Skip to main content
G
garyc78841338
Known Participant
June 29, 2020
Answered

How can I disable background processes and services

  • June 29, 2020
  • 1 reply
  • 5656 views

Hi, I have photoshop/lightroom creative cloud but I only use it occasionally.

I have noticed that the software installs and runs many services and background porocesses, I would like to know how to disable these as they are numerous and I do not wish to have them permanently active for software that is only used once a month. For example I do not want update services, genuine software verification, helper services etc active on what is primarily a gaming machine where additional processes are highly undesirable.

 

Of course I know how to disable these services through management of windows services however this then requires me to manually go through this process every time I open and close the software. Is there a more suitable and less brute force method of disabling the masses of adobe processes that clog up my machine?

I do not find it acceptable to have anything from 5 to 15 background processes running for software that is not currently in use, regardless of how many percieved benefits it may bring when the software is in use.

 

Failing any direct way to stop this happening, which of the processes and services would be possible to permanently disable while retaining functional use of the software?

Correct answer kglad

Sure, but can it check only when I run Creative Cloud or any Adobe app? After closing everything, it would be nice if no Adobe services were running.


@s50bb 

 

yes, it can check in the background.  

 

info: https://helpx.adobe.com/x-productkb/global/adobe-background-processes.html

update: https://community.adobe.com/t5/creative-cloud-desktop-discussions/adobe-background-processes/m-p/14243032 

1 reply

John T Smith
Community Expert
John T SmithCommunity Expert
Community Expert
June 29, 2020

How to disable a program in Windows startup
-Right click the 'window pane' in the very bottom left corner of the Windows desktop
-Select Task Manager in the pop up option window
-Click More details if you don't see startup
-Select the Startup tab inside Task Manager
-Select the program you want to disable
-Click Disable in the bottom right corner
-BE VERY CAREFUL WHAT YOU DISABLE SO YOU DON'T STOP WINDOWS FROM RUNNING

S
simionoff
Participant
July 30, 2020

Of course this was the first thing that I tried. I see 3 processes in task manager in startup tab that are linked with Creative Cloud software: CCX Process, CCX Process.exe and Creative Coud Desktop. I can only disable the first one, while CCX Process.exe and Creative Cloud Desktop cannot be disabled. Also, I have disabled from the app, in the General Tab, "Launch creative cloud at login" and "Always keep Creative Cloud up to date", but nothing happens, it still starts and runs in background.

T
TwistedRealm
Known Participant
October 13, 2025

Hi brandybl0ndy and others with this problem,

Here's a quick and dirty fix. It's a bit of a "brute force" approach, but Adobe shouldn't be running a load of background tasks on our machines, when we're not using their apps.

Go to C: Program Files and rename the Adobe folder to something else. I renamed mine OAdobe. This stops the folder being found by the registry entries that Adobe put in. You can then go to Task Manager and use End Process on them one by one and they won't restart as they process can't be found. Alternatively, you can just reboot and the Adobe tasks wont run.

 

When you actually want to run Adobe programs, then first rename the folder  in Program Files back to Adobe and everything will work fine.

 

PLEASE BE CAREFUL! Don't run a Registry cleaner like CCleaner, etc as it will want to delete the entries that point to wrong locations!


Try what I've posted above to see if you can purge yourself of this issue.

 

I have had good success keeping them repressed in the past, but now you need to remove thier settings from Four locations:

 

Start-Up items: In task Manager (or via MsConfig for old versions of windows like xp/7 etc.)

Registry start-up keys: in three different nodes.

Task Scheduler: to disable automatic respawning

Services: to disable Acrobat and Adobe updaters. (WindowsKey+R and type: services.msc)

 

But - keep in mind that after updates Adobe will most likely reinstall and reset some of these, such as the Task Scheduler - so you may have re-do this occasionally.

 

 

Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices