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Disable Windows Push Notifications

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Works with Windows 10 and 11Works with Windows Vista, XP, 7, 8, 10, 11, and Windows Server 2008 or newer.
  • Windows onlyThis script improves your privacy on Windows
  • Single actionThis page belongs to a script, containing basic changes to achieve a task.
  • Impact: Medium

    System Functionality / Data Loss Risk: Moderate

    This action improves privacy with minimal impact when you run the recommended script.

    This action improves privacy with some impact when you run the recommended script.
  • Batch (batchfile)These changes use Windows system commands to update your settings.
  • Administrator rights requiredThis script requires privilege access to do the system changes
  • Fully reversible

    You can fully restore this action (revert back to the original behavior) using this website.

    The restore/revert methods provided here can help you fix issues.

Overview​

This script disables the Windows Push Notification Service (WNS), including the WpnService and WpnUserService.

WNS enables third-party developers to send notifications (toast, tile, badge, and raw updates) from their cloud services 1. However, this service raises privacy concerns:

  • It relies on connections to Microsoft cloud servers 1 2 3 4 5, potentially exposing user data. This delivers both local and push notifications to your device 1.
  • It may bypass VPN protections and expose your device's real IP address, according to Wikipedia (uncited) 2.

Running this script will:

  • Enhance your privacy by reducing data sent to Microsoft servers
  • Improve security by limiting potential attack vectors
  • Boost system performance by reducing background processes
Caution

After running this script, you will no longer receive instant notifications from most apps. This may include important updates or messages.

Technical Details​

This script disables two services:

  1. WpnService (Windows Push Notifications System Service) 3
  2. WpnUserService (Windows Push Notifications User Service) 4

Disabling WpnUserService may cause these issues:

  • Network & Internet in Settings:
    • Windows 10: May cause issues accessing network settings 5 6 7.
    • Windows 11: No reported issues 5.
    • To reproduce (Windows 10):
      1. Open Settings
      2. Select Network & Internet
  • Notification Center in taskbar:
    • All Windows 11 versions:
      • Prevents opening Notification Center 8 (known as Action Center on Windows 10 9) .
      • The Notification Center (known as notification area on Windows 10 10) is at the right end of the taskbar 11.
      • It includes system status icons (e.g., date/time, battery, Wi-Fi) and notifications 8 11.
    • To reproduce (Windows 11): Click the Notification Center icon on the taskbar.
  • Notifications & Actions in Settings:
    • Some Windows 11 versions: Unable to access Notifications & Actions 12 on Settings app.
    • To reproduce (Windows 11):
      1. Open Settings
      2. Select System
      3. Select Notifications

Confirmed side effects per Windows version after disabling WpnUserService and rebooting:

Windows VersionTaskbar Notifications CenterNotifications & Actions SettingsNetwork Settings
Windows 11 23H2🔴 Affected🔴 Affected🟢 Unaffected
Windows 11 22H2🔴 Affected🔴 Affected🟢 Unaffected
Windows 11 21H2🔴 Affected🟢 Unaffected🟢 Unaffected
Windows 10 22H2🟢 Unaffected🟢 Unaffected🔴 Breaks
Windows 10 21H2🟢 Unaffected🟢 Unaffected🔴 Breaks
Windows 10 20H2🟢 Unaffected🟢 Unaffected🔴 Breaks
Windows 10 19H2🟢 Unaffected🟢 Unaffected🟢 Unaffected
Windows 10 19H1🟢 Unaffected🟢 Unaffected🟢 Unaffected

Due to these issues, this script disables WpnUserService only on Windows 10 version 19H2 and earlier versions.

Overview of default service statuses​

WpnService:

OS VersionStatusStart type
Windows 10 (≥ 19H1)🟢 RunningAutomatic
Windows 11 (all versions)🟢 RunningAutomatic

WpnUserService_<Suffix>:

OS VersionStatusStart type
Windows 10 (≥ 19H1)🟢 RunningAutomatic
Windows 11 (all versions)🟢 RunningAutomatic
Use with Caution

This script is only recommended if you understand its implications.

Some non-critical or features may no longer function correctly after running this script.

This script can be fully reversed to restore changes if something goes wrong.

Sources
PrivacyLearn.com maintains strict sourcing standards for accuracy, integrity and up-to-date content. Our content relies on authoritative sources including vendor documentation, industry standards, and verified research. Learn more about our verification process and quality standards in our editorial standards page.

Apply Now​

Choose one of three ways to apply:

Download script​

Download and run the script directly
  • No app needed
  • Offline usage
  • Easy-to-apply
  • Free
  • Open-source
Help

How to apply or restore "Disable Windows Push Notifications" using script​

  • ≈ 2 min to complete
  • Tools: Web Browser
  • Difficulty: Simple
  • ≈ 5 instructions
  1. 1

    Download

    Download the script file by clicking on the   Apply protection  button above.
    Use   Undo protection button above to restore changes.
  2. 2

    Keep the file

    If warned by your browser, keep the file.
  3. 3

    Open

    Open the downloaded file.
  4. 4

    Exit

    Once it's done, press any key to exit the window.
  5. 5

    Restart

    Restart your computer for all changes to take effect.

Apply with privacy.sexy​

Guided, automated application with safety checks
  • Recommended for most users
  • Includes safety checks
  • Free
  • Open-source
  • Popular
  • Offline/Online usage
Open privacy.sexy
Help

How to apply or restore "Disable Windows Push Notifications" using privacy.sexy​

  • ≈ 3 min to complete
  • Tools: privacy.sexy
  • Difficulty: Simple
  • ≈ 4 instructions
privacy.sexy is free and open-source application that lets securely apply this action easily with more advanced options.
  1. 1

    Open or download

    Open or download the desktop application
  2. 2

    Choose script

    1. Search for the script name: Disable Windows Push Notifications
    2. Check the script by clicking on the checkbox.
  3. 3

    Run

    Click on ▶️ Run button at the bottom of the page.

    This button only appears on desktop version (recommended). On browser, use 💾 Save button.

Run commands​

Copy and run commands manually Requires technical knowledge
Apply changes
:: Disable service(s): `WpnService`
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$serviceName = 'WpnService'; Write-Host "^""Disabling service: `"^""$serviceName`"^""."^""; <# -- 1. Skip if service does not exist #>; $service = Get-Service -Name $serviceName -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue; if(!$service) { Write-Host "^""Service `"^""$serviceName`"^"" could not be not found, no need to disable it."^""; Exit 0; }; <# -- 2. Stop if running #>; if ($service.Status -eq [System.ServiceProcess.ServiceControllerStatus]::Running) { Write-Host "^""`"^""$serviceName`"^"" is running, stopping it."^""; try { Stop-Service -Name "^""$serviceName"^"" -Force -ErrorAction Stop; Write-Host "^""Stopped `"^""$serviceName`"^"" successfully."^""; } catch { Write-Warning "^""Could not stop `"^""$serviceName`"^"", it will be stopped after reboot: $_"^""; }; } else { Write-Host "^""`"^""$serviceName`"^"" is not running, no need to stop."^""; }; <# -- 3. Skip if already disabled #>; $startupType = $service.StartType <# Does not work before .NET 4.6.1 #>; if (!$startupType) { $startupType = (Get-WmiObject -Query "^""Select StartMode From Win32_Service Where Name='$serviceName'"^"" -ErrorAction Ignore).StartMode; if(!$startupType) { $startupType = (Get-WmiObject -Class Win32_Service -Property StartMode -Filter "^""Name='$serviceName'"^"" -ErrorAction Ignore).StartMode; }; }; if ($startupType -eq 'Disabled') { Write-Host "^""$serviceName is already disabled, no further action is needed"^""; Exit 0; }; <# -- 4. Disable service #>; try { Set-Service -Name "^""$serviceName"^"" -StartupType Disabled -Confirm:$false -ErrorAction Stop; Write-Host "^""Disabled `"^""$serviceName`"^"" successfully."^""; } catch { Write-Error "^""Could not disable `"^""$serviceName`"^"": $_"^""; }"
:: Disable per-user "WpnUserService" service for all users
:: Disable the service `WpnUserService` 
:: This operation will not run on Windows versions later than Windows10-1909.
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$versionName = 'Windows10-1909'; $buildNumber = switch ($versionName) { 'Windows11-21H2' { '10.0.22000' }; 'Windows10-MostRecent' { '10.0.19045' }; 'Windows10-22H2' { '10.0.19045' }; 'Windows10-1909' { '10.0.18363' }; 'Windows10-1903' { '10.0.18362' }; default { throw "^""Internal privacy$([char]0x002E)sexy error: No build for maximum Windows '$versionName'"^""; }; }; $maxVersion=[System.Version]::Parse($buildNumber); $ver = [Environment]::OSVersion.Version; $verNoPatch = [System.Version]::new($ver.Major, $ver.Minor, $ver.Build); if ($verNoPatch -gt $maxVersion) { Write-Output "^""Skipping: Windows ($verNoPatch) is above maximum $maxVersion ($versionName)"^""; Exit 0; }; $serviceQuery = 'WpnUserService'; $stopWithDependencies= $false; <# -- 1. Skip if service does not exist #>; $service = Get-Service -Name $serviceQuery -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue; if(!$service) { Write-Host "^""Service query `"^""$serviceQuery`"^"" did not yield any results, no need to disable it."^""; Exit 0; }; $serviceName = $service.Name; Write-Host "^""Disabling service: `"^""$serviceName`"^""."^""; <# -- 2. Stop if running #>; if ($service.Status -eq [System.ServiceProcess.ServiceControllerStatus]::Running) { Write-Host "^""`"^""$serviceName`"^"" is running, attempting to stop it."^""; try { Write-Host "^""Stopping the service `"^""$serviceName`"^""."^""; $stopParams = @{ Name = $ServiceName; Force = $true; ErrorAction = 'Stop'; }; if (-not $stopWithDependencies) { $stopParams['NoWait'] = $true; }; Stop-Service @stopParams; Write-Host "^""Stopped `"^""$serviceName`"^"" successfully."^""; } catch { if ($_.FullyQualifiedErrorId -eq 'CouldNotStopService,Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands.StopServiceCommand') { Write-Warning "^""The service `"^""$serviceName`"^"" does not accept a stop command and may need to be stopped manually or on reboot."^""; } else { Write-Warning "^""Failed to stop service `"^""$ServiceName`"^"". It will be stopped after reboot. Error: $($_.Exception.Message)"^""; }; }; } else { Write-Host "^""`"^""$serviceName`"^"" is not running, no need to stop."^""; }; <# -- 3. Skip if service info is not found in registry #>; $registryKey = "^""HKLM:\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\$serviceName"^""; if (-Not (Test-Path $registryKey)) { Write-Host "^""`"^""$registryKey`"^"" is not found in registry, cannot enable it."^""; Exit 0; }; <# -- 4. Skip if already disabled #>; if( $(Get-ItemProperty -Path "^""$registryKey"^"").Start -eq 4) { Write-Host "^""`"^""$serviceName`"^"" is already disabled from start, no further action is needed."^""; Exit 0; }; <# -- 5. Disable service #>; try { Set-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $registryKey -Name "^""Start"^"" -Value 4 -ErrorAction Stop; Write-Host 'Successfully disabled the service. It will not start automatically on next boot.'; } catch { Write-Error "^""Failed to disable the service. Error: $($_.Exception.Message)"^""; Exit 1; }"
:: Disable per-user "WpnUserService" service for individual user accounts
:: Disable the service `WpnUserService_*` 
:: This operation will not run on Windows versions later than Windows10-1909.
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$versionName = 'Windows10-1909'; $buildNumber = switch ($versionName) { 'Windows11-21H2' { '10.0.22000' }; 'Windows10-MostRecent' { '10.0.19045' }; 'Windows10-22H2' { '10.0.19045' }; 'Windows10-1909' { '10.0.18363' }; 'Windows10-1903' { '10.0.18362' }; default { throw "^""Internal privacy$([char]0x002E)sexy error: No build for maximum Windows '$versionName'"^""; }; }; $maxVersion=[System.Version]::Parse($buildNumber); $ver = [Environment]::OSVersion.Version; $verNoPatch = [System.Version]::new($ver.Major, $ver.Minor, $ver.Build); if ($verNoPatch -gt $maxVersion) { Write-Output "^""Skipping: Windows ($verNoPatch) is above maximum $maxVersion ($versionName)"^""; Exit 0; }; $serviceQuery = 'WpnUserService_*'; $stopWithDependencies= $false; <# -- 1. Skip if service does not exist #>; $service = Get-Service -Name $serviceQuery -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue; if(!$service) { Write-Host "^""Service query `"^""$serviceQuery`"^"" did not yield any results, no need to disable it."^""; Exit 0; }; $serviceName = $service.Name; Write-Host "^""Disabling service: `"^""$serviceName`"^""."^""; <# -- 2. Stop if running #>; if ($service.Status -eq [System.ServiceProcess.ServiceControllerStatus]::Running) { Write-Host "^""`"^""$serviceName`"^"" is running, attempting to stop it."^""; try { Write-Host "^""Stopping the service `"^""$serviceName`"^""."^""; $stopParams = @{ Name = $ServiceName; Force = $true; ErrorAction = 'Stop'; }; if (-not $stopWithDependencies) { $stopParams['NoWait'] = $true; }; Stop-Service @stopParams; Write-Host "^""Stopped `"^""$serviceName`"^"" successfully."^""; } catch { if ($_.FullyQualifiedErrorId -eq 'CouldNotStopService,Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands.StopServiceCommand') { Write-Warning "^""The service `"^""$serviceName`"^"" does not accept a stop command and may need to be stopped manually or on reboot."^""; } else { Write-Warning "^""Failed to stop service `"^""$ServiceName`"^"". It will be stopped after reboot. Error: $($_.Exception.Message)"^""; }; }; } else { Write-Host "^""`"^""$serviceName`"^"" is not running, no need to stop."^""; }; <# -- 3. Skip if service info is not found in registry #>; $registryKey = "^""HKLM:\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\$serviceName"^""; if (-Not (Test-Path $registryKey)) { Write-Host "^""`"^""$registryKey`"^"" is not found in registry, cannot enable it."^""; Exit 0; }; <# -- 4. Skip if already disabled #>; if( $(Get-ItemProperty -Path "^""$registryKey"^"").Start -eq 4) { Write-Host "^""`"^""$serviceName`"^"" is already disabled from start, no further action is needed."^""; Exit 0; }; <# -- 5. Disable service #>; try { Set-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $registryKey -Name "^""Start"^"" -Value 4 -ErrorAction Stop; Write-Host 'Successfully disabled the service. It will not start automatically on next boot.'; } catch { Write-Error "^""Failed to disable the service. Error: $($_.Exception.Message)"^""; Exit 1; }"
Help

How to apply or restore "Disable Windows Push Notifications" using commands​

  • ≈ 2 min to complete
  • Tools: Command Prompt
  • Difficulty: Medium
  • ≈ 3 instructions
 View step-by-step guide with screenshots
  1. 1

    Open Command Prompt

    Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
  2. 2

    Copy code

    Copy the code:
    Copy Apply Code Copy Revert Code
  3. 3

    Paste & run

    Paste the commands into Command Prompt and press Enter to run.

    Some changes require a system restart to take effect

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About the Creators​

These people have authored this documentation and written its scripts:

  • Avatar of undergroundwires. The creator of PrivacyLearn and privacy.sexy. Black and white portrait showing a person wearing a polka dot tie and suit jacket, reflecting the professional expertise behind the privacy protection tools.
    • Certified security professional
    • 7+ years experience securing banks
    • Open-source developer since 2005
    • EU advisor, Public Speaker, Moderator
    • Hundreds across the globe
    • Testers, reviewers, developers
    • Companies, military agencies
    • Community since 2017
About Us

Reviewed By​

This guide has undergone comprehensive auditing and peer review:

  • Expert review by undergroundwires​

    • Verified technical accuracy and editorial standards
    • Assessed system impact and user privacy risks

  • Public review by large community​

    • Privacy enthusiasts and professionals peer-reviewed
    • Millions of end-users tested across different environments

History​

We continually monitor our guides, their impact and all other privacy options. We update our guides when new information becomes available. On every update, we publicly store who made the change, what has been changed, why the change was made and when the change was made.

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