What is User OOBE Broker & How to Disable It?

When a new device is put into use for the first time, the User OOBE Broker (Out-Of-Box Experience Broker) plays an important role in delivering a smooth user experience.

Despite its essential purpose, some users may encounter issues or wish to disable it for a variety of reasons. 

But most of them don’t know how to disable this program on their Windows PC. Well, that’s the reason why we are here. We will help you with the same. 

What is a User OOBE Broker?

Microsoft’s User OOBE Broker manages a device’s initial setup process when it is first installed. 

It makes it easy for users to configure their settings, connect to the internet, and customize their experience immediately after boot.

During this process, language preferences are chosen, accounts are created, privacy settings are configured, and updates are installed. Some of the functionalities of User OOBE Broker include:

1. Initial Setup Assistance: When a new Windows device is turned on, the User OOBE Broker guides the user through a series of personalization steps. In this process, you’ll create user accounts, connect to Wi-Fi, and configure privacy settings.
2. Update Management: This feature also provides a secure and up-to-date setup by installing the latest updates during setup.
3. User Experience Optimization: This process ensures that Windows functions efficiently and meets the user’s needs right from the start by tailoring the system to their preferences.

Is User OOBE Broker Virus?

There is no virus or malware associated with the User OOBE Broker. This executable file (.exe) is found in a subdirectory of C:\Windows\System32. 

It is 44,032 bytes in size and has an invisible window. There are two trust files in this file: a Windows trust file and a Microsoft trust file.

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What Issue Will You Face If User OOBE Broker Is Enabled?

Although the User OOBE Broker is extremely important, it can sometimes cause problems. These problems can affect the user experience, from minor annoyances to major disruptions.

1. High CPU Usage: Users often complain about the User OOBE Broker process consuming a great deal of CPU power. Consequently, the system may be slowed down, affecting performance.
2. System Slowdowns: Users might also notice general system slowdowns along with high CPU usage. These can be frustrating, especially if they occur frequently or negatively impact the performance of other programs.
3. Unresponsiveness: During initial installation or while using the application, the process may become unresponsive, resulting in freezes or crashes.
4. Errors and bugs: It is possible that bugs within the OOBE process can cause setup errors. To resolve this issue, the device might need to be restarted or reset completely.

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How to Disable User OOBE Broker?

You can try several methods if you’re having issues with User OOBE Broker or would simply like to disable it. Here are the steps to disable User OOBE Broker:

Method 1: Close UserOOBEBroker.exe Process from Task Manager

Those who are computer enthusiasts are already familiar with this method but it is still effective.

• Initially, you can open the Task Manager by pressing Ctrl+Shift+Esc keys.
• Go to the Details tab.
• In the list of processes, scroll down and search for UserOOBEBroker.exe.
• To end a task, select the process and click on the End Task button.

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Method 2: Stop UserOOBEBroker.exe by disabling Windows Welcome

It has been noticed by all of us that Windows 11/10’s Settings App has a wide range of options that can be customized.

1. Using the Win + I keys, open the Settings App.
2. Select System.
3. Go to the Notifications > Additional Settings section on the left.
4. Then, make sure to uncheck the option Show me the Windows welcome experience after updates and occasionally when I sign in to highlight what’s new and suggested.

Start your system again and check Task Manager for the process. By doing so, the UserOOBEBroker.exe process will also be stopped and will not be able to run anymore.

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Method 3: Use the Windows Registry

There are significant effects that can result from modifying the Windows Registry. Be careful and consider backing up your registry before you make any changes.

1. Use the Windows +R keys to open the Run dialog box.
2. To open Registry Editor, type regedit and click OK.
3. Navigate to the following key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\ Windows \CurrentVersion\OOBE\UserOOBEBroker

4. To deactivate the EnableUserOOBEBroker value, double-click on it and set its value to 0.

When User OOBE Broker is disabled after installation, the user may not be able to adjust certain OOBE settings. Thus, to access these options, you need to reactivate the User OOBE Broker.

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Method 4: Using Group Policy Editor

Those who own Windows Pro, Enterprise, or Education editions are eligible for this method.

1. Initially, open the Run box, type gpedit.msc, and hit Enter.
2. Then, go to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Logon
3. Make sure the policy “Show first sign-in animation” is set to “Disabled.”

4. Then click “Apply” and “OK“. Thereafter, to make the changes effective, restart your computer.

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Is There Any Issue You Will Face If You Disable This Feature?

User OOBE Broker can be disabled in several ways, most importantly if done incorrectly. There are a number of risks and considerations to consider:

1. Incomplete Setup: When OOBE Broker is disabled during initial setup, the system may not be properly configured.
2. System Instability: If system settings, especially the registry, are not modified correctly, the system may become unstable.
3. Loss of Functionality: Disruptions to the initial setup process may cause some features and updates not to function as expected.
4. Unsupported Configurations: Disabling OOBE Broker can result in unsupported configurations that may adversely affect the security and management of enterprise systems.

So, that’s all we have for you on what is User OOBE Broker is and how to disable it. We hope this guide has been helpful to you. For more help, comment below and let us know.