It usually runs in the background because Cortana is turned on by default in many versions of Windows. Even if you turn off Cortana, you might still see this process for a short time because of leftover background services. In this article, we will discuss different ways to close this process.
1. Disable Cortana via Local Group Policy Editor
You can disable Cortana using the Local Group Policy Editor. This will remove all Cortana-related processes, including ActionUri OOP Server. This is the best option for users who don’t use or want Cortana.
That’s it! Cortana should now be disabled on your system. Restart your computer to apply the changes. Note: This method only disables Cortana, the digital assistant. The Cortana process (SearchUI.exe) used for Windows Search will still be visible in Task Manager, which is normal. However, the ActionUri OOP Server process should not run anymore, and other related processes should use minimal resources.
2. Disable Cortana via Registry Editor
You can also disable Cortana using the Registry Editor. The previous method works for certain editions of Windows, but if you don’t have access to the Local Group Policy Editor, use this approach.
Once you’re done, restart your computer and see if the problem is resolved. Note: This turns off Cortana, but the Windows Search element (SearchUI.exe) is still present, which is normal. The ActionUri OOP Server process should no longer appear, and any other Cortana-related activity will use minimal resources.
3. Block ActionUri with Windows Firewall
Since the ActionUri OOP Server is started when Cortana sends and receives data over the internet, you can stop it from connecting by creating rules in Windows Firewall. This can help minimize its system usage. Note, however, that this will also stop Cortana from performing web searches.
When finished, you should see these block rules at the top of your Windows Firewall rule list. Note: You can also follow these steps to block other applications (such as Reminders WinRT OOP Server). Just use the right program file (for example, ReminderServer.exe) in step 8 instead of ActionUriServer.exe.
4. Rename the Cortana Folder
Warning: This method might cause your Start menu or other features that depend on Cortana to stop working. Only proceed if you’re aware of and accept this risk. If nothing else has worked, and you want Cortana and its related processes completely gone, you can rename or move the Cortana system folder. This disables Cortana and its search features. Note: If you update Windows after doing this, the changes will likely be undone. If you want to keep Cortana disabled after a Windows update, repeat these steps. Before making any changes, you need to take ownership of the Cortana folder. The following steps will help you quickly add a “Take Ownership” option to your right-click menu, making this process easier in the future. (You can remove this context menu entry later if you want.)
Now you have a “Take Ownership” option in your context menu. Next, rename the Cortana folder:
The Cortana folder should now be moved to your backup folder, effectively disabling Cortana. If you ever want Cortana back, just copy or move the folder back to the original SystemApps directory.
