Easy Step by Step Guide to Turning off Windows Live Messenger

You should turn off Windows Live Messenger if you don’t use it often. The program takes up a lot of system resources, which can slow your computer to a crawl.

Step 1

Right click its icon at the System Tray. Click Exit at the sub-menu.

Step 2

If you don't want Messenger to start up every time you boot the PC, open the program. Double click its window. Go to Tools, Options. Go to the General section. Remove the check next to “automatically run Windows Live Messenger when I log into Windows”.

Other Ways to Turnoff Windows Live Messenger

Step 1

Press and hold down the crtl+alt+del keys simultaneously. A window will appear. Click "Task Manager" from the options that pop up.

There are four tabs: Application, Processes, Networking and Performance. Click Processes. Look for Messenger (WLM). Click it and then click "End Process". The program is disabled and will no longer use any system resources.

If Live Messenger Does Not Respond

Check if you have any of these programs installed: MacroGaming SweetIM, Info Pen, Kiwee Toolbar, Messenger Plus, Smiley Central and MyWebSearch Toolbar. Uninstall these programs. Reboot your computer. Open Messenger and sign in. If this doesn’t solve the problem, you have to install the newest version of DirectX. You can download the files on the Internet.

Clean Install

If that doesn't work, try the following.

Step 1

Right click the Messenger icon and click Exit.

Step 2

Click Start, Run and type control appwiz.cpl at the Run box. Press the Enter key.

Step 3

Remove Messenger from the installed programs list.

Step 4

Go back to the Run dialog box. Type cleanmgr. Click OK. Choose C or whatever your main hard drive letter is.

Step 5

Select Downloaded Program Files, Temporary Internet Files, Temporary files, Temporary Offline Files and Offline Files at the Disk Cleanup tab. If you encounter problems, you will need to remove Messenger entries at the Registry. Go to Start, Run and type cmd. Click OK. Paste the following commands one at a time. Click OK after pasting each command.

REG DELETE "HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows Live\Messenger’ /f

REG DELETE HKLM\Software\Microsoft\MSNMessenger /f

REG DELETE HKCU\Software\Microsoft\MSNMessenger /f

REG DELETE "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows Live\Communications Clients\Shared" /f

REG DELETE HKCU\Software\Microsoft\IdentityCRL /f

Warning: be careful when making changes to the Registry. Paste the information as is. Do not make changes.

If you encounter a message saying the key doesn't exit, paste the next command. When finished, restart your computer. Reinstall Messenger. The program should work without a problem now.