Optimize Windows Services for Speed
Services are like programs that run in the background and are not visible to the user. A lot of services are required for Windows to work properly, but others are either less useful or entirely useless.
Open Windows Services List
To open the Windows services list:
- Click Start
- In the search bar type "services.msc"
- There should be 1 result, right click and "Run as Administrator"
When Services Start
In the new Window is a list of the services that run with Windows. Sort the list by clicking the "Startup Type" column. Now you can see which services run and when they run.
There are 4 ways services start themselves
- Automatic - Services that always run
- Automatic (Delayed Start) - Services that run a few minutes after startup
- Manual - Services that run only when called
- Disabled - Services that will not run at all
Disable Services
Windows comes with most features and services enabled to provide the user with a lot of functionality. Rarely will any user need or want them all, so we can disable the ones we do not need.
Disable services at your own risk
Here is a list of services you do not need to have a functioning computer. Below will be a list of services and the feature lost as well as the general speed increase. You can disable everything on this list for full speed if you choose.
- Themes
- You lose pretty window borders, rounded corners, and colored start bar
- Speed: 20% faster interaction with Windows
- Security Center
- You lose annoying messages saying you have no antivirus
- Speed: Slight increase, less popups
- Windows Defender
- You lose some minor malware/virus protection
- Speed: Slight increase, less popups
- Windows Search
- You no longer have files show in the Start search bar
- Speed: Slight increase, also reduces load on hard drive
