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 run at two in the morning by default, and they only run if you're not using your computer at that time. By default, again, Windows will wake your PC if it's asleep to perform tasks (but it won't wake a laptop running battery that moment). Windows will put your PC to sleep again (shutdown) when finished.
The maintenance window only works for one hour. If work is not completed within this time, Windows will stop and complete their work during the next maintenance. Some jobs have "deadlines" and will be completed completely, regardless of whether the maintenance window is closed 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 tasks include software updates, security scanning with applications such as Windows Defender, disk defragmentation and optimization, and other system diagnostic tasks.
In Windows 10, Windows Update is very aggressive and will install updates even except of window maintenance, 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 it Start menu, search for "Maintenance", and click the "Security and Maintenance" shortcut to go directly to this screen.
Expand the "Maintenance" section to see Auto Maintenance options.
You will see when the last maintenance occurred (maintenance date and time). If you want to perform maintenance immediately, click on button "Start maintenance". You can click "Stop Maintenance" to stop any maintenance tasks if they are currently running.
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.
