what is the latest version of SA for the home pc?

What is the latest version of SA for download for a home PC?

Hi arejfour:

The current version is SupportAssist v4.6.3 (rel. 24-Dec-2024). See my 02-Jan-2025 post in WjSturgis' Support Assist Will Not Run for information about known issues with recent releases of SupportAssist for Home PCs v4.6.x.  There is also a link in that topic to employee DELL-Nat M's 03-Apr-2024 instructions <here> on how to perform a clean reinstall of SupportAssist for Home PCs if you are having problems installing and/or running the latest version.  The latest installer (SupportAssistInstaller.exe) is available for download at https://downloads.dell.com/serviceability/catalog/SupportAssistInstaller.exe.

SA seems to running the background even though I disabled the automatic scan functions. So why is it running in the background?

SupportAssist is designed to automatically load at Windows startup.  I removed all SupportAssist-related software from my Inspiron 5584 after my service warranty expired (they were too buggy, consumed too much RAM and CPU) but here is an image I captured in Feb 2023 of my Windows Services that shows the Dell SupportAssist service and most other related services (e.g., Dell Data Vault Collector, Dell TechHub, Dell Client Management Service, , etc.) have a Startup Type of Automatic (Delayed), which means that SupportAssist starts running in the background shortly after your Windows OS has loaded.

Besides your automatic background scans there are several other background tasks performed by SupportAssist.  For example, if Dell SupportAssist OS Recovery v5.5.x is installed and System Repair is turned ON in your SupportAssist settings (see the section titled Configure System Repair Settings <here> in the SupportAssist v4 User Guide) then Dell SupportAssist OS Recovery (also known as Dell SupportAssist Remediation or System Repair) will create a Dell system repair point in the hidden and protected C:\ProgramData\Dell\SARemediation\Snapshots folder about 30 minutes after each Windows startup.  These system repair points (snapshots) can be used in an emergency to recover your system if it doesn't boot up correctly.

SupportAssist also continuously collects telemetry data from your system and sends this data back to Dell for analysis (see the section titled Privacy and Terms <here> in the SupportAssist v4 User Guide).  I'm not sure what this Privacy section looks like in SupportAssist v4.x, but when I still used SupportAssist v3.x if I turned OFF that setting to prevent Dell from collecting telemetry data as shown in my May 2022 image below then SupportAssist would not run correctly (e.g., I could not run an online check for available updates from the support page for my Inspiron 5584).

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Dell Inspiron 15 5584 * 64-bit Win 10 Pro v22H2 build 19045.5487 * Firefox v135.0.0 * Microsoft Defender v4.18.24090.11-1.1.24090.11 * Malwarebytes Premium v5.2.6.163-1.0.5146 * Macrium Reflect Free v8.0.7783 * Dell Update for Windows Universal v5.4.0 * My Dell v2.2.6.0 * Fusion Service 2.2.14.0

Thank you for your reply. I checked task manager too see how much RAM SA is using- see attached screen shot. Current installed SA version 4.6.3 For a program that really does very little, in my opinion, it's using a lot of RAM. I would mention that I have an Dell 8950 512 SSD and 16gb RAM. I look forward to anyone's comments. Thanks

I checked task manager too see how much RAM SA is using... For a program that really does very little, in my opinion, it's using a lot of RAM.

Hi arejfour:

I agree, but as long as SupportAssist is configured to load into memory at Windows startup it's going to occupy RAM, whether it's actively performing a task (i.e., consuming CPU) or not.

At one point I changed the Startup Type of my Dell SupportAssist service to "Disabled" in my Windows Services to prevent it from loading at boot-up, but that had unintended consequences (e.g., the Dell Client Management Service shared by other Dell programs like Dell Update v5.x did not always start at boot-up if I recall correctly), and every time I wanted to run SupportAssist I would have to change that Dell SupportAssist service back to "Automatic (Delayed Start)" and re-boot my computer.  That became too time-consuming and in the end I decided to uninstall all my SupportAssist-related software.
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I replaced SupportAssist with Dell Update for Windows Universal v5.4.0, which only loads into memory when I launch it manually from the shortcut on my Start menu. I occasionally use this utility to check for available updates for my Inspiron 5584, and if I need to run a Dell hardware diagnostic I run the F12 ePSA (enhanced Pre-boot System Assessment) on-board hardware diagnostics from my Dell BIOS. See my 15-Feb-2025 comments in Policywonk's Supportassist driver error under Windows 11 24H2 after the update on 7390 2 in 1 for details on how I replaced the functionality of all my buggy, bloated SupportAssist-related software. 

Unfortunately, my Dell Update utility officially reached end of support on 31-Dec-2024 [see Alienware Update and Dell Update End of Life (EoL) Announcement] but for now it still runs correctly per my 02-Jan-2025 post <here>.

I'd suggest go to the Drivers and Downloads page for your XPS 8950 at https://www.dell.com/support/product-details/en-us/product/xps-8950-desktop/drivers, click the blue Identify Device button and enter your unique Service Tag, and then see if the filtered list of Dell software and drivers that matches your system components on the "This Device" tab includes the Dell Command | Update v5.4.0 application (Dell-Command-Update-Application_NX2YD_WIN_5.4.0_A00.EXE, rel. 06-Sep-2024).  I'm not certain, but AFAIK the standalone Dell | Command Update v5.4.0 application and Dell Command | Update for Windows Universal v5.4.0 (the UWP edition) are not included in the EoL announcement.  If Dell | Command Update did reach end of support on 31-Dec-2024 you should see a warning at launch like the one shown <here>.
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Dell Inspiron 15 5584 * 64-bit Win 10 Pro v22H2 build 19045.5487 * Firefox v135.0.0 * Microsoft Defender v4.18.24090.11-1.1.24090.11 * Malwarebytes Premium v5.2.6.163-1.0.5146 * Macrium Reflect Free v8.0.7783 * Dell Update for Windows Universal v5.4.0 * My Dell v2.2.6.0 * Fusion Service 2.2.14.0

Thank you for your reply. I'm acquainted with both the F12 option and the Dell driver and download screen and I use them both. I'm thinking about your suggestion to uninstall SA. Thanks

... I'm thinking about your suggestion to uninstall SA.

Hi arejfour:

Just keep in mind that the blue "Check for Updates" button on your XPS 8950 support page at https://www.dell.com/support/product-details/en-us/product/xps-8950-desktop/drivers won't work correctly after SupportAssist is uninstalled. Once that software is removed you will be prompted to reinstall SupportAssist every time you click "Check for Updates" on that web page.

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Dell Inspiron 15 5584 * 64-bit Win 10 Pro v22H2 build 19045.5487 * Firefox v135.0.0 * Microsoft Defender v4.18.24090.11-1.1.24090.11 * Malwarebytes Premium v5.2.6.163-1.0.5146 * Macrium Reflect Free v8.0.7783 * Dell Update for Windows Universal v5.4.0 * My Dell v2.2.6.0 * Fusion Service 2.2.14.0

@lmacri​

I replaced SupportAssist with Dell Update for Windows Universal v5.4.0, which only loads into memory when I launch it manually from the shortcut on my Start menu. I occasionally use this utility to check for available updates for my Inspiron 5584, and if I need to run a Dell hardware diagnostic I run the F12 ePSA (enhanced Pre-boot System Assessment) on-board hardware diagnostics from my Dell BIOS. See my 15-Feb-2025 comments in Policywonk's Supportassist driver error under Windows 11 24H2 after the update on 7390 2 in 1Chill Guy Clicker  for details on how I replaced the functionality of all my buggy, bloated SupportAssist-related software. 

Unfortunately, my Dell Update utility officially reached end of support on 31-Dec-2024 [see Alienware Update and Dell Update End of Life (EoL) Announcement] but for now it still runs correctly per my 02-Jan-2025 post <here>.

Looks like Dell SupportAssist is a pain, Dell Update is the way to go!

@Kenneth66

Your setup sounds very clean. Replacing SupportAssist with Dell Update for Windows Universal v5.4.0, and only launching it manually when needed, seems like a smart approach. Running F12 ePSA diagnostics via BIOS is also a solid alternative for hardware checks. I also saw the Alienware Update and Dell Update End of Life (EoL) Announcement online games – a bit disappointing, but glad to hear it still works for now.

SupportAssist can definitely feel bloated and intrusive. Based on your experiences, I’m leaning more towards using Dell Update and manual diagnostics. Really appreciate both of your insights!

Even if you have disabled the automatic scanning feature, Microsoft Defender still runs in the background to monitor the files and processes you open or download, in order to detect any malicious software....

Hi @sandi1233 :

Did you use AI to generate your answer? This topic has nothing to do with the Windows Defender antivirus.

This is a discussion about the high amount of RAM and/or CPU consumed by Dell SupportAssist v4.x, even when scheduled tasks (which can be disabled at Settings | Scans and Optimizations | Open as instructed in the SupportAssist user guide <here>) are not running in the background.

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NOTE: For other users following this topic please see my comments about the current Dell Update for Windows Universal v5.5.0 in my 05-Apr-2025 topic Dell Update v5.5.0 (rel. 01-Apr-2025) Installs Unnecessary Bloat. Version 5.5.0 is a complete redesign of the v5.4.0 app I recommended in my 16-Feb-2025 post <above> and the Dell Update for Windows Universal app is no longer installed on my Inspiron 5584. 
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Dell Inspiron 15 5584 * 64-bit Win 10 Pro v22H2 build 19045.5854 * Firefox v139.0.0 * Microsoft Defender v4.18.25040.2-1.1.25040.1 * Malwarebytes Premium v5.3.1.188-133.0.5274 * Macrium Reflect Free v8.0.7783 * My Dell v2.2.6.0 * Fusion Service 2.2.14.0

​... I'm thinking about your suggestion to uninstall SA.

Hi arejfour:

Just keep in mind that the blue "Check for Updates" button on your XPS 8950 support page at https://www.dell.com/support/product-details/en-us/product/xps-8950-desktop/drivers 

freegames won't work correctly after SupportAssist is uninstalled. Once that software is removed you will be prompted to reinstall SupportAssist every time you click "Check for Updates" on that web page.

Hi @lmacri, just note that uninstalling SupportAssist means manual updates from Dell's site or alternatives will be needed!

... just note that uninstalling SupportAssist means manual updates from Dell's site or alternatives will be needed!

Hi avbnet:

What is your Windows OS and Dell computer model?

If your main concern is to have a utility that updates your hardware drivers and Dell software you should be able to find an alternate Dell Update v5.x utility (e.g., Dell Command | Update v5.5.0, Dell Update for Windows Universal v5.5.0, etc.) on the support page for your Dell computer model. Dell Update for Windows Universal v5.5.0 (the Dell Update app currently recommended for my Inspiron 15 5584) ran correctly on my laptop - my main objection to that utility was all the unnecessary bloat Dell has added to the re-designed v5.5.0 apps (e.g., like the Dell TechHub service, which is required by SupportAssist v4.8.x to run hardware diagnostics but serves no useful purpose in Dell Update v5.5.x).

If I browse to the Drivers & Downloads tab of my Inspiron 15 5584 support page, click the Select Drivers button, choose the This Device tab, and enter my unique Service Tag I'm presented with a filtered list of recommended updates that match my system components (see image below), even though SupportAssist v4.8.x is not installed. When a new update I need is added to that list I simply download the .exe installer and save it to my desktop and then right-click and choose "Run as Administrator". Some users might not be comfortable manually installing updates this way but this method works well for me since Dell rarely releases a new update for my four-year-old Inspiron these days. 

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Dell Inspiron 15 5584 * 64-bit Win 10 Pro v22H2 build 19045.5965 * Firefox v139.0.4 * Microsoft Defender v4.18.25050.5-1.1.25050.6 * Malwarebytes Premium v5.3.2.195-134.1.5283 * Macrium Reflect Free v8.0.7783 * My Dell v2.2.6.0 * Fusion Service 2.2.14.0