Disable background clipboard data collection ("cbdhsvc") (breaks clipboard history and sync)

Overview

About this script

This script improves your privacy on Windows.

These changes use Windows system commands to update your settings.

This script disables cbdhsvc also known as "Clipboard User Service" 1. This service is responsible for clipboard history and synchronization across devices 1.

Microsoft acknowledges that disabling this service does not adversely affect the system's core functionality 2.

Disabling this service enhances your security by reducing your system's vulnerability surface. This service has been historically susceptible to vulnerabilities such as Privilege Escalation vulnerability 3. Turning off cbdhsvc also helps improve system performance by reducing the number of background processes as cbdhsvc runs automatically in the background 1. Additionally, it enhances privacy by preventing the storage and sharing of clipboard history with Microsoft servers. Clipboard data often contains sensitive information, including passwords and credit card numbers 4.

Caution

Disabling this service will remove the functionalities for clipboard history and synchronization across devices. If you depend on these features, you should weigh the benefits against the loss of these functionalities.

This script uses Batch (batchfile) scripting language.

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.

Implementation Details

• Language: batch

• Required Privileges: Administrator rights

• Compatibility: Windows only

• Reversibility: Can be undone using provided revert script

Explore Categories

Disable clipboard data collection

This action belongs to Disable clipboard data collection category. This category includes scripts that focus on disabling various aspects of clipboard data collection in Windows. The clipboard is a critical component of the operating system, often containing sensitive data such as usernames, passwords, and other personal information. However, features such as... Read more on category page ▶

Security improvements

This action belongs to Security improvements category. This category encompasses a range of scripts designed to improve the security of your system by enforcing security best practices. These scripts help protect your system against various types of cyber threats and unauthorized access. Read more on category page ▶

Apply now

Choose one of three ways to apply:

1. Automatically via privacy.sexy: The easiest and safest option.
2. Manually by downloading: Requires downloading a file.
3. Manually by copying: Advanced flexibility.

Alternative 1. Apply with Privacy.sexy

privacy.sexy is free and open-source application that lets securely apply this action easily.

Open privacy.sexy

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

privacy.sexy instructions

1. Open or download the desktop application
2. Search for the script name: Disable background clipboard data collection (cbdhsvc) (breaks clipboard history and sync).
3. Check the script by clicking on the checkbox.
4. Click on Run button at the bottom of the page.

Alternative 2. Download

Irreversible Changes

This script is irreversible, meaning there is no straightforward method to restore changes once applied. Exercise caution before running, restoring it may not be possible.

1. Download the script file by clicking on the button below:

   Download script

2. Run the script file by clicking on it.

Download revert script

This file restores your system to its original state, before this script is applied.

Download restore script

Alternative 3. Copy

This is for advanced users. Consider automatically applying or downloading the script for simpler way.

1. Open Command Prompt as administrator.

HELP: Step-by-step guide

1. Click on Start menu

   Windows 11

   

   Windows 10

   

2. Type cmd

   Windows 11

   

   Windows 10

   

3. Right click on Command Prompt select Run as administrator

   Windows 11

   

   Windows 10

   

4. Click on Yes to run Command Prompt

   Windows 11

   

   Windows 10

   

---

Windows 11

Windows 10

2. Copy the following code:

Code to apply changes

:: Disable per-user "cbdhsvc" service for all users
:: Disable the service `cbdhsvc` 
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$serviceQuery = 'cbdhsvc'; $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 "cbdhsvc" service for individual user accounts
:: Disable the service `cbdhsvc_*` 
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$serviceQuery = 'cbdhsvc_*'; $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; }"

3. Right click on command prompt to paste it.
4. Press Enter to apply remaining code.

Copy restore code

Copy and run the following code to restore changes:

Revert code

:: Restore per-user "cbdhsvc" service to its default configuration for all users
:: Restore the service `cbdhsvc` 
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$serviceQuery = 'cbdhsvc'; $defaultStartupMode = 'Automatic'; <# -- 1. Skip if service does not exist #>; $service = Get-Service -Name $serviceQuery -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue; if (!$service) { Write-Warning "^""Service query `"^""$serviceQuery`"^"" did not yield and results. Revert cannot proceed."^""; Exit 1; }; $serviceName = $service.Name; Write-Host "^""Restoring registry settings for service `"^""$serviceName`"^"" to default startup mode `"^""$defaultStartupMode`"^""."^""; <# -- 2. Skip if service info is not found in registry #>; $registryKey = "^""HKLM:\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\$serviceName"^""; if (-Not (Test-Path $registryKey)) { Write-Warning "^""`"^""$registryKey`"^"" is not found in registry. Revert cannot proceed."^""; Exit 1; }; <# -- 3. Enable if not already enabled #>; $defaultStartupRegValue = switch ($defaultStartupMode) { 'Boot'      { 0 }; 'System'    { 1 }; 'Automatic' { 2 }; 'Manual'    { 3 }; 'Disabled'  { 4 }; default { Write-Error "^""Error: Unknown startup mode specified: `"^""$defaultStartupMode`"^"". Revert cannot proceed."^""; return; }; }; if ($(Get-ItemProperty -Path "^""$registryKey"^"").Start -eq $defaultStartupRegValue) { Write-Host "^""`"^""$serviceName`"^"" is has already default startup mode: `"^""$defaultStartupMode`"^""."^""; } else { try { Set-ItemProperty $registryKey -Name Start -Value $defaultStartupRegValue -Force; Write-Host "^""Successfully restored `"^""$serviceName`"^"" with `"^""$defaultStartupMode`"^"" start, this may require restarting your computer."^""; } catch { Write-Error "^""Could not enable `"^""$serviceName`"^"": $_"^""; Exit 1; }; }; <# -- 4. Start if not running (must be enabled first) #>; if ($defaultStartupMode -eq 'Automatic' -or $defaultStartupMode -eq 'Boot' -or $defaultStartupMode -eq 'System') { if ($service.Status -ne [System.ServiceProcess.ServiceControllerStatus]::Running) { Write-Host "^""`"^""$serviceName`"^"" is not running, trying to start it."^""; try { Start-Service -Name $serviceName -ErrorAction Stop; Write-Host 'Service started successfully.'; } catch { Write-Warning "^""Failed to restart service. It will be started after reboot. Error: $($_.Exception.Message)"^""; }; } else { Write-Host "^""`"^""$serviceName`"^"" is already running, no need to start."^""; }; }"
:: Restore per-user "cbdhsvc" service to its default configuration for individual user accounts
:: Restore the service `cbdhsvc_*` 
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$serviceQuery = 'cbdhsvc_*'; $defaultStartupMode = 'Automatic'; <# -- 1. Skip if service does not exist #>; $service = Get-Service -Name $serviceQuery -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue; if (!$service) { Write-Warning "^""Service query `"^""$serviceQuery`"^"" did not yield and results. Revert cannot proceed."^""; Exit 1; }; $serviceName = $service.Name; Write-Host "^""Restoring registry settings for service `"^""$serviceName`"^"" to default startup mode `"^""$defaultStartupMode`"^""."^""; <# -- 2. Skip if service info is not found in registry #>; $registryKey = "^""HKLM:\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\$serviceName"^""; if (-Not (Test-Path $registryKey)) { Write-Warning "^""`"^""$registryKey`"^"" is not found in registry. Revert cannot proceed."^""; Exit 1; }; <# -- 3. Enable if not already enabled #>; $defaultStartupRegValue = switch ($defaultStartupMode) { 'Boot'      { 0 }; 'System'    { 1 }; 'Automatic' { 2 }; 'Manual'    { 3 }; 'Disabled'  { 4 }; default { Write-Error "^""Error: Unknown startup mode specified: `"^""$defaultStartupMode`"^"". Revert cannot proceed."^""; return; }; }; if ($(Get-ItemProperty -Path "^""$registryKey"^"").Start -eq $defaultStartupRegValue) { Write-Host "^""`"^""$serviceName`"^"" is has already default startup mode: `"^""$defaultStartupMode`"^""."^""; } else { try { Set-ItemProperty $registryKey -Name Start -Value $defaultStartupRegValue -Force; Write-Host "^""Successfully restored `"^""$serviceName`"^"" with `"^""$defaultStartupMode`"^"" start, this may require restarting your computer."^""; } catch { Write-Error "^""Could not enable `"^""$serviceName`"^"": $_"^""; Exit 1; }; }; <# -- 4. Start if not running (must be enabled first) #>; if ($defaultStartupMode -eq 'Automatic' -or $defaultStartupMode -eq 'Boot' -or $defaultStartupMode -eq 'System') { if ($service.Status -ne [System.ServiceProcess.ServiceControllerStatus]::Running) { Write-Host "^""`"^""$serviceName`"^"" is not running, trying to start it."^""; try { Start-Service -Name $serviceName -ErrorAction Stop; Write-Host 'Service started successfully.'; } catch { Write-Warning "^""Failed to restart service. It will be started after reboot. Error: $($_.Exception.Message)"^""; }; } else { Write-Host "^""`"^""$serviceName`"^"" is already running, no need to start."^""; }; }"

Support

This website relies on your support.

Support now

Your donation helps keep the project alive and improves its content ❤️.

Share this page:

EmailLinkedInXRedditFacebookPinterestWhatsAppTelegramWeiboVK