While the Nahimic Service, or nahimicservice.exe, has been designed to enhance audio capabilities, particularly for gaming rigs such as MSI and Alienware, it has garnered a reputation for causing issues on the systems where it is pre-installed. Users have frequently reported that Nahimic Service consumes an excessive amount of CPU and memory resources even when the service operates in the background. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps necessary to disable or completely uninstall Nahimic Service from your Windows 11 or 10 system.
Also see: What is Nahimic Service (nahimicservice.exe) in Windows 11/10
Page Contents
Why disable or uninstall Nahimic Service?
Nahimic Service, in general, provides an enhanced audio experience that enhances a range of applications, particularly those reliant on high-quality sound like video games and media players. However, there are scenarios where you might find it necessary to disable or uninstall this service.
Perhaps you’ve noticed that your computer’s performance is slower than usual, and after a bit of sleuthing in the Task Manager, you’ve found that the Nahimic Service (which can also appear as NahimicSvc32.exe, NahimicSvc64.exe, or NahimicService.exe) is consuming more system resources, such as CPU and memory, than it should. Alternatively, you might be experiencing conflicts between Nahimic Service and another software application installed on your system. In these instances, disabling the service could be an initial troubleshooting step to see if it resolves the issue.
In other cases, despite disabling the service, you might still encounter issues, or maybe you simply don’t need or use the advanced audio features Nahimic Service offers. In these situations, it might be more beneficial to completely uninstall the service from your system.
Related resource: How to Disable Startup Services on Windows 11 or 10
How to disable Nahimic Service in Windows 11 or 10
Before you decide to disable Nahimic Service, bear in mind that this action will turn off the service’s functionality, which means you won’t benefit from the enhanced audio features it provides. However, if you have weighed the pros and cons and decided to go ahead, the following steps will guide you:
- Open the “Services” application. You can do this by typing “Services” into the Windows Search bar and selecting the application.
- In the Services window, find the “Nahimic Service“.
- Right-click on “Nahimic Service” and select “Properties“.
- In the Properties window, under the “General” tab, you’ll find a dropdown menu next to “Startup type“. Select “Disabled” from this dropdown.
- Click “OK” to apply the changes.
- Next, you need to stop the currently running service. Go back to the “Nahimic Service” in the Services window, right-click and choose “Stop“.
Additionally, it’s wise to terminate any related processes, such as A-Volute NS, Alienware and MSI-related processes, from the Task Manager. If you want to keep MSI software but prevent it from reinstalling Nahimic Service, remember to disable auto-updates.
Useful tip: How to Delete a Service in Windows 11 or 10 Using CMD
How to uninstall Nahimic Service in Windows 11 or 10
In some cases, disabling Nahimic Service may not be sufficient, and a complete uninstallation becomes necessary. You may wonder why the steps are somewhat complex. This is because the Nahimic Service intertwines itself deeply into your system, and merely uninstalling the associated MSI or Alienware software might not remove it entirely. The service can potentially reappear after a system restart if any related processes are left intact.
Before you proceed, it’s critical to understand the risk associated with editing the Windows Registry, a vast database that stores low-level settings for the operating system and for apps that opt to use it. An incorrect modification can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Therefore, it’s highly recommended to create a system restore point before making changes to the Registry. If you’re uncertain, seek help from someone with more technical expertise.
With these precautions in mind, follow these steps to completely uninstall Nahimic Service:
- Stop the Nahimic Service as described in the previous section.
- Open the Registry Editor (type “regedit” into the Windows Search bar).
- Navigate to and delete these keys:
Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\NahimicServiceComputer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Nahimic_MirroringComputer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\A-Volute
- Open the Device Manager, find the Nahimic mirroring device under “Sound, video and game controllers”, right-click it and select “Uninstall device“. Ensure “Delete the driver software for this device” is checked.
- Use the Driver Store Explorer tool to remove any driver residues provided by “A-Volute” or “Nahimic“. Remember to “Force Deletion“.
- Navigate to the following paths and delete associated files:
C:\Windows\System32\A-VoluteC:\Program Files (x86)\MSI\One Dragon Center\NahimicC:\Windows\System32\NahimicService.exe%APPDATALOCAL%\NhNotifSys
- Open the Task Scheduler and delete any tasks related to Nahimic or A-Volute.
- Finally, restart your system to apply the changes.
Please note, these actions should be performed carefully as they involve system-level changes. If you’re unsure, seek assistance from a tech-savvy friend or a professional.
Linked issue: Can’t Completely Uninstall a Driver in Windows 11 (Fix)
Conclusion
The Nahimic Service is a potent tool for enhancing your audio experience. However, should it become a source of problems, or if you no longer require its functionality, this guide provides you with the necessary steps to disable or completely remove it. Remember to always take caution when performing system-level changes, especially when editing the Windows Registry, and consider seeking expert help if you feel unsure about any step.
