Windows 10 automatically performs system maintenance tasks such as scheduling disk scan and optimization. By default, Windows runs these tasks every day at two in the morning, and "wakes" your PC for that purpose (if it sleeps).
What is automatic maintenance?
Automatic maintenance feature added to Windows 8, continues up to today's Windows 10, and is used to perform system maintenance tasks. It combines a series of different background tasks and runs them simultaneously.
These tasks are scheduled to take place in the morning by default, and only run if you are not using your computer at this time. By default, Windows will wake up your computer, if you are asleep, to perform the tasks (but you will not wake up a battery-powered laptop at that time). Windows will put your PC back to sleep (sleep) when it's over.
The maintenance window only works for one hour. If tasks are not completed within this time, Windows will stop and complete its work at duration of its next maintenance. Some tasks have "deadlines" and will be completed in full, regardless of whether the maintenance window closes and they are not finished.
If you are using your computer at the scheduled time, or if your computer is turned off at the scheduled time, these maintenance tasks will be done at the next available time when Windows notices that you are not using your computer. For example, if you leave your computer open and stop working now, Windows will start upkeeping.
Which functions does Auto Maintenance perform?
Maintenance work includes updates software, security scanning with apps like the Windows Defender, disk defragmentation and optimization, and other system diagnostics.
In Windows 10, Windows Update is very aggressive and will install updates even outside of the maintenance window by default. However, the policy group allows administrators of the system to force Windows Update to install the updates during the maintenance window.
The exact sequence of tasks varies from computer to computer, as third-party software developers define their scheduled tasks to run during the maintenance window. In other words, Windows may also perform maintenance functions created by applications that you have installed.
How to Check When to Run Maintenance
To check this feature, go to Control Panel > System and Security > Security and Maintenance. You can also open the Start menu, search for "Maintenance", and click the "Security and Maintenance" shortcut to go directly to it screen.
Expand the "Maintenance" section to see Auto Maintenance options.
You will see when the last maintenance occurred (date and time of maintenance). If you want to perform maintenance immediately, click the "Start Maintenance" button. You can click on "Stop Maintenance" to stop maintenance if they are running at that time.
To program the time you want to be serviced and to choose whether to wake up your computer, click on "Changing Maintenance Settings".
To check the time, click the "Run daily maintenance tasks" box and select a time. You can select at any one hour from 12: 00 a.m. to 23: 00.
If you want to prevent Windows from automatically waking up your PC to perform these tasks, clear the option "Allow scheduled maintenance to wake up the computer at the scheduled time".
It is not really recommended to disable this feature. Windows will put the PC back to sleep when it's over, and this will ensure that these tasks will not slow down your computer while you're using it, but the final choice is yours.
Click "OK" when finished to save your changes.
There is no way to actually stop these automatic maintenance tasks. It is important to keep your computer running smoothly. Maintenance works only run when you are not using your computer, so they should not hinder you in your work.
