Endurtech Disabled Windows Services

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This article covers the various Windows Services that I have disabled on my personal computer using the Services App. This article is intended for my personal use only as a reminder of what services I altered to improve system performance. If you use this article and alter any of the listed services on your computer it may render your Windows Operating System unstable.

 

Disabled Windows Services

  • BitLocker Drive Encryption Service – BDESVC hosts the BitLocker Drive Encryption service. BitLocker Drive Encryption provides secure startup for the operating system, as well as full volume encryption for OS, fixed or removable volumes. This service allows BitLocker to prompt users for various actions related to their volumes when mounted, and unlocks volumes automatically without user interaction. Additionally, it stores recovery information to Active Directory, if available, and, if necessary, ensures the most recent recovery certificates are used. Stopping or disabling the service would prevent users from leveraging this functionality.
    • Startup Type: Manual (Trigger Start) now Disabled.
    • Risks: Theft. However, the probability that someone, someday, breaks into my security monitored home and steals my desktop computer is low. Plus, they would most likely just want to sell/pawn it for quick money. The purchasers would most likely format the computer for resale or personal use as my account is password protected. Not everyone knows how to bypass the Windows login. Even if theft occurs, I still have a complete backup at all times of my data on a remote server. I’d be looking at a one hour of down time but several for resetting account passwords just in case.
    • Benefits: Easier data recovery and a significant performance boost as data no longer has to run the additional commands required for cryptographic purposes. See my article on disabling Microsoft Windows BitLocker Encryption on Windows 11 Pro.
  • Connected User Experiences and Telemetry – The Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service enables features that support in-application and connected user experiences. Additionally, this service manages the event driven collection and transmission of diagnostic and usage information (used to improve the experience and quality of the Windows Platform) when the diagnostics and usage privacy option settings are enabled under Feedback and Diagnostics.
    • Startup Type: Manual now Disabled.
    • Risks: None to my knowledge.
    • Benefits: Helps cut back amount of data Microsoft can collect about me and my device.
  • Downloaded Maps Manager – Windows service for application access to downloaded maps. This service is started on-demand by application accessing downloaded maps. Disabling this service will prevent apps from accessing maps.
    • Startup Type: Automatic (Delayed Start) now Disabled.
    • Risks: Disabling this service will prevent apps from accessing maps.
    • Benefits: One less service waiting in the background.
  • Geolocation Service – This service monitors the current location of the system and manages geofences (a geographical location with associated events). If you turn off this service, applications will be unable to use or receive notifications for geolocation or geofences.
    • Startup Type: Manual now Disabled.
    • Risks: None to my knowledge.
    • Benefits: Helps cut back amount of data Microsoft can collect about me, my physical location and my device.
  • HP Print Scan Doctor Service – N/A
    • Startup Type: Automatic now Disabled.
    • Risks: None known. I don’t use the HP Print Scan Doctor feature.
    • Benefits: One less service waiting in the background.
  • Remote Access Connection Manager – Manages dial-up and virtual private network (VPN) connections from this computer to the Internet or other remote networks. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
    • Startup Type: Manual now Disabled.
    • Risks: None known. I don’t use VPN connections.
    • Benefits: One less service waiting in the background.
  • Microsoft Keyboard Filter – Controls keystroke filtering and mapping.
    • Startup Type: Disabled now Disabled (again?)
    • Risks: None known. This service appears to be disabled by default.
    • Benefits: One less service waiting in the background.
  • Windows Biometric Service – The Windows biometric service gives client applications the ability to capture, compare, manipulate, and store biometric data without gaining direct access to any biometric hardware or samples. The service is hosted in a privileged SVCHOST process.
    • Startup Type: Manual (Trigger Start) now Disabled.
    • Risks: None known. I don’t have or use Biometric features on Windows.
    • Benefits: One less service waiting in the background.
  • Xbox Accessory Management Service – This service manages connected Xbox Accessories.
    • Startup Type: Manual (Trigger Start) now Disabled.
    • Risks: None to my knowledge.
    • Benefits: One less service waiting in the background.
  • Xbox Live Auth Manager – Provides authentication and authorization services for interacting with Xbox Live. If this service is stopped, some applications may not operate correctly.
    • Startup Type: Manual now Disabled.
    • Risks: None to my knowledge.
    • Benefits: One less service waiting in the background.
  • Xbox Live Game Save – This service syncs save data for Xbox Live save enabled games. If this service is stopped, game save data will not upload to or download from Xbox Live.
    • Startup Type: Manual (Trigger Start) now Disabled.
    • Risks: None to my knowledge.
    • Benefits: One less service waiting in the background.
  • Xbox Live Networking Service – This service supports the Windows.Networking.XboxLive application programming interface.
    • Startup Type: Manual now Disabled.
    • Risks: None to my knowledge.
    • Benefits: One less service waiting in the background.

Networking Functionality Associated Windows Services

Even though my computer has a WiFi 6/Bluetooth card I have it disabled via system BIOS. Thus the following Windows Services are not needed. If I change my mind, I have to first re-enabled the wireless networking card via system BIOS then the re-enable the following Windows Services for proper functionality.

  • Bluetooth Audio Gateway Service – Service supporting the audio gateway role of the Bluetooth Handsfree Profile.
    • Startup Type: Manual (Trigger Start) now Disabled.
    • Risks: If I go to use Bluetooth, it will fail. Note to self, I also have to enable Bluetooth via BIOS.
    • Benefits: One less service waiting in the background.
  • Bluetooth Support Service – The Bluetooth service supports discovery and association of remote Bluetooth devices. Stopping or disabling this service may cause already installed Bluetooth devices to fail to operate properly and prevent new devices from being discovered or associated.
    • Startup Type: Manual (Trigger Start) now Disabled.
    • Risks: If I go to use Bluetooth, it will fail. Note to self, I also have to enable Bluetooth via BIOS.
    • Benefits: One less service waiting in the background.
  • Bluetooth User Support Service – The Bluetooth user service supports proper functionality of Bluetooth features relevant to each user session.
    • Startup Type: Manual (Trigger Start) now Disabled.
    • Risks: If I go to use Bluetooth, it will fail. Note to self, I also have to enable Bluetooth via BIOS.
    • Benefits: One less service waiting in the background.
  • Radio Management Service – Radio Management and Airplane Mode Service.
    • Startup Type: Manual now Disabled.
    • Risks: If I go to use WiFi, it MAY fail (not tested). Note to self, I also have to enable WiFi via BIOS.
    • Benefits: One less service waiting in the background.
  • WLAN AutoConfig – The WLANSVC service provides the logic required to configure, discover, connect to, and disconnect from a wireless local area network (WLAN) as defined by IEEE 802.11 standards. It also contains the logic to turn your computer into a software access point so that other devices or computers can connect to your computer wirelessly using a WLAN adapter that can support this. Stopping or disabling the WLANSVC service will make all WLAN adapters on your computer inaccessible from the Windows networking UI. It is strongly recommended that you have the WLANSVC service running if your computer has a WLAN adapter.
    • Startup Type: Manual now Disabled.
    • Risks: If I go to use WiFi, it will fail. Note to self, I also have to enable WiFi via BIOS.
    • Benefits: One less service waiting in the background.

 

Re-enabled Windows Services

  • IP Helper – Provides tunnel connectivity using IPv6 transition technologies (6to4, ISATAP, Port Proxy, and Teredo), and IP-HTTPS. If this service is stopped, the computer will not have the enhanced connectivity benefits that these technologies offer.
    • Startup Type: Automatic (not disabled)
    • Risks: IPv6 can pin-point you and reveal your physical location.
    • Benefits: I had this disabled, but no discernable performance benefit was experienced. More testing required and I’ve re-enabled it for now.
  • Microsoft Office Click-to-Run Service – ‪Manages resource coordination, background streaming, and system integration of Microsoft 365 and Office products and their related updates. This service is required to run during the use of any Microsoft 365 and Office program, during initial streaming installation and all subsequent updates.‬

 

Conclusion

I hope my article on which Windows Services I disabled on my personal computer has helped you. I welcome your thoughts, questions or suggestions regarding this article.

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