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Windows Security

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Recommendation

Leave as default

Leave it enabled.

Disabling hides the visible protection state and warnings, but is not a correct way to disable the protection features themselves.

Main effect
Disabling Security Center
FPS and memory
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What changes

Section titled “What changes”

The setting disables the Security Health Service and removes its icon from the notification area. This service monitors the state of the antivirus, firewall and other protection components, reports them to Windows and warns when something in the protection is disabled.

After disabling, two visible elements disappear: the shield icon in the notification area and the “Windows Security” window — according to the BoosterX description, when you click “Windows Security” nothing is displayed until the setting is reverted. The protection itself is not disabled: the antivirus and firewall keep working, but their state stops being visible.

Exceptions and differences

Section titled “Exceptions and differences”

The setting behaves the same on Windows 10 and Windows 11 and does not disable the antivirus or SmartScreen itself — only the place where their state and warnings are visible disappears, including the alert about a disabled protection component. Disabling for a “clean” tray changes the way you monitor, not the load: there is no confirmed resource saving. If only the icon or notifications get in the way, turn off their display separately rather than the whole service.

How to verify the result

Section titled “How to verify the result”

Set the toggle to “Enabled”, apply the change and try to open “Windows Security” via Settings → Privacy & security → Windows Security: the protection status window does not open, and the shield icon in the notification area is absent. Set the toggle back to “Disabled” and apply the change — the icon appears, and the window again shows the protection state.

How to change and revert

Section titled “How to change and revert”

In BoosterX, open “Optimization” → “Security” → “Basic Windows protection” → “Security Center” and set the toggle to “Disabled”: BoosterX will apply the default Windows state with a working Security Center. Click “Apply” at the bottom of the page; with “Instant apply” enabled, the change is applied immediately. To disable, the “Enabled” position is used: BoosterX will stop the service and remove the icon from the notification area; to revert — “Disabled” again. If the shield icon does not appear right away, sign out and sign in to Windows again: the notification area startup item is read at sign-in.

Confirmation

Section titled “Confirmation”

Last checked: 2026-09-19.