A lot of junk processes in memory


Anixx

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Windows 11
Under W11 there are a lot of unneeded processes in memory, how can I get rid of them?

* smartscreen.exe (smartscreen is disabled)

* SearchHost.exe (indexing is disabled)

* GameBarPresenceWriter.exe

* StartMenuExperienceHost.exe

* ShellExperienceHost.exe

* SystemSettings.exe

* SystemSettingsBroker.exe

* fontdrvhost.exe (font indexing is disabled)

* TextInputHost.exe

* Several instances of RuntimeBroker.exe

* Several instances of taskhostw.exe

How can I get rid of them?
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
Get used to it. Expect to see this trend as OS's develop and morph. Don't like it, well drop back to an earlier version of Windows or some other OS.

I am not a MAC user but I doubt they show you all this information. Their view is the user should not be concerned about what is happening in the background.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP / Spectre x360 Convertible 13
    CPU
    i5-8250U
    Motherboard
    83B9 56.50
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel(R) UHD Graphics 620
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition Audio(SST)
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    Toshiba 256GB SSD
    Internet Speed
    500Mbps
    Browser
    Firefox, Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
Use Process Explorer as admin, try to kill or suspend any of these processes and see if your Win still runs fine.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    W10 Enterprise LTSC
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    custom
    CPU
    i7-2700K
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-P67A-D3-B3
    Memory
    24GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    MSI GeForce RTX2060 Super
    Sound Card
    onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung curved
    Screen Resolution
    FHD
    Hard Drives
    Samsung EVO870 SSD 1TB
    Seagate Barracuda HDD 8TB
    PSU
    be quiet 550W
    Case
    CoolerMaster
    Cooling
    be quiet PURE ROCK SLIM BK008
    Keyboard
    KLIM Domination k852
    Mouse
    Logitech standard cordless
    Internet Speed
    10/1 DSL (the fastest line speed available here...)
    Browser
    Mozilla FF 91.2.0esr
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    W10 GUI heavily modified with Stardock Blinds "7 for 10" skin and Startmenu.
    No MS Account and no MS apps.
    I upgraded to W10 only for gaming purposes, otherwise I'd kept my beloved W7 Ultimate x64
  • Operating System
    W11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    custom
    CPU
    Intel Core i5-2500
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte PH67A-D3-B3
    Memory
    4GB
    Graphics card(s)
    MSI Geforce 1050Ti
    Sound Card
    onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    FujitsuSiemens 19"
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024 (oldschool 4:3)
    Hard Drives
    Samsung EVO850 SSD 250GB + Samsung 1TB HDD
    PSU
    be quiet 550W
    Case
    Mars MCNW ATX Gaming
    Cooling
    be quiet PURE ROCK SLIM BK008
    Mouse
    oldschool Dell optical wired
    Keyboard
    Dell German 102
    Internet Speed
    slow DSL, 10/1Mbps, but thats the best offer here
    Browser
    Mozilla 91.2.0esr
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    This is an older PC for testing new OS,
    Furthermore: 4 Dell/HP laptops on Win7 Ultimate x64, used for NAS, Media server, browsing, workshop and sound studio
Use Process Explorer as admin, try to kill or suspend any of these processes and see if your Win still runs fine.
This tutorial TextInputHost.exe — что это за процесс? (Windows 10, Text Input Host) says the process is responsible for touchscreen keyboard. But I have no touchscreen! Why does Microsoft think that everybody is using phones for computers? Cannot is access the Device Manager to verify what devices are installed?!

The tutorial says that on Win10 the process can be disabled by disabling the touchscreen keyboard service. But I have this service already disabled! The process takes 32 MB of memory, 4 times greater than the whole Windows 2000.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
Use Process Explorer as admin, try to kill or suspend any of these processes and see if your Win still runs fine.
Of course, all runs fine! But how to disable them? Once I kill it, it restarts.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
Every process is started from the services page - Windows key + X -> Computer Management -> Services and Applications ->Services.

There are two stages under Status - Running or empty (not running)
There are four stages under startup type - Automatic (Delayed Start), Automatic, Manual, Disabled.

Find the service you want to stop indicated by Process Explorer for instance.

Stop the service and set the startup type to Disabled - This will prevent the service from starting. Test your system thoroughly and please keep a list of the destruction. If your system starts misbehaving reset the last service you disabled.

Another place to Look at is the startup - Windows key - type in "startup" - and pick startup apps.

On YouTube look for Christ Titus Tech - he went over this in detail. Of course, everything depends on the computer you have and the functions you will be using, and also what version of the OS you are running (Home/Pro/Enterprise).

Remember to keep notes and create restore points. Good luck, you got this.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell - XPS17 9710
    CPU
    i9 11900H
    Memory
    32Gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    RTX 3060 6Gb Laptop
    Monitor(s) Displays
    32 Inch LG 4K
    Hard Drives
    2 x 1Tb
    Mouse
    MX Master 3
    Browser
    Edge
Get used to it. Expect to see this trend as OS's develop and morph. Don't like it, well drop back to an earlier version of Windows or some other OS.

I am not a MAC user but I doubt they show you all this information. Their view is the user should not be concerned about what is happening in the background.
Sorry to say, it is obvious that you are not a Mac User but we still love you - lol
The MacBook / Unix processes can be easily identified by such applications as "top" and or the activity monitor. There are also still startup apps and this can be manipulated by the end user. The only thing is that one needs to be a little more careful as these services are nested.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell - XPS17 9710
    CPU
    i9 11900H
    Memory
    32Gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    RTX 3060 6Gb Laptop
    Monitor(s) Displays
    32 Inch LG 4K
    Hard Drives
    2 x 1Tb
    Mouse
    MX Master 3
    Browser
    Edge
If the services or programs are not being used and there is memory pressure, their memory pages will get freed for active processes, so in reality, they will have litttle to no impact.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    DIY Photoshop/Game/tinker build
    CPU
    Intel i9 1300KS
    Motherboard
    Asus ROG Maximus Z90 Dark Hero
    Memory
    64GB (2x32) G.skill Trident Z5 RGB 6400 MHZ 32-39-39
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus ROG Strix 4070 Ti OC
    Sound Card
    Onboard Audio, Vanatoo Transparent One; Klipsch R-12SWi Sub; Creative Pebble Pro Minimilist
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Eizo CG2730, ViewSonic VP2768
    Screen Resolution
    2560 x 1440p x 2
    Hard Drives
    WDC SN850 1TB nvme, SK-Hynix 2 TB P41 nvme, Raid 0: 1TB 850 EVO + 1TB 860 EVO SSD. Sabrent USB-C DS-SC5B 5-bay docking station: 6TB WDC Black, 6TB Ironwolf Pro; 2x 2TB WDC Black
    PSU
    850W Seasonic Vertex PX-850
    Case
    Fractal Design North XL Mesh, Black Walnut
    Cooling
    EKWB 360 Nucleus Dark AIO w/Phanteks T30-120 fans, 1 Noctua NF-A14 Chromax case fan
    Keyboard
    Glorious GMMK TKL mechanical, lubed modded
    Mouse
    Logitech G305 wireless gaming
    Internet Speed
    380 Mb/s down, 12 Mb/s up
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender, Macrium Reflect 8 ;-)
  • Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Apple 13" Macbook Pro 2020 (m1)
    CPU
    Apple M1
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1600
    Browser
    Firefox
If the services or programs are not being used and there is memory pressure, their memory pages will get freed for active processes, so in reality, they will have litttle to no impact.
Since Windows 8.1 I noticed that disabling pagefile increases performance A LOT, but also may lead to "out of memory" when playing games and having a browser opened. So, my aim is to reduce the number of any processes that take memory, even if they get normally suspended to the pagefile for inactivity.

Also, I simply do not understand, why do I need those touchscreen processes running if I simply have no touchscreen. They cannot be useful under any, even hypothetical circumstances.
I understand that this version of Windows developed from the one which was intended for touchpads, where the touch keyboard should be available as a necessity under all circumstances, so disabling this service is not allowed (and that is right), but my computer is not a touchpad!

And for the same reason I do not use the dock but use the taskbar with Explorer Patcher.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
Since Windows 8.1 I noticed that disabling pagefile increases performance A LOT, but also may lead to "out of memory" when playing games and having a browser opened. So, my aim is to reduce the number of any processes that take memory, even if they get normally suspended to the pagefile for inactivity.

Also, I simply do not understand, why do I need those touchscreen processes running if I simply have no touchscreen. They cannot be useful under any, even hypothetical circumstances.
I understand that this version of Windows developed from the one which was intended for touchpads, where the touch keyboard should be available as a necessity under all circumstances, so disabling this service is not allowed (and that is right), but my computer is not a touchpad!

And for the same reason I do not use the dock but use the taskbar with Explorer Patcher.

Only "dirty" memory pages should get written to a pagefile. If a disabled process gets started, none of the pages will be modified. Then no dirty pages - if memory is needed, these pages can simply be freed for other use. At least that is the way I beleive it should behave,

I agree with you; why should these programs and processes even be there if you disabled them or are using a desktop? For one thing it is more clutter you have to sort through if you need to look at processes, etc.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    DIY Photoshop/Game/tinker build
    CPU
    Intel i9 1300KS
    Motherboard
    Asus ROG Maximus Z90 Dark Hero
    Memory
    64GB (2x32) G.skill Trident Z5 RGB 6400 MHZ 32-39-39
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus ROG Strix 4070 Ti OC
    Sound Card
    Onboard Audio, Vanatoo Transparent One; Klipsch R-12SWi Sub; Creative Pebble Pro Minimilist
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Eizo CG2730, ViewSonic VP2768
    Screen Resolution
    2560 x 1440p x 2
    Hard Drives
    WDC SN850 1TB nvme, SK-Hynix 2 TB P41 nvme, Raid 0: 1TB 850 EVO + 1TB 860 EVO SSD. Sabrent USB-C DS-SC5B 5-bay docking station: 6TB WDC Black, 6TB Ironwolf Pro; 2x 2TB WDC Black
    PSU
    850W Seasonic Vertex PX-850
    Case
    Fractal Design North XL Mesh, Black Walnut
    Cooling
    EKWB 360 Nucleus Dark AIO w/Phanteks T30-120 fans, 1 Noctua NF-A14 Chromax case fan
    Keyboard
    Glorious GMMK TKL mechanical, lubed modded
    Mouse
    Logitech G305 wireless gaming
    Internet Speed
    380 Mb/s down, 12 Mb/s up
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender, Macrium Reflect 8 ;-)
  • Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Apple 13" Macbook Pro 2020 (m1)
    CPU
    Apple M1
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1600
    Browser
    Firefox
How can I get rid of them?
You can use brute force and remove them, it will break some functionality and they might return after an update.
Code:
takeown /s %computername% /u %username% /f "%WinDir%\System32\smartscreen.exe"
icacls "%WinDir%\System32\smartscreen.exe" /grant:r %username%:F
taskkill /im smartscreen.exe /f
del "%WinDir%\System32\smartscreen.exe" /s /f /q

takeown /s %computername% /u %username% /f "%WINDIR%\SystemApps\MicrosoftWindows.Client.CBS_cw5n1h2txyewy\SearchHost.exe"
icacls "%WINDIR%\SystemApps\MicrosoftWindows.Client.CBS_cw5n1h2txyewy\SearchHost.exe" /inheritance:r /grant:r %username%:F
taskkill /im SearchHost.exe /f
del "%WINDIR%\SystemApps\MicrosoftWindows.Client.CBS_cw5n1h2txyewy\SearchHost.exe" /s /f /q
* GameBarPresenceWriter.exe
If you uninstall game bar, it might disappear.
Code:
winget uninstall "xbox game bar"
winget uninstall "xbox game bar plugin"
winget uninstall "xbox game speech window"

StartMenuExperienceHost.exe
That is Start, if you remove it, it might break taskbar as well.
* SystemSettings.exe
* SystemSettingsBroker.exe
That is Settings, the new Control Panel, it should close, once you close Settings.
ShellExperienceHost.exe
It handles all UWP apps, Start, Settings and apps like that included. Fairly needed.
* fontdrvhost.exe
Windows Font Cache Service
* TextInputHost.exe
TabletInputService and related settings in Typing
* Several instances of RuntimeBroker.exe
Each process is responsible for a single UWP app, like Start, Settings, etc.
capture_10222021_234238.jpg
* Several instances of taskhostw.exe
TaskScheduler and display running tasks. Disable at will. Usually there are 3 running nonstop.
Note that CtfMonitor task is required to be able to search/type within UWP apps like Settings.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Home
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 5 3600 & No fTPM (07/19)
    Motherboard
    MSI B450 TOMAHAWK 7C02v1E & IFX TPM (07/19)
    Memory
    4x 8GB ADATA XPG GAMMIX D10 DDR4 3200MHz CL16
    Graphics Card(s)
    MSI Radeon RX 580 ARMOR 8G OC @48FPS (08/19)
    Sound Card
    Creative Sound Blaster Z (11/16)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    24" AOC G2460VQ6 (01/19)
    Screen Resolution
    1920×1080@75Hz & FreeSync (DisplayPort)
    Hard Drives
    ADATA XPG GAMMIX S11 Pro SSD 512GB (07/19)
    PSU
    Seasonic M12II-520 80 Plus Bronze (11/16)
    Case
    Lian Li PC-7NB & 3x Noctua NF-S12A FLX@700rpm (11/16)
    Cooling
    CPU Cooler Noctua NH-U12S@700rpm (07/19)
    Keyboard
    HP Wired Desktop 320K + Rabalux 76017 Parker (01/24)
    Mouse
    Logitech M330 Silent Plus (04/23)
    Internet Speed
    400/40 Mbps via RouterOS (05/21) & TCP Optimizer
    Browser
    Edge (No FB/Google) & Brave for YouTube & LibreWolf for FB
    Antivirus
    NoAV & Binisoft WFC & NextDNS
    Other Info
    Headphones: Sennheiser RS170 (09/10)
    Phone: Samsung Galaxy Xcover 7 (02/24)
If you uninstall game bar, it might disappear.
My system does not know, what is "winget" (neither cmd, nor powershell).

That is Start, if you remove it, it might break taskbar as well.
I use OpenShell and Explorer Patcher.

That is Settings, the new Control Panel, it should close, once you close Settings.
It does not.

Windows Font Cache Service
I have disabled font cache service, why does it run then?
It was slowing down my computer A LOT on Win8.1, but there if I disabled it, it did not load.

TabletInputService and related settings in Typing
My computer is not a tablet!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
Also, I simply do not understand, why do I need those touchscreen processes running if I simply have no touchscreen. They cannot be useful under any, even hypothetical circumstances.
I'm baffled why you are seeing this as well. I've checked several of my computers, two running Windows 11. None of them show the touchscreen or pen processes running on any machine. Where are you looking for this information? Are you looking at Services and misunderstanding processes that are listed vs the ones that are actually running?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    PowerSpec G435
    CPU
    i7-10700K
    Motherboard
    ASRock Z490 Phantom Gaming 4/ax
    Memory
    64GB DDR4
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA Geforce RTX 2070 Super
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell S3220DGF
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB WDC .M2 Nvme SSD
    4TB Samsung 870 SSD
    PSU
    750 Watt Gold
    Case
    Lian Li ATX 205
    Cooling
    Thermal-Take Water Cooled CPU
    Keyboard
    Corsair K70 RGB
    Mouse
    Razer Basilisk X
    Internet Speed
    Gigabit
    Browser
    Brave
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
I'm baffled why you are seeing this as well. I've checked several of my computers, two running Windows 11. None of them show the touchscreen or pen processes running on any machine. Where are you looking for this information? Are you looking at Services and misunderstanding processes that are listed vs the ones that are actually running?
I am looking in Task Manager.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
As for TabletInputService, maybe those policies stop it?
Code:
reg add "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Input" /v "IsInputAppPreloadEnabled" /t REG_DWORD /d "0" /f
reg add "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Input\TIPC" /v "Enabled" /t REG_DWORD /d "0" /f
sc config TabletInputService start= disabled
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Home
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 5 3600 & No fTPM (07/19)
    Motherboard
    MSI B450 TOMAHAWK 7C02v1E & IFX TPM (07/19)
    Memory
    4x 8GB ADATA XPG GAMMIX D10 DDR4 3200MHz CL16
    Graphics Card(s)
    MSI Radeon RX 580 ARMOR 8G OC @48FPS (08/19)
    Sound Card
    Creative Sound Blaster Z (11/16)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    24" AOC G2460VQ6 (01/19)
    Screen Resolution
    1920×1080@75Hz & FreeSync (DisplayPort)
    Hard Drives
    ADATA XPG GAMMIX S11 Pro SSD 512GB (07/19)
    PSU
    Seasonic M12II-520 80 Plus Bronze (11/16)
    Case
    Lian Li PC-7NB & 3x Noctua NF-S12A FLX@700rpm (11/16)
    Cooling
    CPU Cooler Noctua NH-U12S@700rpm (07/19)
    Keyboard
    HP Wired Desktop 320K + Rabalux 76017 Parker (01/24)
    Mouse
    Logitech M330 Silent Plus (04/23)
    Internet Speed
    400/40 Mbps via RouterOS (05/21) & TCP Optimizer
    Browser
    Edge (No FB/Google) & Brave for YouTube & LibreWolf for FB
    Antivirus
    NoAV & Binisoft WFC & NextDNS
    Other Info
    Headphones: Sennheiser RS170 (09/10)
    Phone: Samsung Galaxy Xcover 7 (02/24)
My system does not know, what is "winget" (neither cmd, nor powershell).

When you open PowerShell and type winget you get nothing found? I thought it was installed on any Windows 11 machine. How did you install Windows 11?

Code:
❯ winget
Windows Package Manager v1.1.12663
Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

The winget command line utility enables installing applications and other packages from the command line.

usage: winget [<command>] [<options>]

The following commands are available:
  install    Installs the given package
  show       Shows information about a package
  source     Manage sources of packages
  search     Find and show basic info of packages
  list       Display installed packages
  upgrade    Upgrades the given package
  uninstall  Uninstalls the given package
  hash       Helper to hash installer files
  validate   Validates a manifest file
  settings   Open settings or set administrator settings
  features   Shows the status of experimental features
  export     Exports a list of the installed packages
  import     Installs all the packages in a file

For more details on a specific command, pass it the help argument. [-?]

The following options are available:
  -v,--version  Display the version of the tool
  --info        Display general info of the tool

More help can be found at: https://aka.ms/winget-command-help
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    PowerSpec G435
    CPU
    i7-10700K
    Motherboard
    ASRock Z490 Phantom Gaming 4/ax
    Memory
    64GB DDR4
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA Geforce RTX 2070 Super
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell S3220DGF
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB WDC .M2 Nvme SSD
    4TB Samsung 870 SSD
    PSU
    750 Watt Gold
    Case
    Lian Li ATX 205
    Cooling
    Thermal-Take Water Cooled CPU
    Keyboard
    Corsair K70 RGB
    Mouse
    Razer Basilisk X
    Internet Speed
    Gigabit
    Browser
    Brave
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
As for TabletInputService, maybe those policies stop it?
Code:
reg add "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Input" /v "IsInputAppPreloadEnabled" /t REG_DWORD /d "0" /f
reg add "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Input\TIPC" /v "Enabled" /t REG_DWORD /d "0" /f
sc config TabletInputService start= disabled
I did, it reported success...
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11

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