How to Disable Background Apps on Windows 11

While you’re using your Windows device tons of applications tend to run in the background. And yes, they also utilize system resources and memory even while running in the background. A plethora (Mostly all) of applications run in the background to send notifications, download new data, or perform certain other functions.

Image source: The Verge

Why Apps Run in the Background?

Let’s understand the importance of background apps with the help of an example. Suppose you’re using the Alarm app. You set an alarm for the next morning, right? Now, even if you shut down the Alarm app, your alarm will still ring at the set time. And this is how applications run in the background even when they are not active. The same goes for the Mail app and other important applications as this are how you receive instant notifications, emails, and other important alerts.

How to Disable Background Applications on Windows 11

But yes, if you want to disable background apps on Windows 11, you can easily accomplish that by making a few quick changes in your device’s settings. So, if you don’t want apps to take a toll on system resources and memory usage, use the below-listed methods to disable the background functioning of apps and services on your Windows 11 device.

Let’s get started.

Also read: Steps to Stop Background Apps from Running in Windows 10

#1 Via Settings App

One of the most simple ways to disable background apps on Windows 11 is by using the Settings app.

Tap on the Windows icon placed on the Taskbar, select “Settings”.

Switch to the “Apps” section from the left menu pane. Tap on “Apps and Features”.

Scroll through the list of apps and then tap the three-dot icon next to the app’s title that you need to disable from functioning in the background. Hit on “Advanced options”.

Under the Background Apps Permissions section, set the “Let this app run in the background” as “Never”.

Repeat the same set of steps that you need to disable from running the background.

Also read: How To Force Close Background Apps On iPhone X

#2 Change the Battery Settings

Did you know you could set and manage background activities for individual apps by analyzing their battery usage? Here’s what you need to do:

Launch the Settings app on Windows 11. Switch to the “System” tab and then hit on “Power and Battery”.

Select “Battery Usage”.

A list of all the installed applications will now load on the screen. Select any app, tap the three-dot icon next to it and tap on “Manage Background activity”.

Under the “Background apps permissions” section, select “Never”.

Also read: How to Stop Apps Running in the Background on your Android Smartphone?

#3 Use the Task Manager

If you don’t wish to use the Settings app to disable background apps on Windows 11, you can also use the Task Manager instead to get the job done. Follow these quick steps:

Press the Control + Shift +Escape key combination to open Task Manager. Tap on “More Details”.

In the Task Manager window, switch to the “Startup” tab.

Go through the list of applications, select the app that you don’t want to run in the background, and then hit the “Disable” button.

Also read: Task Manager not Working on Windows 11? Here’s the Fix!

#4 Make Changes in the Group Policy Editor

Press the Windows + R key combination to open the Run dialog box. Type “Gepedit.msc” in the text box and hit Enter.

In the Group Policy Editor, navigate to the following folder location:

Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\App Privacy

In the App Privacy folder, look for a file named “Let Windows apps run in the background” file. Double-tap on it to open Properties.

Select “Disabled” and then hit on the OK and Apply buttons to save the recent changes.

#5 Edit the Registry

Another simple way to disable background apps on Windows 11 is by editing the Windows Registry. Here’s what you need to do:

Press the Windows + R key combination to open the Run dialog box. Type “Regedit” and hit Enter to open the Registry Editor app.

In the Registry Editor window, navigate to the following folder location:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows

Right-click on the Windows folder, select New > Key. Rename the new key as “App Privacy”.

In the App Privacy folder, right-click anywhere and select New> D-Word 32 bit value.

Rename the newly created file as “Let the apps run in the background” and type “2” in the Value Data field.

Hit on OK to save the changes.

Also read: How To Kill Unresponsive Programs Without Task Manager

Conclusion

So fellas, here are 5 unique ways to disable background apps on Windows 11. You can use any of the above-mentioned methods to prevent specific apps from running in the background. By disabling unwanted apps from running in the background, you can save system resources and memory to optimize your device’s performance.

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