WINDOWS SERVICE
TermService: Remote Desktop Services
Allows users to connect interactively to a remote computer. Microsoft notes that Remote Desktop and Remote Desktop Session Host Server depend on this service.
TECHNICAL SUMMARY
| Service name | TermService |
|---|---|
| Display name | Remote Desktop Services |
| Runs from | C:\Windows\System32\svchost.exe |
| Command line | svchost.exe -k NetworkService |
| Runs as | NetworkService |
| Verdict | Leave it alone |
| Microsoft, Windows Server 2016 guidance | Do not disable |
Paths, signer and service account observed on Windows 11 build 26300 on 11 November 2026. Run the commands below to check your own PC.
Should you touch it?
Leave it aloneMicrosoft rates it Do not disable and gives the supported way to prevent remote use of the computer: clear the checkboxes on the Remote tab of System properties. With Remote Desktop off, the service has nothing to do: on the PC used for this page it was set to Manual and stopped.
What PC Tweaker does with it
PC Tweaker does not change this service. No control in the catalogue stops it, disables it or edits its start type.
Check it yourself
See its state and start type
PowerShellGet-Service TermService | Format-List Name, DisplayName, Status, StartType sc qc TermService
Common questions
What does the TermService service do?
Allows users to connect interactively to a remote computer. Microsoft notes that Remote Desktop and Remote Desktop Session Host Server depend on this service. It runs C:\Windows\System32\svchost.exe (svchost.exe -k NetworkService) as NetworkService.
Can I disable TermService?
Leave it alone. Microsoft rates it Do not disable and gives the supported way to prevent remote use of the computer: clear the checkboxes on the Remote tab of System properties. With Remote Desktop off, the service has nothing to do: on the PC used for this page it was set to Manual and stopped.
How do I check whether Remote Desktop is on?
Microsoft documents the registry value fDenyTSConnections under HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Terminal Server: 0 means Remote Desktop is enabled, 1 means it is disabled. On the Windows 11 PC used for this page the value was 1 and the service was stopped.
How do I check that it is the real service?
On Windows 11 build 26300 the service is registered as svchost.exe -k NetworkService, runs as NetworkService and loads C:\Windows\System32\termsrv.dll, signed by Microsoft Windows. It depends on RPCSS and StateRepository, and UmRdpService depends on it.