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· Livecodo Editorial · Engineering · 5 min read

Laptop Running Slow? Try These Windows Services to Make It Faster

Is your Windows laptop running slow? Learn how to check background services using services.msc and msconfig to optimize Windows performance.

⚙️ Performance Note: Disabling unnecessary background services helps reduce idle CPU activity, background disk thrashing, and RAM consumption. While it streamlines system responsiveness, it is an optimization step to eliminate software overhead rather than a substitute for physical hardware upgrades.

Quick Launch: Management Commands

Press Win + R to open the Run box and use either of these native management consoles:

Windows Services Manager
services.msc

Part 1: Disable These 4 Background Services in services.msc

Open the Run dialog (Win + R), type services.msc, and press Enter. Locate each of the following services, double-click it, change Startup type to Disabled, and click Stop:

1

Connected User Experiences and Telemetry

Set to Disabled
Formerly known as DiagTrack, this service continuously tracks system usage, crash logs, and behavioral telemetry in the background to send diagnostic reports to Microsoft. Disabling it stops background data logging and prevents periodic disk write spikes.
Service ID: DiagTrack Impact: Stops background telemetry
2

Windows Error Reporting Service

Set to Disabled
Whenever an application stutters or crashes, this service generates memory dump files and attempts to communicate with Microsoft error servers. If you aren't actively troubleshooting kernel bug checks, disabling it prevents CPU and storage lockups during application errors.
Service ID: WerSvc Impact: Prevents error dump lag
3

Diagnostic Policy Service

Set to Disabled
The Diagnostic Policy Service (DPS) enables automatic problem detection, troubleshooting diagnostics, and resolution caching for Windows components. However, on older or entry-level laptops, it frequently triggers high CPU and memory usage in Task Manager.
Service ID: DPS Impact: Reduces idle CPU usage
4

Remote Registry

Set to Disabled
This service allows remote users and network administrators to modify the Windows Registry settings on your computer over a local network or internet connection. For personal laptops and home PCs, this poses an unnecessary security vulnerability and idle overhead.
Service ID: RemoteRegistry Impact: Hardens security & saves RAM

Part 2: Disable Third-Party Startup Bloatware in msconfig

Many third-party applications (game updaters, cloud synchronization utilities, peripheral RGB controllers) register background services that run from the second your laptop boots up.

⚠️ Critical Step: Always Check “Hide All Microsoft Services”

  1. Press Win + R, type msconfig, and press Enter.

  2. Click on the Services tab.

  3. Check the box labeled “Hide all Microsoft services” at the bottom-left. (This prevents you from disabling vital Windows operating system files.)

  4. Click the Disable all button on the right.

  5. Click Apply, then click OK, and restart your laptop.

By performing a clean service startup, your laptop only loads essential Windows drivers, dramatically reducing boot time and freeing up several hundred megabytes of RAM.

More Ways to Speed Up a Slow Windows Laptop

Pairing service optimization with these foundational hygiene habits delivers the best overall experience:

CHECK TASK MANAGER Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc and disable heavy apps in the Startup Apps tab (e.g. Spotify, Discord, Epic Games Launcher).
ENABLE STORAGE SENSE Open Settings → System → Storage and turn on Storage Sense to automatically purge temporary cache and recycle bin files.
UPGRADE HARD DRIVE / SSD If your laptop boots from a spinning mechanical hard drive (HDD), cloning to an SSD provides an instant 5x-10x performance leap that software tweaks alone cannot match.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is it safe to disable all non-Microsoft services?
Yes, disabling third-party services only stops background auto-updaters and helper daemons. When you open a specific software application (like Chrome or Photoshop), it will still run normally.
What if a specific app requires its background service?
If a specific program (e.g. VPN or specialized antivirus) requires its background service, open msconfig → Services → Hide all Microsoft services, check the box next to that specific tool, and hit Apply.
How do I restore a disabled Windows service?
Open services.msc, double-click the service name, change Startup type back to Automatic or Manual, and click Start.
Does this tweak work on Windows 11 and Windows 10?
Yes, both services.msc and msconfig operate identically on Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8.1, and Windows 7.

Final Thoughts

Windows laptops often slow down over time not because the hardware is broken, but because background services and background bloat accumulate silently.

By taking a few minutes to audit services.msc and clean boot with msconfig, you can eliminate unnecessary telemetry, protect your privacy, and help optimize system performance.

More Windows & AI Guides from Livecodo

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