This service and related executable “dwm.exe” could use 30MB to 170MB depending on system RAM. If you decide to disable this service, you might check into also disabling the Themes service to make it look more like classic Windows 2000 (or XP with its theme service disabled). If you do not use these functions or your system cannot perform well enough for the new Windows 7 interface, you can disable this service. It also performs functions such as the thumbnail view from the task bar and alt+tab, as well as the transparency effects on various windows. This provides part of the new Windows Themes and reverts back to basic styles when running applications that are not compatible with Windows 7. Provides Desktop Window Manager startup and maintenance services. Black Viper’s Windows XP Pro 圆4 (64-bit) Service Pack 2 Service Configurations.Black Viper’s Windows XP x86 (32-bit) Service Pack 3 Service Configurations.Black Viper’s Windows Vista Service Pack 2 Service Configurations.Black Viper’s Windows 7 Service Pack 1 Service Configurations.

Black Viper’s Windows 8 Service Configurations.Black Viper’s Windows 8.1 Service Configurations.Black Viper’s Windows 10 Service Configurations.The following documentation describes the features and requirements of the DWM APIs. Many of the DWM features can be controlled or accessed by an application through the DWM APIs. It can be enabled and disabled through the Administrative Tools Control Panel item, under Services, as Desktop Window Manager Session Manager. The Desktop Window Manager runs as a Windows service. Through desktop composition, DWM enables visual effects on the desktop as well as various features such as glass window frames, 3-D window transition animations, Windows Flip and Windows Flip3D, and high resolution support. Instead, their drawing is redirected to off-screen surfaces in video memory, which are then rendered into a desktop image and presented on the display.ĭesktop composition is performed by the Desktop Window Manager (DWM). When desktop composition is enabled, individual windows no longer draw directly to the screen or primary display device as they did in previous versions of Windows. The desktop composition feature, introduced in Windows Vista, fundamentally changed the way applications display pixels on the screen.

Desktop window manager