Having processes running is an unavoidable part of using Windows. Some are essential for the smooth running of the OS and should be left alone. Others represent apps or services that don't need to be running and can be ended safely.

Ending even a few resource-hungry processes can really help improve PC performance.

How Many Processes Should Be Running?

That's a bit like asking, "how long is a piece of string?". There is no correct amount of processes to aim for. It all depends on how Windows is configured, how many apps you have installed, and how many system services you use.

Processes are basically programs being executed. Some apps require a single process to work, while others might generate several. You could see 70 or 80 processes running immediately after boot, or you could see 200. The longer you use a computer, the more processes will be added. As you can see in the image below, one of our computers has 285 processes running after a few hours of normal use.

The Performance tab in task manager

The thing to remember is that when it comes to processes, less is always better. Fewer running processes means less drain on system resources, including memory, disk usage, and network bandwidth.

A good way to reduce the number of processes that run on startup is to disable unnecessary startup apps. There are probably apps in the startup folder that you have completely forgotten about and rarely use. This also has the added benefit of helping your computer boot faster.

You can easily generate a list of the processes that are running at any time. This can help you keep track of what is being added over time.

Windows Processes You Can End Safely

Ending processes is easy. Open the Task Manager, select the Processes tab and then click the top of the Process Name column. This sorts them into alphabetical order. When you find a process you want to end, right-click it and choose End Process.

1. Calculator - Calculator.exe

The Windows calculator app actually has two processes running all the time. Even if the calculator isn't open and hasn't been opened during the current session. When you need the calculator, opening it will restart the process. Until then, kill it.

the processes tab in the task manager

2. News and Interests - NewsAndInterests.exe

This process is linked to the news widget in the Windows Taskbar. It doesn't use a huge amount of resources until you open the news panel. But it does use some, even if you never check these stories. If you find the news stories useful, leave this process running. If not, it can be safely killed in Task Manager.

3. Gaming Services - gamingservices.exe

Do you use the Xbox app or the Game Bar? If not, you can safely end the Gaming Services process. Just like with the Calculator, there are two gaming service processes. Each can use around 10MB of memory just sitting in the background. This process has a habit of restarting on its own, so if you don't have GamePass or never play games on your computer, just uninstall it.

4. OneDrive - OneDrive.exe

No matter if you use OneDrive or not, the background process for the Microsoft cloud storage can be ended. It won't affect your stored files in any way, and you can still access OneDrive if you need it by opening the drive folder. The only exception is if you have automatic OneDrive backups enabled.

Ending the OneDrive process in Task Manager

5. CTF Loader - ctfmon.exe

The CTF Loader is a background task connected to various alternative text input methods. These include the touch keyboard, handwriting tool, and speech recognition, among others. If you only use a mouse and keyboard, ctfmon.exe can be safely stopped.

Another example of an app that constantly has processes running in the background, even if you never use it. When your phone isn't connected to your computer, you can safely kill the two processes generated by the Phone Link app.

7. Groove Music - GrooveMusic.exe

In the unlikely event that you are still using Groove Music, you might want to leave this process alone. But if you are using any other media tool for your music files, there is no need to have this app running in the background. It doesn't consume lots of resources when not being actively used, but every bit helps.

8. Update Services - Various

Most processes labeled as an update service can be ended safely, if only temporarily. Examples include Adobe Acrobat Update Service and WPS Office Update Service. Take care when ending update services, particularly for antivirus software or software you use regularly.

9. Repeated Processes

If you see a process that is repeated, it is possible that one or more of them can be ended. In the case of something like Microsoft Edge, each open tab will show up as a separate process. And they will all be called Microsoft Edge. For something like LGHUB shown here, it is unlikely that it needs three processes running for one mouse. Try ending the process and then restart the software. In most cases, the duplicates will be removed.

a closeup of the LGHUB process in task manager

When to End Windows Processes

Killing processes such as the ones mentioned here isn't a permanent solution. The next time you start your computer, they will all be back. Some may even restart without the computer being rebooted. This method can give you a short-term performance boost. But for long-term gains, you should probably look at removing some of the Windows bloatware entirely.

Ending the wrong process can make your computer crash, restart, or even lead to a Blue Screen Of Death. Take care when ending unknown processes, particularly those in the Windows Processes category of the Task Manager. Here are some of the Windows processes you should never kill.

Ending Processes Safely to Improve Performance

Ending unwanted Windows processes is a quick and easy way to give your PC a bit of a resource boost. Becoming familiar with the different processes that run on your computer is also a good step toward better understanding how Windows works. And how you can make it more efficient.