What Is Superfetch?
The Windows 10 Superfetch service is supposed to guess which applications you may opt to use, then load their corresponding data and necessary files into memory beforehand, but it can end up slowing your PC to a crawl instead. If you believe your PC is sluggish and not reacting as quickly as you’d expect, disabling Superfetch could help speed things up.

What is Service Host Superfetch?

Service Host Superfetch is a built-in Windows service designed to pre-load frequently used applications and files into your memory and thereby speed up your system. In 2007, Microsoft introduced Windows Vista and Superfetch was one of its new features. Superfetch became a built-in service of Windows 7 and Windows 10 as well.

How does Service Host Superfetch work, exactly?

Here’s how Superfetch works:

• Superfetch predicts which applications you’ll run next and pre-loads the necessary data into your memory. It also does that with boot files. This helps prevent accessing the slower hard disk too often. The result? Programs launch much more quickly, and wnndows boots faster
• Superfetch’s prediction algorithm can determine which application you’ll open at a certain time and on a certain day. It can predict up to the next three applications you’ll launch.
• Superfetch is smart — it prioritizes the programs you currently run over background tasks, such as defragmentation Those background tasks run when the computer is idle, but when they’re done, Windows Service Host Superfetch populates the memory again.
• Superfetch is dynamic — it constantly adapts to your needs. So, if your favorite programs change over time, Superfetch can quickly adapt.

Why do we need Superfetch?

While Superfetch isn’t strictly “necessary” for the normal operation of your computer, on a majority of PCs it provides noticeable performance benefits. In fact, Superfetch can be a real performance booster. Your favorite programs — like your Web browser, your media player, and your email application — are likely to load much faster after a couple of days.

And even if you install a new application, Superfetch won’t have a negative impact on its performance. As soon as the new application demands memory, the Superfetch data gets flushed. As far as the new program is concerned, the memory is empty. Michael Fortin from the Windows Performance Team talks about what Microsoft had in mind when developing Superfetch and other, similar performance technologies.

In some cases though, enabling Service Host Superfetch might actually impede performance

How to Disable Superfetch on Windows 10

This article explains how to disable the Windows 10 Superfetch service if you believe it’s making your PC sluggish and slow to react.

HOW DOES SUPER FETCH WORK IN WINDOWS

How to Disable Superfetch via Windows Services 

The Superfetch feature can be toggled on and off through the Windows Services interface.

1. Press Windows key+R.

2. The Windows Run dialog should now be visible, usually located in the lower-left corner of your screen. Type services.msc in the field provided, then select OK.

   

3. The Services interface should appear, overlaying your desktop and open application windows. Locate Superfetch, found on the right side of the window within the alphabetized services list.

   

4. Right-click Superfetch, then select Stop.

5. A Service Control dialog containing a progress bar will now appear as Windows attempts to stop the Superfetch service. This may take a while, so be patient.

6. Right-click Superfetch, then select Properties.

7. Select the Startup type drop-down menu and select Disabled.

   

8. Select Apply, then select OK.

9. Superfetch is now disabled. To re-enable it at any time, repeat the steps above, but choose Automatic as the Startup type value.

How to Disable Superfetch Through the Registry

You can also disable SuperFetch in the Windows 10 registry by modifying the EnableSuperfetch value.

1. Press the following keyboard shortcut combination: Windows key+R

2. The Windows Run dialog should now be visible, usually located in the lower-left corner of your screen. Enter regedit in the field provided and then click OK.

   

3. A User Account Control dialog should now be displayed, asking if you want to allow the Registry Editor app to make changes to your device. Select Yes.

4. The Windows Registry Editor should now be displayed. Click the arrow next to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, located in the left menu pane, to expand its contents.

   

5. Do the same for the following folders and options, in this order: SYSTEM > CurrentControlSet > Control > Session Manager > MemoryManagement.

6. Select PrefetchParameters.

   

7. A list of values and their corresponding settings should now be displayed on the right side of the Registry Editor interface. Double-click EnableSuperfetch.

8. Enter 0 in the Value data field.

   

   Superfetch can be re-enabled at any point by changing this value to 3.

9. Select OK.

10. Select File > Exit from the Registry Editor menu. Superfetch shouldl now be disabled.

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