to disable all services. I typically use that option, reboot, and see which apps work properly. If I discover an issue, I go back and re-enable the services.

1 Diagnostic Policy Service

A service to turn off for power users

As a tech-savvy power user, I disable this service since I can solve issues on my own. This service tracks issues with Windows components and provides troubleshooting solutions to resolve them. However, Microsoft is deprecating the built-in troubleshooters, which are usually ineffective anyway. So, this service can be safely disabled to help improve speed.

Disabling services to improve performance on Windows

If you are looking to eke out as much performance as possible on your Windows system, you can safely disable these services. It’s important to note that turning off only one won’t result in better system performance, but when used in unison, you should notice a boost in system performance. These services can result in CPU and disk usage spikes, and by turning them off, you will have a noticeable speed bump.