Purpose

The purpose of this posts is to give some hints to improve performance on your Windows PC by removing default background processes that are less necessary.

Do them only if you have performance issues on your computer.

Steps

Step 1. Check applications launch on startup

There are two folders in Windows 10 for startup:

All Users Startup folder
- It is located in C:\Users\[User Name]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
Current User Startup folder
- It is located in C:\Users\[User Name]\AppData\Startup

The paths may vary according to your language.

All Users Startup folder is the only one that applies in case there is only one user in the computer. In case of doubt, check both folders.

All programs listed on these folders are run on startup. If you want to stop it from running, just delete them.

Step 2. Check processes that are running on the background

Click Start button and type ‘Task Manager’
Check ‘Processes’ tab to see all running processes.
Check ‘Startup’ tab to see all applications open in startup. You can disable these processes.

Also click Start button and type either ‘msconfig’ or ‘System Configuration’
Look at tab ‘Start’. You can check or uncheck the service you want. In order to avoid to disable Windows system processes, it is recommended to check first checkbox ‘Hide Microsoft services’.
If you want that only checked services are run, ensure that ‘Selective start’ is selected on ‘General tab’ tab

Look at tab ‘Start’. You can open Task Manager from there, that is described in the next step.

Monitor performance

Inside Task Manager, check ‘Performance’ tab.

It gives you an overview of what may be slowing down your computer. It also informs which processes are using more resources in your computer.

Step 3. Remove background processes

You may want to disable all processes and services on startup. If you do not know what a process does, research what is the process about before you disable it.

Below you can find some examples of processes I use to disconnect to improve performance.

Disable Adobe Acrobat automatic updates

Open msconfig, go to ‘Process’ tab and uncheck ‘Adobe Acrobat Update Service’ .

Note: Adobe Acrobat Reader is updated periodically with security updates. If you disconnect automatic updates, remember to check for updates whenever you open the app.

Disable Microsoft Edge running on the background

I do not use Edge as my default browser, so I do not want it to run in background.

Instructions about how to disable it:
https://www.windowscentral.com/how-prevent-new-microsoft-edge-running-background-windows-10

Disable Spotify on startup

Open Task Manager, go to ‘Startup’ tab, select Spotify and click on ‘Disable’ button

Disable Steam Client Bootstrapper on startup