Complete guide to safely disable unnecessary Windows background services for instant performance improvement
Is your computer getting slower and slower over time? Slow boot, fans spinning wildly, high resource usage even when you're not doing anything? In many cases, it's not that hardware is inadequate, but rather that Windows is secretly running a bunch of services you don't need in the background.
Before we begin, we need to access Services Management. Use shortcut Win+R to open command prompt and type command services.msc.
Function: This service collects and sends your computer's usage and diagnostic data to Microsoft to improve Windows user experience.
Why disable it: Disabling this service reduces background CPU and network resource consumption and enhances personal privacy by preventing collection of your usage data.
Potential impact: Disabling it may affect some functions that rely on telemetry data, such as automatic updates and feedback functions, but it will have little impact on daily use of most users.
Function: Provides content indexing, attribute caching, and search results for files, emails, and other content.
Why disable it: While it facilitates file searching, Windows Search service continuously builds file indexes in background, consuming significant CPU and disk resources, especially when dealing with a large number of files. For users who don't frequently use system search function or use third-party search tools (such as Everything), it's advisable to disable it.
Potential impact: Disabling it will slow down speed of finding files, applications, and settings using Windows built-in search box.
Alternative: Of course, we can use a third-party search tool like Everything to replace Windows built-in search function. The effect is overwhelmingly superior, far surpassing the system's built-in search service in both search speed and efficiency. And it's completely free!
Function: By analyzing user's memory usage patterns, it preloads frequently used applications into memory, thereby speeding up program startup.
Why disable it: For users using solid-state drives (SSDs), performance improvement brought by SysMain is limited due to extremely fast read and write speeds of SSDs. In fact, it may increase disk load due to continuous background read and write operations.
Potential impact: Disabling it may slightly decrease initial startup speed of some infrequently used applications.
Function: Manages all local and network print queues and controls all print jobs.
Why disable it: If you don't use a printer, or only use it occasionally, this service running continuously in background will consume a small amount of system resources. Disabling it when printing is not needed will free up these resources.
Potential impact: Disabling it will prevent printing operations. If you need to use a printer, you need to re-enable the service.
Function: Provides applications with the ability to capture, compare, process, and store biometric data, supporting functions such as fingerprint recognition and facial recognition.
Why disable it: If your computer does not have a fingerprint reader or infrared camera, or if you do not use features such as Windows Hello, it is safe to disable this service to save resources.
Potential impact: After disabling it, all biometric-related functions (such as fingerprint login) will be unavailable.
Function: Allows remote users to modify registry settings on this computer.
Why disable it: For most home users, remote registry modification is almost unnecessary. Disabling this service can improve system security and prevent potential malicious attacks.
Function: Provides support for application compatibility assistant, monitors programs installed and run by user, and detects known compatibility issues.
Why disable it: This function sometimes misidentifies programs without compatibility issues as problematic, frequently popping up prompts and affecting user experience. Experienced users can identify and handle program compatibility issues themselves, so this service can be disabled.
Potential impact: After disabling it, the system will no longer automatically prompt for program compatibility issues, requiring users to manually set compatibility mode to run some older applications.
services.msc and press Enter to open "Services" window.Before disabling any system service, it is recommended that you understand its specific functions and make a judgment based on your actual usage. If system instability or other problems occur after disabling a service, you can restore the previous operation.
Complete guide to activate Repair Mode/Maintenance Mode to protect your photos, data, and privacy when sending your phone for repairs
Many smartphone users are worried about having to leave their devices in shop for repair purposes, especially involving the risk of privacy invasion such as photos and WhatsApp messages being accessed without permission. Repair Mode/Maintenance Mode helps protect your privacy by making your phone function as if it were a new device.
When Repair Mode or Maintenance Mode is activated, your phone will function as if it were a new device without you worrying if it is opened by a third party.
All your data will only reappear after the mode is deactivated by the phone owner.
Important: Apple does not provide this function.
If your phone screen is damaged to the point of losing touch function:
If the problem involves the display:
This simple step not only protects personal data, but also helps users feel more confident and calm when sending their phones to service centers. There are dishonest individuals who invade the privacy of phone owners during repairs, so taking these precautions is essential.
Complete guide to register and verify your MyDigitalID for Malaysian government services
You can now use MyDigitalID to log in to supported government apps and services such as:
MyDigitalID allows you to securely access multiple Malaysian government services using a single digital identity, eliminating the need for multiple usernames and passwords.
Complete step-by-step guide for installing Windows 11 from a USB flash drive
🎉 Windows 11 is now installed!
✅ Use Rufus if you want a simple, clean installation
✅ Use Ventoy if you often install multiple operating systems