AMD External Events Utility and AMD Crash Defender: can you disable them?

DebloatProUndo: One-wayUpdated View as Markdown

Short answer

Updated

The AMD driver installs the External Events Utility, which handles display hotkeys and FreeSync events, and Crash Defender, which collects data when the driver crashes. This tweak disables them where they are present.

What it does

The AMD driver installs the External Events Utility, which handles display hotkeys and FreeSync events, and Crash Defender, which collects data when the driver crashes. This tweak disables them where they are present.

In the app the switch is called "Disable AMD Driver Side Services", described there as: Disables AMD External Events/Crash Defender background hooks (no effect if not present).

When it helps, and when it hurts

When it helps

  • Removing two background services on an AMD system.

When it hurts

  • FreeSync can stop engaging and display hotplug or hotkey handling can break without the External Events Utility.
  • It is one-way in the app: reinstalling the driver or switching the services back on by hand restores them.

What it writes

Exactly what the switch changes, read from the app's source. Switching it off is what the app writes when you turn the tweak off again.

This tweak has no fixed list of registry values to print here: it works through a driver's own settings, scheduled tasks or values that differ from PC to PC (per device, per adapter or per installed game). The app reads what your PC has and changes only that.

How to undo it

In the app: One-way

Switching it off doesn't turn these services back on. Do that in Windows Services.

This tweak is one-way in the app: switching it off does not put things back. Switching it off doesn't turn these services back on. Do that in Windows Services.

Changing several settings at once? The app's Make a restore point button, on every plan, makes a Windows restore point before you start.

Verdict

Not recommended if you use FreeSync.

Questions

Is "Disable AMD Driver Side Services" safe to switch on?
Not recommended if you use FreeSync. The main cost: FreeSync can stop engaging and display hotplug or hotkey handling can break without the External Events Utility.
How do I undo it?
In the app this one is one-way. Switching it off doesn't turn these services back on. Do that in Windows Services.
Is "Disable AMD Driver Side Services" free in Frozen Tweaks?
It is part of Frozen Pro and Elite. You can also make the change by hand with the values on this page.

In the app

Switch
Disable AMD Driver Side Services
Category
Debloat
Plan
Pro
Undo
One-way

See it in the catalog

More tweak explainers

Written by

Founder of Frozen Tweaks, based in Hamburg, Germany. Publishes settings guides for competitive games on his YouTube channel, Frost LIVE.

In the app

Category
Debloat
Plan
Pro
Undo
One-way

See it in the catalog

Frozen Tweaks

Free for Windows 10 and 11

58 tweaks free, each with an undo switch. Never edits game files.

v2.0.0 · 6.4 MB · Windows 10 and 11, 64-bit · free account, no payment details

Or type frozentweaks.com on your PC.

The free Windows app for competitive games.

58 tweaks free, each with an undo switch. Never edits game files.

See all 177 tweaks

v2.0.0 · 6.4 MB · Windows 10 and 11, 64-bit · free account, no payment details

Frozen Tweaks runs on Windows. Send the link to your PC and download it there.

Or type frozentweaks.com on your PC.