When you don’t need dozens of services, Windows likes to keep them running. Some gnaw at recollection in silence. Some eat up CPU power like ravenous gremlins. Gamers should be able to use as many spare frames as possible. You can safely disable the most superfluous background aids during gameplay by following this tutorial. You benefit from improved gaming, cleaner performance, and a system that prioritizes winning over sorting through unsolicited faxes.
Services that slow down performance
Windows runs a lot of background services meant for productivity and office environments. While useful sometimes, many of them quietly eat RAM and CPU power that gaming needs. Disabling a few unnecessary ones helps games run smoother with fewer stutters.
Print Spooler
This service manages communication with printers. If you don’t print from your gaming PC, it’s just wasting resources.
- Frees memory normally reserved for printers
- Prevents random print-related slowdowns
- Zero impact if no printer is installed
How to:
- Press Windows + R and type services.msc
- Find Print Spooler in the list
- Right-click > Stop, then set Startup type: Disabled
Windows Search
Indexing constantly scans files in the background so search appears instant, but it can cause CPU and drive spikes during gaming.
- Reduces hidden disk activity
- Helps maintain smooth frame pacing
- Search still works, just less instant
How to:
- Open services.msc
- Locate Windows Search
- Right-click > Stop, then set Startup type: Disabled
Fax Service
Faxing over phone lines… unless your PC lives in 1998, this is pure dead weight.
- Removes a totally unused Windows component
- Small but guaranteed performance improvement
- No downsides on modern systems
How to:
- Go to services.msc
- Find Fax
- Right-click > Stop, set Startup type: Disabled
Network-related services you might not need
Gaming performance depends on a clean, stable network connection. Some Windows services constantly communicate with other devices, the internet, or Microsoft’s cloud, even when those features aren’t used. Reducing that background chatter frees bandwidth, lowers latency spikes, and prevents surprise CPU usage while you are mid-match.
These services mainly benefit business environments or advanced network setups. Gamers who only use a single PC at home can disable them safely.
Remote Registry
This allows other computers to modify your registry remotely. It exists for corporate IT departments, not home users.
- Eliminates a security risk
- Prevents background remote-access scanning
- No impact on everyday use
How to:
- Press Windows + R and type services.msc
- Find Remote Registry
- Right-click > Stop, and set Startup type: Disabled
Workstation
This handles shared folders and remote file access. If you never share files between PCs over LAN, it’s just sitting there idle.
- Reduces unnecessary SMB network activity
- Helps stabilize latency in online games
- Local files still work perfectly
How to:
- Open services.msc
- Locate Workstation
- Right-click > Stop (if you are absolutely sure you don’t need network shares)
Tip: If Windows complains or network features break, set it back to Automatic.
Connected User Experiences and Telemetry
The service that tracks usage data and sends it to Microsoft. Helpful for analytics, not gaming.
- Lowers random outbound traffic
- Removes periodic CPU/network spikes
- Improves privacy while boosting performance
How to:
- Go to services.msc
- Find Connected User Experiences and Telemetry
- Right-click > Stop, set Startup type: Disabled
Visual and user interface extras
Windows includes background helpers that try to make apps launch faster or pop up alerts when crashes happen. Gamers rarely need these mid-match. Disabling them frees up CPU, RAM, and disk access so gameplay feels smoother.
SysMain (formerly Superfetch)
This service preloads apps into RAM to speed up startup, but it can cause stutters during gaming sessions.
- Reduces random CPU and disk usage spikes
- Helpful especially on lower-end PCs or SSD systems
How to:
- Press Windows + R, type services.msc, press Enter
- Scroll to SysMain
- Right-click > Stop and set Startup type to Disabled
Windows Error Reporting Service
Constantly watches for crashes and creates reports. It provides zero benefit during games.
- Eliminates diagnostics running in the background
- Still possible to check crash logs manually if needed
How to:
- Open services.msc
- Find Windows Error Reporting Service
- Right-click > Stop and set Startup type to Disabled
Program Compatibility Assistant Service
Monitors apps to make sure older ones run correctly. Most modern games don’t need help.
- Prevents extra monitoring every time software launches
- No downside unless running very old programs
How to:
- Open services.msc
- Locate Program Compatibility Assistant Service
- Right-click > Stop and set Startup type to Disabled
Background services that eat resources
Some Windows services quietly download updates, sync data, or manage hardware you may not even use. They chomp CPU cycles, steal bandwidth, and create stutters while you game. Temporarily disabling or controlling them keeps your system focused entirely on performance.
Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS)
This service downloads updates and background data even while you play.
- Prevents bandwidth loss during online gaming
- Stops surprise update downloads mid-match
- Reduces CPU and disk spikes
How to:
- Press Windows + R, type services.msc, hit Enter
- Find Background Intelligent Transfer Service
- Right-click > Stop and set Startup type to Manual
Bluetooth Support Service (if unused)
If you don’t use Bluetooth peripherals, this service only wastes memory.
- Eliminates polling for nonexistent devices
- Frees up background system resources
- Reduces startup processes for cleaner boot
How to:
- Open services.msc
- Locate Bluetooth Support Service
- Right-click > Stop and set Startup type to Disabled
Windows Update (during gameplay sessions)
Updates can auto-install, reboot, and ruin a gaming night with zero warning.
- Avoids lag spikes from background downloads
- Prevents forced restarts mid-game
- Lets you control when updates happen
How to:
- Open Settings > Windows Update
- Set Active Hours to your gaming schedule
Pause updates before long sessions
Services for enterprise or advanced users
Some services exist mainly for business networks or specialized setups. Home gamers rarely benefit from them, yet they quietly chew through CPU cycles or memory. Turning off what you don’t need gives your PC a little extra headroom where it counts: inside the game.
Offline Files
Designed for syncing shared network files when offline, not for home gaming rigs.
- Removes background sync tasks
- Reduces unnecessary disk access
- Simplifies network performance during gameplay
How to:
- Press Windows + R, type services.msc
- Find Offline Files
- Right-click > Stop and set Startup type to Disabled
Secondary Logon
Allows users to run programs as another account. Great for sysadmins, unnecessary for single-user setups.
- Lowers the number of background authentication processes
- Improves system responsiveness
- Fewer services competing for memory
How to:
- Open services.msc
- Locate Secondary Logon
- Right-click > Stop and set Startup type to Disabled
Retail Demo Service
Only useful for store display PCs, absolutely useless at home.
- Removes retail-store background scripts
- Prevents accidental activation of demo mode
- Avoids wasted system resources on display features
How to:
- Open services.msc
- Look for Retail Demo Service
- Right-click > Stop and set Startup type to Disabled