Guidance on disabling system services on Windows Server 2016 with Desktop Experience

Applies to: Windows Server 2016 only, when used in Desktop Experience installation option

The Windows operating system includes many system services that provide important functionality. Different services have different default startup policies: some are started by default (automatic), some when needed (manual), and some are disabled by default and must be explicitly enabled before they can run. These defaults were chosen carefully for each service to balance performance, functionality, and security for typical customers.

However, some enterprise customers may prefer a more security-focused balance for their Windows PCs and servers, one that reduces their attack surface to the absolute minimum, and may therefore wish to fully disable all services that are not needed in their specific environments. For those customers, Microsoft® is providing the accompanying guidance regarding which services can safely be disabled for this purpose.

The guidance is only for Windows Server 2016 with Desktop Experience (unless used as a desktop replacement for end users). Beginning with Windows Server 2019, these guidelines are configured by default. Each service on the system is categorized as follows:

  • Should Disable: A security-focused enterprise will most likely prefer to disable this service and forego its functionality (see additional details below).
  • OK to Disable: This service provides functionality that is useful to some but not all enterprises, and security-focused enterprises that don't use it can safely disable it.
  • Do Not Disable: Disabling this service will impact essential functionality or prevent specific roles or features from functioning correctly. Therefore it should not be disabled.
  • (No guidance): The impact of disabling these services has not been fully evaluated. Therefore, the default configuration of these services should not be changed.

Customers can configure their Windows PCs and servers to disable selected services using the Security Templates in their Group Policies or using PowerShell automation. In some cases, the guidance includes specific Group Policy settings that disable the service's functionality directly, as an alternative to disabling the service itself.

Microsoft recommends that customers disable the following services and their respective scheduled tasks on Windows Server 2016 with Desktop Experience:

Services:

  1. Xbox Live Auth Manager
  2. Xbox Live Game Save

Scheduled tasks:

  1. \Microsoft\XblGameSave\XblGameSaveTask
  2. \Microsoft\XblGameSave\XblGameSaveTaskLogon

Disabling services not installed by default

Microsoft recommends against applying policies to disable services that are not installed by default.

  • The service is usually needed if the feature is installed. Installing the service or the feature requires administrative rights. Disallow the feature installation, not the service startup.
  • Blocking the Microsoft Windows service doesn't stop an admin (or non-admin in some cases) from installing a similar third-party equivalent, perhaps one with a higher security risk.
  • A baseline or benchmark that disables a non-default Windows service (for example, W3SVC) will give some auditors the mistaken impression that the technology (for example, IIS) is inherently insecure and should never be used.
  • If the feature (and service) is never installed, this just adds unnecessary bulk to the baseline and to verification work.

For all system services listed in this document, the two tables that follow offer an explanation of columns and Microsoft recommendations for enabling and disabling system services in Windows Server 2016 with Desktop Experience:

Explanation of columns

Name Description
Service name Key (internal) name of the service
Description The service's description, from sc.exe qdescription.
Installation Always installed: Service is installed on Windows Server 2016 Core and Windows Server 2016 with Desktop Experience. Only with Desktop Experience: Service is on Windows Server 2016 with Desktop Experience, but is not installed on Server Core.
Startup type Service Startup type on Windows Server 2016
Recommendation Microsoft recommendation/advice about disabling this service on Windows Server 2016 in a typical, well-managed enterprise deployment and where the server is not being used as an end-user desktop replacement.
Comments Additional explanation

Explanation of Microsoft recommendations

Name Description
Do not disable This service should not be disabled
OK to disable This service can be disabled if the feature it supports is not being used.
Already disabled This service is disabled by default; no need to enforce with policy
Should be disabled This service should never be enabled on a well-managed enterprise system.

The following tables offer Microsoft guidance on disabling system services on Windows Server 2016 with Desktop Experience:

ActiveX Installer (AxInstSV)

Name Description
Service name AxInstSV
Description Provides User Account Control validation for the installation of ActiveX controls from the Internet and enables management of ActiveX control installation based on Group Policy settings. This service is started on demand and if disabled the installation of ActiveX controls will behave according to default browser settings.
Installation Only with Desktop Experience
Startup type Manual
Recommendation OK to disable
Comments OK to disable if feature not needed

AllJoyn Router Service

Name Description
Service name AJRouter
Description Routes AllJoyn messages for the local AllJoyn clients. If this service is stopped the AllJoyn clients that do not have their own bundled routers will be unable to run.
Installation Only with Desktop Experience
Startup type Manual
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

App Readiness

Name Description
Service name AppReadiness
Description Gets apps ready for use the first time a user signs in to this PC and when adding new apps.
Installation Only with Desktop Experience
Startup type Manual
Recommendation Do not disable
Comments None

Application Identity

Name Description
Service name AppIDSvc
Description Determines and verifies the identity of an application. Disabling this service will prevent AppLocker from being enforced.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Manual
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

Application Information

Name Description
Service name Appinfo
Description Facilitates the running of interactive applications with additional administrative privileges. If this service is stopped, users will be unable to launch applications with the additional administrative privileges they may require to perform desired user tasks.
Installation Only with Desktop Experience
Startup type Manual
Recommendation No guidance
Comments Supports UAC same-desktop elevation

Application Layer Gateway Service

Name Description
Service name ALG
Description Provides support for third-party protocol plug-ins for Internet Connection Sharing
Installation Only with Desktop Experience
Startup type Manual
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

Application Management

Name Description
Service name AppMgmt
Description Processes installation, removal, and enumeration requests for software deployed through Group Policy. If the service is disabled, users will be unable to install, remove, or enumerate software deployed through Group Policy. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Manual
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

AppX Deployment Service (AppXSVC)

Name Description
Service name AppXSvc
Description Provides infrastructure support for deploying Store applications. This service is started on demand and if disabled Store applications will not be deployed to the system, and may not function properly.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Manual
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

Auto Time Zone Updater

Name Description
Service name tzautoupdate
Description Automatically sets the system time zone.
Installation Only with Desktop Experience
Startup type Disabled
Recommendation Already disabled
Comments None

Background Intelligent Transfer Service

Name Description
Service name BITS
Description Transfers files in the background using idle network bandwidth. If the service is disabled, then any applications that depend on BITS, such as Windows Update or MSN Explorer, will be unable to automatically download programs and other information.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Manual
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

Background Tasks Infrastructure Service

Name Description
Service name BrokerInfrastructure
Description Windows infrastructure service that controls which background tasks can run on the system.
Installation Only with Desktop Experience
Startup type Automatic
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

Base Filtering Engine

Name Description
Service name BFE
Description The Base Filtering Engine (BFE) is a service that manages firewall and Internet Protocol security (IPsec) policies and implements user mode filtering. Stopping or disabling the BFE service will significantly reduce the security of the system. It will also result in unpredictable behavior in IPsec management and firewall applications.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Automatic
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

Bluetooth Support Service

Name Description
Service name bthserv
Description 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.
Installation Only with Desktop Experience
Startup type Manual
Recommendation OK to disable
Comments OK to disable if not used. Another disabling mechanism: Disabling Bluetooth and Infrared Beaming

CDPUserSvc

Name Description
Service name CDPUserSvc
Description This user service is used for Connected Devices Platform scenarios
Installation Only with Desktop Experience
Startup type Automatic
Recommendation OK to disable
Comments User service template

Certificate Propagation

Name Description
Service name CertPropSvc
Description Copies user certificates and root certificates from smart cards into the current user's certificate store, detects when a smart card is inserted into a smart card reader, and if needed, installs the smart card Plug and Play minidriver.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Manual
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

Client License Service (ClipSVC)

Name Description
Service name ClipSVC
Description Provides infrastructure support for the Microsoft Store. This service is started on demand and if disabled applications bought using Microsoft Store will not behave correctly.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Manual
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

CNG Key Isolation

Name Description
Service name KeyIso
Description The CNG key isolation service is hosted in the LSA process. The service provides key process isolation to private keys and associated cryptographic operations as required by the Common Criteria. The service stores and uses long-lived keys in a secure process complying with Common Criteria requirements.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Manual
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

COM+ Event System

Name Description
Service name EventSystem
Description Supports System Event Notification Service (SENS), which provides automatic distribution of events to subscribing Component Object Model (COM) components. If the service is stopped, SENS will close and will not be able to provide logon and logoff notifications. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Automatic
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

COM+ System Application

Name Description
Service name COMSysApp
Description Manages the configuration and tracking of Component Object Model (COM)+-based components. If the service is stopped, most COM+-based components will not function properly. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Manual
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

Computer Browser

Name Description
Service name Browser
Description Maintains an updated list of computers on the network and supplies this list to computers designated as browsers. If this service is stopped, this list will not be updated or maintained. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Disabled
Recommendation Already disabled
Comments None

Connected Devices Platform Service

Name Description
Service name CDPSvc
Description This service is used for Connected Devices and Universal Glass scenarios
Installation Only with Desktop Experience
Startup type Automatic
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

Connected User Experiences and Telemetry

Name Description
Service name DiagTrack
Description 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.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Automatic
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

Contact Data

Name Description
Service name PimIndexMaintenanceSvc
Description Indexes contact data for fast contact searching. If you stop or disable this service, contacts might be missing from your search results.
Installation Only with Desktop Experience
Startup type Manual
Recommendation OK to disable
Comments User service template

CoreMessaging

Name Description
Service name CoreMessagingRegistrar
Description Manages communication between system components.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Automatic
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

Credential Manager

Name Description
Service name VaultSvc
Description Provides secure storage and retrieval of credentials to users, applications and security service packages.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Manual
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

Cryptographic Services

Name Description
Service name CryptSvc
Description Provides three management services: Catalog Database Service, which confirms the signatures of Windows files and allows new programs to be installed; Protected Root Service, which adds and removes Trusted Root Certification Authority certificates from this computer; and Automatic Root Certificate Update Service, which retrieves root certificates from Windows Update and enable scenarios such as SSL. If this service is stopped, these management services will not function properly. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Automatic
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

Data Sharing Service

Name Description
Service name DsSvc
Description Provides data brokering between applications.
Installation Only with Desktop Experience
Startup type Manual
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

DataCollectionPublishingService

Name Description
Service name DcpSvc
Description The DCP (Data Collection and Publishing) service supports first-party apps to upload data to cloud.
Installation Only with Desktop Experience
Startup type Manual
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

DCOM Server Process Launcher

Name Description
Service name DcomLaunch
Description The DCOMLAUNCH service launches COM and DCOM servers in response to object activation requests. If this service is stopped or disabled, programs using COM or DCOM will not function properly. It is strongly recommended that you have the DCOMLAUNCH service running.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Automatic
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

Device Association Service

Name Description
Service name DeviceAssociationService
Description Enables pairing between the system and wired or wireless devices.
Installation Only with Desktop Experience
Startup type Manual
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

Device Install Service

Name Description
Service name DeviceInstall
Description Enables a computer to recognize and adapt to hardware changes with little or no user input. Stopping or disabling this service will result in system instability.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Manual
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

Device Management Enrollment Service

Name Description
Service name DmEnrollmentSvc
Description Performs Device Enrollment Activities for Device Management
Installation Only with Desktop Experience
Startup type Manual
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

Device Setup Manager

Name Description
Service name DsmSvc
Description Enables the detection, download and installation of device-related software. If this service is disabled, devices may be configured with outdated software, and may not work correctly.
Installation Only with Desktop Experience
Startup type Manual
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

DevQuery Background Discovery Broker

Name Description
Service name DevQueryBroker
Description Enables apps to discover devices with a backgroud task
Installation Only with Desktop Experience
Startup type Manual
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

DHCP Client

Name Description
Service name Dhcp
Description Registers and updates IP addresses and DNS records for this computer. If this service is stopped, this computer will not receive dynamic IP addresses and DNS updates. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Automatic
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

Diagnostic Policy Service

Name Description
Service name DPS
Description The Diagnostic Policy Service enables problem detection, troubleshooting and resolution for Windows components. If this service is stopped, diagnostics will no longer function.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Automatic
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

Diagnostic Service Host

Name Description
Service name WdiServiceHost
Description The Diagnostic Service Host is used by the Diagnostic Policy Service to host diagnostics that need to run in a Local Service context. If this service is stopped, any diagnostics that depend on it will no longer function.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Manual
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

Diagnostic System Host

Name Description
Service name WdiSystemHost
Description The Diagnostic System Host is used by the Diagnostic Policy Service to host diagnostics that need to run in a Local System context. If this service is stopped, any diagnostics that depend on it will no longer function.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Manual
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None
Name Description
Service name TrkWks
Description Maintains links between NTFS files within a computer or across computers in a network.
Installation Only with Desktop Experience
Startup type Automatic
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

Distributed Transaction Coordinator

Name Description
Service name MSDTC
Description Coordinates transactions that span multiple resource managers, such as databases, message queues, and file systems. If this service is stopped, these transactions will fail. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Automatic
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

dmwappushsvc

Name Description
Service name dmwappushservice
Description WAP Push Message Routing Service
Installation Only with Desktop Experience
Startup type Manual
Recommendation OK to disable
Comments Service required on client devices for Intune, MDM and similar management technologies, and for Unified Write Filter. Not needed for Server.

DNS Client

Name Description
Service name Dnscache
Description The DNS Client service (dnscache) caches Domain Name System (DNS) names and registers the full computer name for this computer. If the service is stopped, DNS names will continue to be resolved. However, the results of DNS name queries will not be cached and the computer's name will not be registered. If the service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Automatic
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

Downloaded Maps Manager

Name Description
Service name MapsBroker
Description 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.
Installation Only with Desktop Experience
Startup type Automatic
Recommendation OK to disable
Comments Disabling breaks apps that rely on the service; OK to disable if apps not relying on it

Embedded Mode

Name Description
Service name embeddedmode
Description The Embedded Mode service enables scenarios related to Background Applications. Disabling this service will prevent Background Applications from being activated.
Installation Only with Desktop Experience
Startup type Manual
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

Encrypting File System (EFS)

Name Description
Service name EFS
Description Provides the core file encryption technology used to store encrypted files on NTFS file system volumes. If this service is stopped or disabled, applications will be unable to access encrypted files.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Manual
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

Enterprise App Management Service

Name Description
Service name EntAppSvc
Description Enables enterprise application management.
Installation Only with Desktop Experience
Startup type Manual
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

Extensible Authentication Protocol

Name Description
Service name EapHost
Description The Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) service provides network authentication in such scenarios as 802.1x wired and wireless, VPN, and Network Access Protection (NAP). EAP also provides application programming interfaces (APIs) that are used by network access clients, including wireless and VPN clients, during the authentication process. If you disable this service, this computer is prevented from accessing networks that require EAP authentication.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Manual
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

Function Discovery Provider Host

Name Description
Service name fdPHost
Description The FDPHOST service hosts the Function Discovery (FD) network discovery providers. These FD providers supply network discovery services for the Simple Services Discovery Protocol (SSDP) and Web Services - Discovery (WS-D) protocol. Stopping or disabling the FDPHOST service will disable network discovery for these protocols when using FD. When this service is unavailable, network services using FD and relying on these discovery protocols will be unable to find network devices or resources.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Manual
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

Function Discovery Resource Publication

Name Description
Service name FDResPub
Description Publishes this computer and resources attached to this computer so they can be discovered over the network. If this service is stopped, network resources will no longer be published and they will not be discovered by other computers on the network.
Installation Only with Desktop Experience
Startup type Manual
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

Geolocation Service

Name Description
Service name lfsvc
Description 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.
Installation Only with Desktop Experience
Startup type Manual
Recommendation OK to disable
Comments Disabling breaks apps that rely on the service; OK to disable if apps not relying on it

Group Policy Client

Name Description
Service name gpsvc
Description The service is responsible for applying settings configured by administrators for the computer and users through the Group Policy component. If the service is disabled, the settings will not be applied and applications and components will not be manageable through Group Policy. Any components or applications that depend on the Group Policy component might not be functional if the service is disabled.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Automatic
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

Human Interface Device Service

Name Description
Service name hidserv
Description Activates and maintains the use of hot buttons on keyboards, remote controls, and other multimedia devices. It is recommended that you keep this service running.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Manual
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

HV Host Service

Name Description
Service name HvHost
Description Provides an interface for the Hyper-V hypervisor to provide per-partition performance counters to the host operating system.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Manual
Recommendation Do not disable
Comments Performance enhancers for guest VMs. Not used today except for explicitly populated VMs, but will be used in Application Guard

Hyper-V Data Exchange Service

Name Description
Service name vmickvpexchange
Description Provides a mechanism to exchange data between the virtual machine and the operating system running on the physical computer.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Manual
Recommendation Do not disable
Comments See HvHost

Hyper-V Guest Service Interface

Name Description
Service name vmicguestinterface
Description Provides an interface for the Hyper-V host to interact with specific services running inside the virtual machine.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Manual
Recommendation Do not disable
Comments See HvHost

Hyper-V Guest Shutdown Service

Name Description
Service name vmicshutdown
Description Provides a mechanism to shut down the operating system of this virtual machine from the management interfaces on the physical computer.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Manual
Recommendation Do not disable
Comments See HvHost

Hyper-V Heartbeat Service

Name Description
Service name vmicheartbeat
Description Monitors the state of this virtual machine by reporting a heartbeat at regular intervals. This service helps you identify running virtual machines that have stopped responding.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Manual
Recommendation Do not disable
Comments See HvHost

Hyper-V PowerShell Direct Service

Name Description
Service name vmicvmsession
Description Provides a mechanism to manage virtual machine with PowerShell via VM session without a virtual network.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Manual
Recommendation Do not disable
Comments See HvHost

Hyper-V Remote Desktop Virtualization Service

Name Description
Service name vmicrdv
Description Provides a platform for communication between the virtual machine and the operating system running on the physical computer.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Manual
Recommendation Do not disable
Comments See HvHost

Hyper-V Time Synchronization Service

Name Description
Service name vmictimesync
Description Synchronizes the system time of this virtual machine with the system time of the physical computer.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Manual
Recommendation Do not disable
Comments See HvHost

Hyper-V Volume Shadow Copy Requestor

Name Description
Service name vmicvss
Description Coordinates the communications that are required to use Volume Shadow Copy Service to back up applications and data on this virtual machine from the operating system on the physical computer.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Manual
Recommendation Do not disable
Comments See HvHost

IKE and AuthIP IPsec Keying Modules

Name Description
Service name IKEEXT
Description The IKEEXT service hosts the Internet Key Exchange (IKE) and Authenticated Internet Protocol (AuthIP) keying modules. These keying modules are used for authentication and key exchange in Internet Protocol security (IPsec). Stopping or disabling the IKEEXT service will disable IKE and AuthIP key exchange with peer computers. IPsec is typically configured to use IKE or AuthIP; therefore, stopping or disabling the IKEEXT service might result in an IPsec failure and might compromise the security of the system. It is strongly recommended that you have the IKEEXT service running.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Manual
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

Interactive Services Detection

Name Description
Service name UI0Detect
Description Enables user notification of user input for interactive services, which enables access to dialogs created by interactive services when they appear. If this service is stopped, notifications of new interactive service dialogs will no longer function and there might not be access to interactive service dialogs. If this service is disabled, both notifications of and access to new interactive service dialogs will no longer function.
Installation Only with Desktop Experience
Startup type Manual
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

Internet Connection Sharing (ICS)

Name Description
Service name SharedAccess
Description Provides network address translation, addressing, name resolution and/or intrusion prevention services for a home or small office network.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Manual
Recommendation OK to disable
Comments Required for clients used as WiFi hotspots, and also on both ends of Miracast projection. ICS can be blocked with GPO setting, "Prohibit use of Internet Connection Sharing on your DNS domain network"

IP Helper

Name Description
Service name iphlpsvc
Description 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.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Automatic
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

IPsec Policy Agent

Name Description
Service name PolicyAgent
Description Internet Protocol security (IPsec) supports network-level peer authentication, data origin authentication, data integrity, data confidentiality (encryption), and replay protection. This service enforces IPsec policies created through the IP Security Policies snap-in or the command-line tool "netsh ipsec". If you stop this service, you may experience network connectivity issues if your policy requires that connections use IPsec. Also, remote management of Windows Firewall is not available when this service is stopped.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Manual
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

KDC Proxy Server service (KPS)

Name Description
Service name KPSSVC
Description KDC Proxy Server service runs on edge servers to proxy Kerberos protocol messages to domain controllers on the corporate network.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Manual
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

KtmRm for Distributed Transaction Coordinator

Name Description
Service name KtmRm
Description Coordinates transactions between the Distributed Transaction Coordinator (MSDTC) and the Kernel Transaction Manager (KTM). If it is not needed, it is recommended that this service remain stopped. If it is needed, both MSDTC and KTM will start this service automatically. If this service is disabled, any MSDTC transaction interacting with a Kernel Resource Manager will fail and any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Manual
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None
Name Description
Service name lltdsvc
Description Creates a Network Map, consisting of PC and device topology (connectivity) information, and metadata describing each PC and device. If this service is disabled, the Network Map will not function properly.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Manual
Recommendation OK to disable
Comments OK to disable if no dependencies on Network Map

Local Session Manager

Name Description
Service name LSM
Description Core Windows Service that manages local user sessions. Stopping or disabling this service will result in system instability.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Automatic
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

Microsoft (R) Diagnostics Hub Standard Collector

Name Description
Service name diagnosticshub.standardcollector.service
Description Diagnostics Hub Standard Collector Service. When running, this service collects real time ETW events and processes them.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Manual
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

Microsoft Account Sign-in Assistant

Name Description
Service name wlidsvc
Description Enables user sign-in through Microsoft account identity services. If this service is stopped, users will not be able to log on to the computer with their Microsoft account.
Installation Only with Desktop Experience
Startup type Manual
Recommendation OK to disable
Comments Microsoft Accounts are N/A on Windows Server

Microsoft App-V Client

Name Description
Service name AppVClient
Description Manages App-V users and virtual applications
Installation Only with Desktop Experience
Startup type Disabled
Recommendation Already disabled
Comments None

Microsoft iSCSI Initiator Service

Name Description
Service name MSiSCSI
Description Manages Internet SCSI (iSCSI) sessions from this computer to remote iSCSI target devices. If this service is stopped, this computer will not be able to login or access iSCSI targets. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Manual
Recommendation Do not disable
Comments Our diagnostic data indicates this is used on client as well as server. No benefit to disabling this.

Microsoft Passport

Name Description
Service name NgcSvc
Description Provides process isolation for cryptographic keys used to authenticate to a user's associated identity providers. If this service is disabled, all uses and management of these keys will not be available, which includes machine logon and single-sign on for apps and websites. This service starts and stops automatically. It is recommended that you do not reconfigure this service.
Installation Only with Desktop Experience
Startup type Manual
Recommendation OK to disable
Comments Needed for PIN/Hello logons, which aren't supported on Server

Microsoft Passport Container

Name Description
Service name NgcCtnrSvc
Description Manages local user identity keys used to authenticate user to identity providers as well as TPM virtual smart cards. If this service is disabled, local user identity keys and TPM virtual smart cards will not be accessible. It is recommended that you do not reconfigure this service.
Installation Only with Desktop Experience
Startup type Manual
Recommendation OK to disable
Comments None

Microsoft Software Shadow Copy Provider

Name Description
Service name swprv
Description Manages software-based volume shadow copies taken by the Volume Shadow Copy service. If this service is stopped, software-based volume shadow copies cannot be managed. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Manual
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

Microsoft Storage Spaces SMP

Name Description
Service name smphost
Description Host service for the Microsoft Storage Spaces management provider. If this service is stopped or disabled, Storage Spaces cannot be managed.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Manual
Recommendation Do not disable
Comments Storage management APIs fail without this service. Example: "Get-WmiObject -class MSFT_Disk -Namespace Root\Microsoft\Windows\Storage".

Net.Tcp Port Sharing Service

Name Description
Service name NetTcpPortSharing
Description Provides ability to share TCP ports over the net.tcp protocol.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Disabled
Recommendation Already disabled
Comments None

Netlogon

Name Description
Service name Netlogon
Description Maintains a secure channel between this computer and the domain controller for authenticating users and services. If this service is stopped, the computer may not authenticate users and services and the domain controller cannot register DNS records. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Manual
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

Network Connection Broker

Name Description
Service name NcbService
Description Brokers connections that allow Microsoft Store Apps to receive notifications from the internet.
Installation Only with Desktop Experience
Startup type Manual
Recommendation OK to disable
Comments None

Network Connections

Name Description
Service name Netman
Description Manages objects in the Network and Dial-Up Connections folder, in which you can view both local area network and remote connections.
Installation Only with Desktop Experience
Startup type Manual
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

Network Connectivity Assistant

Name Description
Service name NcaSvc
Description Provides DirectAccess status notification for UI components
Installation Always installed
Startup type Manual
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

Network List Service

Name Description
Service name netprofm
Description Identifies the networks to which the computer has connected, collects and stores properties for these networks, and notifies applications when these properties change.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Manual
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

Network Location Awareness

Name Description
Service name NlaSvc
Description Collects and stores configuration information for the network and notifies programs when this information is modified. If this service is stopped, configuration information might be unavailable. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Automatic
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

Network Setup Service

Name Description
Service name NetSetupSvc
Description The Network Setup Service manages the installation of network drivers and permits the configuration of low-level network settings. If this service is stopped, any driver installations that are in-progress may be cancelled.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Manual
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

Network Store Interface Service

Name Description
Service name nsi
Description This service delivers network notifications (e.g. interface addition/deleting etc) to user mode clients. Stopping this service will cause loss of network connectivity. If this service is disabled, any other services that explicitly depend on this service will fail to start.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Automatic
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

Offline Files

Name Description
Service name CscService
Description The Offline Files service performs maintenance activities on the Offline Files cache, responds to user logon and logoff events, implements the internals of the public API, and dispatches interesting events to those interested in Offline Files activities and changes in cache state.
Installation Only with Desktop Experience
Startup type Disabled
Recommendation Already disabled
Comments None

Optimize drives

Name Description
Service name defragsvc
Description Helps the computer run more efficiently by optimizing files on storage drives.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Manual
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

Performance Counter DLL Host

Name Description
Service name PerfHost
Description Enables remote users and 64-bit processes to query performance counters provided by 32-bit DLLs. If this service is stopped, only local users and 32-bit processes will be able to query performance counters provided by 32-bit DLLs.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Manual
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

Performance Logs & Alerts

Name Description
Service name pla
Description Performance Logs and Alerts Collects performance data from local or remote computers based on preconfigured schedule parameters, then writes the data to a log or triggers an alert. If this service is stopped, performance information will not be collected. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Manual
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

Phone Service

Name Description
Service name PhoneSvc
Description Manages the telephony state on the device
Installation Only with Desktop Experience
Startup type Manual
Recommendation OK to disable
Comments Used by modern VoIP apps

Plug and Play

Name Description
Service name PlugPlay
Description Enables a computer to recognize and adapt to hardware changes with little or no user input. Stopping or disabling this service will result in system instability.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Manual
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

Portable Device Enumerator Service

Name Description
Service name WPDBusEnum
Description Enforces group policy for removable mass-storage devices. Enables applications such as Windows Media Player and Image Import Wizard to transfer and synchronize content using removable mass-storage devices.
Installation Only with Desktop Experience
Startup type Manual
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

Power

Name Description
Service name Power
Description Manages power policy and power policy notification delivery.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Automatic
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None
Name Description
Service name Spooler
Description This service spools print jobs and handles interaction with the printer. If you turn off this service, you won't be able to print or see your printers.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Automatic
Recommendation OK to disable if not a print server or a DC
Comments On a domain controller, the installation of the DC role adds a thread to the spooler service that is responsible for performing print pruning – removing the stale print queue objects from the Active Directory. If the spooler service is not running on at least one DC in each site, then the AD has no means to remove old queues that no longer exist. "Disabling Unnecessary Services? A Word to the Wise" - Microsoft Tech Community - Ask The Performance Team Blog.

Printer Extensions and Notifications

Name Description
Service name PrintNotify
Description This service opens custom printer dialog boxes and handles notifications from a remote print server or a printer. If you turn off this service, you won't be able to see printer extensions or notifications.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Manual
Recommendation OK to disable if not a print server
Comments None

Problem Reports and Solutions Control Panel Support

Name Description
Service name wercplsupport
Description This service provides support for viewing, sending and deletion of system-level problem reports for the Problem Reports and Solutions control panel.
Installation Only with Desktop Experience
Startup type Manual
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

Program Compatibility Assistant Service

Name Description
Service name PcaSvc
Description This service provides support for the Program Compatibility Assistant (PCA). PCA monitors programs installed and run by the user and detects known compatibility problems. If this service is stopped, PCA will not function properly.
Installation Only with Desktop Experience
Startup type Automatic
Recommendation OK to disable
Comments None

Quality Windows Audio Video Experience

Name Description
Service name QWAVE
Description Quality Windows Audio Video Experience (qWave) is a networking platform for Audio Video (AV) streaming applications on IP home networks. qWave enhances AV streaming performance and reliability by ensuring network quality-of-service (QoS) for AV applications. It provides mechanisms for admission control, run time monitoring and enforcement, application feedback, and traffic prioritization.
Installation Only with Desktop Experience
Startup type Manual
Recommendation OK to disable
Comments Client-side QoS service

Radio Management Service

Name Description
Service name RmSvc
Description Radio Management and Airplane Mode Service
Installation Only with Desktop Experience
Startup type Manual
Recommendation OK to disable
Comments None

Remote Access Auto Connection Manager

Name Description
Service name RasAuto
Description Creates a connection to a remote network whenever a program references a remote DNS or NetBIOS name or address.
Installation Only with Desktop Experience
Startup type Manual
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

Remote Access Connection Manager

Name Description
Service name RasMan
Description 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.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Manual
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

Remote Desktop Configuration

Name Description
Service name SessionEnv
Description Remote Desktop Configuration service (RDCS) is responsible for all Remote Desktop Services and Remote Desktop related configuration and session maintenance activities that require SYSTEM context. These include per-session temporary folders, RD themes, and RD certificates.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Manual
Recommendation Do not disable
Comments None

Remote Desktop Services

Name Description
Service name TermService
Description Allows users to connect interactively to a remote computer. Remote Desktop and Remote Desktop Session Host Server depend on this service. To prevent remote use of this computer, clear the checkboxes on the Remote tab of the System properties control panel item.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Manual
Recommendation Do not disable
Comments None

Remote Desktop Services UserMode Port Redirector

Name Description
Service name UmRdpService
Description Allows the redirection of Printers/Drives/Ports for RDP connections
Installation Always installed
Startup type Manual
Recommendation Do not disable
Comments Supports redirections on the server side of the connection.

Remote Procedure Call (RPC)

Name Description
Service name RpcSs
Description The RPCSS service is the Service Control Manager for COM and DCOM servers. It performs object activations requests, object exporter resolutions and distributed garbage collection for COM and DCOM servers. If this service is stopped or disabled, programs using COM or DCOM will not function properly. It is strongly recommended that you have the RPCSS service running.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Automatic
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

Remote Procedure Call (RPC) Locator

Name Description
Service name RpcLocator
Description In Windows 2003 and earlier versions of Windows, the Remote Procedure Call (RPC) Locator service manages the RPC name service database. In Windows Vista and later versions of Windows, this service does not provide any functionality and is present for application compatibility.
Installation Only with Desktop Experience
Startup type Manual
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

Remote Registry

Name Description
Service name RemoteRegistry
Description Enables remote users to modify registry settings on this computer. If this service is stopped, the registry can be modified only by users on this computer. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Automatic
Recommendation Do not disable
Comments None

Resultant Set of Policy Provider

Name Description
Service name RSoPProv
Description Provides a network service that processes requests to simulate application of Group Policy settings for a target user or computer in various situations and computes the Resultant Set of Policy settings.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Manual
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

Routing and Remote Access

Name Description
Service name RemoteAccess
Description Offers routing services to businesses in local area and wide area network environments.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Disabled
Recommendation Already disabled
Comments Already disabled

RPC Endpoint Mapper

Name Description
Service name RpcEptMapper
Description Resolves RPC interfaces identifiers to transport endpoints. If this service is stopped or disabled, programs using Remote Procedure Call (RPC) services will not function properly.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Automatic
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

Secondary Logon

Name Description
Service name seclogon
Description Enables starting processes under alternate credentials. If this service is stopped, this type of logon access will be unavailable. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Manual
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

Secure Socket Tunneling Protocol Service

Name Description
Service name SstpSvc
Description Provides support for the Secure Socket Tunneling Protocol (SSTP) to connect to remote computers using VPN. If this service is disabled, users will not be able to use SSTP to access remote servers.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Manual
Recommendation Do not disable
Comments Disabling breaks RRAS

Security Accounts Manager

Name Description
Service name SamSs
Description The startup of this service signals other services that the Security Accounts Manager (SAM) is ready to accept requests. Disabling this service will prevent other services in the system from being notified when the SAM is ready, which may in turn cause those services to fail to start correctly. This service should not be disabled.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Automatic
Recommendation Do not disable
Comments None

Sensor Data Service

Name Description
Service name SensorDataService
Description Delivers data from a variety of sensors
Installation Only with Desktop Experience
Startup type Manual
Recommendation OK to disable
Comments None

Sensor Monitoring Service

Name Description
Service name SensrSvc
Description Monitors various sensors in order to expose data and adapt to system and user state. If this service is stopped or disabled, the display brightness will not adapt to lighting conditions. Stopping this service may affect other system functionality and features as well.
Installation Only with Desktop Experience
Startup type Manual
Recommendation OK to disable
Comments None

Sensor Service

Name Description
Service name SensorService
Description A service for sensors that manages the functionality of different sensors. Manages Simple Device Orientation (SDO) and History for sensors. Loads the SDO sensor that reports device orientation changes. If this service is stopped or disabled, the SDO sensor will not be loaded and so auto-rotation will not occur. History collection from Sensors will also be stopped.
Installation Only with Desktop Experience
Startup type Manual
Recommendation OK to disable
Comments None

Server

Name Description
Service name LanmanServer
Description Supports file, print, and named-pipe sharing over the network for this computer. If this service is stopped, these functions will be unavailable. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Automatic
Recommendation Do not disable
Comments Needed for remote management, IPC$, SMB file sharing

Shell Hardware Detection

Name Description
Service name ShellHWDetection
Description Provides notifications for AutoPlay hardware events.
Installation Only with Desktop Experience
Startup type Automatic
Recommendation OK to disable
Comments None

Smart Card

Name Description
Service name SCardSvr
Description Manages access to smart cards read by this computer. If this service is stopped, this computer will be unable to read smart cards. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Disabled
Recommendation Already disabled
Comments None

Smart Card Device Enumeration Service

Name Description
Service name ScDeviceEnum
Description Creates software device nodes for all smart card readers accessible to a given session. If this service is disabled, WinRT APIs will not be able to enumerate smart card readers.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Manual
Recommendation OK to disable
Comments Needed almost exclusively for WinRT apps

Smart Card Removal Policy

Name Description
Service name SCPolicySvc
Description Allows the system to be configured to lock the user desktop upon smart card removal.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Manual
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

SNMP Trap

Name Description
Service name SNMPTRAP
Description Receives trap messages generated by local or remote Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) agents and forwards the messages to SNMP management programs running on this computer. If this service is stopped, SNMP-based programs on this computer will not receive SNMP trap messages. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Manual
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

Software Protection

Name Description
Service name sppsvc
Description Enables the download, installation and enforcement of digital licenses for Windows and Windows applications. If the service is disabled, the operating system and licensed applications may run in a notification mode. It is strongly recommended that you not disable the Software Protection service.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Automatic
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

Special Administration Console Helper

Name Description
Service name sacsvr
Description Allows administrators to remotely access a command prompt using Emergency Management Services.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Manual
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

Spot Verifier

Name Description
Service name svsvc
Description Verifies potential file system corruptions.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Manual
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

SSDP Discovery

Name Description
Service name SSDPSRV
Description Discovers networked devices and services that use the SSDP discovery protocol, such as UPnP devices. Also announces SSDP devices and services running on the local computer. If this service is stopped, SSDP-based devices will not be discovered. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
Installation Only with Desktop Experience
Startup type Manual
Recommendation OK to disable
Comments None

State Repository Service

Name Description
Service name StateRepository
Description Provides required infrastructure support for the application model.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Manual
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

Still Image Acquisition Events

Name Description
Service name WiaRpc
Description Launches applications associated with still image acquisition events.
Installation Only with Desktop Experience
Startup type Manual
Recommendation OK to disable
Comments None

Storage Service

Name Description
Service name StorSvc
Description Provides enabling services for storage settings and external storage expansion
Installation Only with Desktop Experience
Startup type Manual
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

Storage Tiers Management

Name Description
Service name TieringEngineService
Description Optimizes the placement of data in storage tiers on all tiered storage spaces in the system.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Manual
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

Superfetch

Name Description
Service name SysMain
Description Maintains and improves system performance over time.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Manual
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

Sync Host

Name Description
Service name OneSyncSvc
Description This service synchronizes mail, contacts, calendar and various other user data. Mail and other applications dependent on this functionality will not work properly when this service is not running.
Installation Only with Desktop Experience
Startup type Automatic
Recommendation OK to disable
Comments User service template

System Event Notification Service

Name Description
Service name SENS
Description Monitors system events and notifies subscribers to COM+ Event System of these events.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Automatic
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

System Events Broker

Name Description
Service name SystemEventsBroker
Description Coordinates execution of background work for WinRT application. If this service is stopped or disabled, then background work might not be triggered.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Automatic
Recommendation Do not disable
Comments In spite of the fact that its description implies it is only for WinRT apps, it's needed for task scheduler, broker infrastructure service, and other internal components.

Task Scheduler

Name Description
Service name Schedule
Description Enables a user to configure and schedule automated tasks on this computer. The service also hosts multiple Windows system-critical tasks. If this service is stopped or disabled, these tasks will not be run at their scheduled times. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Automatic
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper

Name Description
Service name lmhosts
Description Provides support for the NetBIOS over TCP/IP (NetBT) service and NetBIOS name resolution for clients on the network, therefore enabling users to share files, print, and log on to the network. If this service is stopped, these functions might be unavailable. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Manual
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

Telephony

Name Description
Service name TapiSrv
Description Provides Telephony API (TAPI) support for programs that control telephony devices on the local computer and, through the LAN, on servers that are also running the service.
Installation Only with Desktop Experience
Startup type Manual
Recommendation Do not disable
Comments Disabling breaks RRAS

Themes

Name Description
Service name Themes
Description Provides user experience theme management.
Installation Only with Desktop Experience
Startup type Automatic
Recommendation Do not disable
Comments Can't set accessibility themes when this service is disabled

Tile Data model server

Name Description
Service name tiledatamodelsvc
Description Tile Server for tile updates.
Installation Only with Desktop Experience
Startup type Automatic
Recommendation Do not disable
Comments Start menu breaks if this service is disabled

Time Broker

Name Description
Service name TimeBrokerSvc
Description Coordinates execution of background work for WinRT application. If this service is stopped or disabled, then background work might not be triggered.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Manual
Recommendation Do not disable
Comments In spite of the fact that its description implies it is only for WinRT apps, it's needed for task scheduler, broker infrastructure service, and other internal components.

Touch Keyboard and Handwriting Panel Service

Name Description
Service name TabletInputService
Description Enables Touch Keyboard and Handwriting Panel pen and ink functionality
Installation Only with Desktop Experience
Startup type Manual
Recommendation OK to disable
Comments None

Update Orchestrator Service for Windows Update

Name Description
Service name UsoSvc
Description Manages Windows Updates. If stopped, your devices will not be able to download and install latest updates.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Manual
Recommendation Do not disable
Comments Service description was missing in v1607; Windows Update (incl. WSUS) depends on this service.

UPnP Device Host

Name Description
Service name upnphost
Description Allows UPnP devices to be hosted on this computer. If this service is stopped, any hosted UPnP devices will stop functioning and no additional hosted devices can be added. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
Installation Only with Desktop Experience
Startup type Manual
Recommendation OK to disable
Comments None

User Access Logging Service

Name Description
Service name UALSVC
Description This service logs unique client access requests, in the form of IP addresses and user names, of installed products and roles on the local server. This information can be queried, via Powershell, by administrators needing to quantify client demand of server software for offline Client Access License (CAL) management. If the service is disabled, client requests will not be logged and will not be retrievable via Powershell queries. Stopping the service will not affect query of historical data (see supporting documentation for steps to delete historical data). The local system administrator must consult his, or her, Windows Server license terms to determine the number of CALs that are required for the server software to be appropriately licensed; use of the UAL service and data does not alter this obligation.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Automatic
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

User Data Access

Name Description
Service name UserDataSvc
Description Provides apps access to structured user data, including contact info, calendars, messages, and other content. If you stop or disable this service, apps that use this data might not work correctly.
Installation Only with Desktop Experience
Startup type Manual
Recommendation OK to disable
Comments User service template

User Data Storage

Name Description
Service name UnistoreSvc
Description Handles storage of structured user data, including contact info, calendars, messages, and other content. If you stop or disable this service, apps that use this data might not work correctly.
Installation Only with Desktop Experience
Startup type Manual
Recommendation OK to disable
Comments User service template

User Experience Virtualization Service

Name Description
Service name UevAgentService
Description Provides support for application and OS settings roaming
Installation Only with Desktop Experience
Startup type Disabled
Recommendation Already disabled
Comments None

User Manager

Name Description
Service name UserManager
Description User Manager provides the runtime components required for multi-user interaction. If this service is stopped, some applications may not operate correctly.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Automatic
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

User Profile Service

Name Description
Service name ProfSvc
Description This service is responsible for loading and unloading user profiles. If this service is stopped or disabled, users will no longer be able to successfully sign in or sign out, apps might have problems getting to users' data, and components registered to receive profile event notifications won't receive them.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Automatic
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

Virtual Disk

Name Description
Service name vds
Description Provides management services for disks, volumes, file systems, and storage arrays.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Manual
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

Volume Shadow Copy

Name Description
Service name VSS
Description Manages and implements Volume Shadow Copies used for backup and other purposes. If this service is stopped, shadow copies will be unavailable for backup and the backup may fail. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Manual
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

WalletService

Name Description
Service name WalletService
Description Hosts objects used by clients of the wallet
Installation Only with Desktop Experience
Startup type Manual
Recommendation OK to disable
Comments None

Windows Audio

Name Description
Service name Audiosrv
Description Manages audio for Windows-based programs. If this service is stopped, audio devices and effects will not function properly. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start
Installation Only with Desktop Experience
Startup type Manual
Recommendation OK to disable
Comments None

Windows Audio Endpoint Builder

Name Description
Service name AudioEndpointBuilder
Description Manages audio devices for the Windows Audio service. If this service is stopped, audio devices and effects will not function properly. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start
Installation Only with Desktop Experience
Startup type Manual
Recommendation OK to disable
Comments None

Windows Biometric Service

Name Description
Service name WbioSrvc
Description 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.
Installation Only with Desktop Experience
Startup type Manual
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

Windows Camera Frame Server

Name Description
Service name FrameServer
Description Enables multiple clients to access video frames from camera devices.
Installation Only with Desktop Experience
Startup type Manual
Recommendation OK to disable
Comments None

Windows Connection Manager

Name Description
Service name Wcmsvc
Description Makes automatic connect/disconnect decisions based on the network connectivity options currently available to the PC and enables management of network connectivity based on Group Policy settings.
Installation Only with Desktop Experience
Startup type Automatic
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

Windows Defender Network Inspection Service

Name Description
Service name WdNisSvc
Description Helps guard against intrusion attempts targeting known and newly discovered vulnerabilities in network protocols
Installation Always installed
Startup type Manual
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

Windows Defender Service

Name Description
Service name WinDefend
Description Helps protect users from malware and other potentially unwanted software
Installation Always installed
Startup type Automatic
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

Windows Driver Foundation - User-mode Driver Framework

Name Description
Service name wudfsvc
Description Creates and manages user-mode driver processes. This service cannot be stopped.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Manual
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

Windows Encryption Provider Host Service

Name Description
Service name WEPHOSTSVC
Description Windows Encryption Provider Host Service brokers encryption related functionalities from third-party Encryption Providers to processes that need to evaluate and apply EAS policies. Stopping this will compromise EAS compliancy checks that have been established by the connected Mail Accounts
Installation Only with Desktop Experience
Startup type Manual
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

Windows Error Reporting Service

Name Description
Service name WerSvc
Description Allows errors to be reported when programs stop working or responding and allows existing solutions to be delivered. Also allows logs to be generated for diagnostic and repair services. If this service is stopped, error reporting might not work correctly and results of diagnostic services and repairs might not be displayed.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Manual
Recommendation Do not disable
Comments Collects and sends crash/hang data used by both MS and third party ISVs/IHVs. The data is used to diagnose crash-inducing bugs, which may include security bugs. Also needed for Corporate Error Reporting

Windows Event Collector

Name Description
Service name Wecsvc
Description This service manages persistent subscriptions to events from remote sources that support WS-Management protocol. This includes Windows Vista event logs, hardware and IPMI-enabled event sources. The service stores forwarded events in a local Event Log. If this service is stopped or disabled event subscriptions cannot be created and forwarded events cannot be accepted.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Manual
Recommendation Do not disable
Comments Collects ETW events (including security events) for manageability, diagnostics. Lots of features and third-party tools rely on it, including security audit tools

Windows Event Log

Name Description
Service name EventLog
Description This service manages events and event logs. It supports logging events, querying events, subscribing to events, archiving event logs, and managing event metadata. It can display events in both XML and plain text format. Stopping this service may compromise security and reliability of the system.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Automatic
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

Windows Firewall

Name Description
Service name MpsSvc
Description Windows Firewall helps protect your computer by preventing unauthorized users from gaining access to your computer through the Internet or a network.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Automatic
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

Windows Font Cache Service

Name Description
Service name FontCache
Description Optimizes performance of applications by caching commonly used font data. Applications will start this service if it is not already running. It can be disabled, though doing so will degrade application performance.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Automatic
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

Windows Image Acquisition (WIA)

Name Description
Service name stisvc
Description Provides image acquisition services for scanners and cameras
Installation Only with Desktop Experience
Startup type Manual
Recommendation OK to disable
Comments None

Windows Insider Service

Name Description
Service name wisvc
Description wisvc
Installation Always installed
Startup type Manual
Recommendation OK to disable
Comments Server doesn't support flighting, so it's a no-op on Server. Feature can be disabled via GP as well.

Windows Installer

Name Description
Service name msiserver
Description Adds, modifies, and removes applications provided as a Windows Installer (*.msi, *.msp) package. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Manual
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

Windows License Manager Service

Name Description
Service name LicenseManager
Description Provides infrastructure support for the Microsoft Store. This service is started on demand and if disabled then content acquired through the Microsoft Store will not function properly.
Installation Only with Desktop Experience
Startup type Manual
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

Windows Management Instrumentation

Name Description
Service name Winmgmt
Description Provides a common interface and object model to access management information about operating system, devices, applications and services. If this service is stopped, most Windows-based software will not function properly. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Automatic
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

Windows Mobile Hotspot Service

Name Description
Service name icssvc
Description Provides the ability to share a cellular data connection with another device.
Installation Only with Desktop Experience
Startup type Manual
Recommendation OK to disable
Comments None

Windows Modules Installer

Name Description
Service name TrustedInstaller
Description Enables installation, modification, and removal of Windows updates and optional components. If this service is disabled, install or uninstall of Windows updates might fail for this computer.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Manual
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

Windows Push Notifications System Service

Name Description
Service name WpnService
Description This service runs in session 0 and hosts the notification platform and connection provider which handles the connection between the device and WNS server.
Installation Only with Desktop Experience
Startup type Automatic
Recommendation OK to disable
Comments Needed for live tiles and other features

Windows Push Notifications User Service

Name Description
Service name WpnUserService
Description This service hosts Windows notification platform which provides support for local and push notifications. Supported notifications are tile, toast and raw.
Installation Only with Desktop Experience
Startup type Manual
Recommendation OK to disable
Comments User service template

Windows Remote Management (WS-Management)

Name Description
Service name WinRM
Description Windows Remote Management (WinRM) service implements the WS-Management protocol for remote management. WS-Management is a standard web services protocol used for remote software and hardware management. The WinRM service listens on the network for WS-Management requests and processes them. The WinRM Service needs to be configured with a listener using winrm.cmd command line tool or through Group Policy in order for it to listen over the network. The WinRM service provides access to WMI data and enables event collection. Event collection and subscription to events require that the service is running. WinRM messages use HTTP and HTTPS as transports. The WinRM service does not depend on IIS but is preconfigured to share a port with IIS on the same machine. The WinRM service reserves the /wsman URL prefix. To prevent conflicts with IIS, administrators should ensure that any websites hosted on IIS do not use the /wsman URL prefix.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Automatic
Recommendation Do not disable
Comments Needed for remote management
Name Description
Service name WSearch
Description Provides content indexing, property caching, and search results for files, e-mail, and other content.
Installation Only with Desktop Experience
Startup type Disabled
Recommendation Already disabled
Comments None

Windows Time

Name Description
Service name W32Time
Description Maintains date and time synchronization on all clients and servers in the network. If this service is stopped, date and time synchronization will be unavailable. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Automatic
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

Windows Update

Name Description
Service name wuauserv
Description Enables the detection, download, and installation of updates for Windows and other programs. If this service is disabled, users of this computer will not be able to use Windows Update or its automatic updating feature, and programs will not be able to use the Windows Update Agent (WUA) API.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Manual
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

WinHTTP Web Proxy Auto-Discovery Service

Name Description
Service name WinHttpAutoProxySvc
Description WinHTTP implements the client HTTP stack and provides developers with a Win32 API and COM Automation component for sending HTTP requests and receiving responses. In addition, WinHTTP provides support for auto-discovering a proxy configuration via its implementation of the Web Proxy Auto-Discovery (WPAD) protocol.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Manual
Recommendation Do not disable
Comments Anything that uses the network stack can have a functional dependency on this service. Many organizations rely on this to configure their internal networks' HTTP proxy routing. Without it, internally-originating HTTP connections to the Internet will all fail.

Wired AutoConfig

Name Description
Service name dot3svc
Description The Wired AutoConfig (DOT3SVC) service is responsible for performing IEEE 802.1X authentication on Ethernet interfaces. If your current wired network deployment enforces 802.1X authentication, the DOT3SVC service should be configured to run for establishing Layer 2 connectivity and/or providing access to network resources. Wired networks that do not enforce 802.1X authentication are unaffected by the DOT3SVC service.
Installation Only with Desktop Experience
Startup type Manual
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

WMI Performance Adapter

Name Description
Service name wmiApSrv
Description Provides performance library information from Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) providers to clients on the network. This service only runs when Performance Data Helper is activated.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Manual
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

Workstation

Name Description
Service name LanmanWorkstation
Description Creates and maintains client network connections to remote servers using the SMB protocol. If this service is stopped, these connections will be unavailable. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
Installation Always installed
Startup type Automatic
Recommendation No guidance
Comments None

Xbox Live Auth Manager

Name Description
Service name XblAuthManager
Description Provides authentication and authorization services for interacting with Xbox Live. If this service is stopped, some applications may not operate correctly.
Installation Only with Desktop Experience
Startup type Manual
Recommendation Should be disabled
Comments None

Xbox Live Game Save

Name Description
Service name XblGameSave
Description 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.
Installation Only with Desktop Experience
Startup type Manual
Recommendation Should be disabled
Comments 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.