Stopping Background Programs in Windows 11

Many applications that you have installed on your Windows 11 computer run in the background even after you close them. For instance, it's important for apps like Teams or Outlook to run in the background to receive new updates. However, if you have too many applications running in the background, it can lead to decreased performance, connectivity issues, and reduced battery life. Follow this article to learn how to stop background programs in Windows 11 using various methods to improve overall performance.

How to Stop Background Programs in Windows 11

Use Settings to Turn Off Background Apps in Windows 11

The Settings app allows you to manage Microsoft Store apps running in the background. Use this method to stop background usage for specific applications only.

1. Open Settings; the easiest way is to press WIN + i.

2. Select Apps on the left.

3. Choose Installed Apps on the right.

"Installed Apps" is highlighted in the Windows 11 Settings app.

4. Locate the app from the list by searching for it or scrolling manually.

5. Click the three dots next to the app, followed by Advanced Options.

"Advanced Options" is highlighted in the Installed Apps section of Windows 11 Settings.

Scroll down to Background App Permissions and select Never from the dropdown menu.

The background app permission "Never" for Microsoft Teams is highlighted in Windows 11 Settings.

Turn Off All Background Apps in Windows 11 Using Group Policy

Some versions of Windows 11 allow you to turn off background apps through the Local Group Policy Editor. This is useful for turning off all background apps at once, which will disable the background app permissions option.

1. Search for gpedit.msc in Windows, or run this command through the Run dialog (WIN + R).

2. In the right pane, navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > App Privacy.

3. On the right, double-click Allow Windows Apps to Run in the Background.

Computer Configuration, Administrative Templates, Windows Components, App Privacy, and "Allow Windows Apps to Run in the Background" are highlighted in the Local Group Policy Editor in Windows 11.

4. Select Enabled at the top.

5. Below that, in the Options area, change the default setting for all apps to Force Disallow.

6. Click OK to save.

"Enabled," "Force Disallow," and "OK" are highlighted in the Local Group Policy Editor for Windows 11.

Use the Registry Editor to Disable Background Apps

An alternative way to stop all background apps is to add a new registry value to the Windows Registry. This is just another method to modify the "Group Policy" setting mentioned above.

1. Open the Registry Editor and navigate to this registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\

2. Open the AppPrivacy key from the right pane.

If you don’t see it, right-click the Windows key and go to New > Key, name it AppPrivacy, and then press Enter.

The AppPrivacy key is highlighted in the Registry Editor.

3. Double-click LetAppsRunInBackground from the left pane.

If you don’t see it, double-click the AppPrivacy key until it is selected, then add a new registry value: right-click in the empty area on the right and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.

The "DWORD (32-bit) Value" menu item is highlighted in the Registry Editor.

4. Double-click LetAppsRunInBackground to open its properties, and change the Value data field to 2.

"2" and "LetAppsRunInBackground" are highlighted in the Registry Editor.

Click OK to save, then restart your computer to apply the changes.

Check App Settings for Background Activity Options

Some apps allow you to control their operation in the background; however, the setting to disable these background apps may not be available in the Windows Settings app or Group Policy Editor.

Chrome is a good example of this. Open the browser settings (select the three-dot menu at the top and then Settings), choose System on the left, and then turn off Continue Running Background Apps When Google Chrome is Closed.

The "System" tab and "Continue Running Background Apps When Closed" are highlighted.

What Happens When I Turn Off Background Apps?

The idea behind turning off background apps is to conserve system resources and power when the app is not in use. Preventing the app from running in the background means it won't send or receive notifications or sync information until you open it.

If you find that one of your apps is draining your laptop battery even when you're not actively using it, following the steps above can help extend your laptop's battery life. You can also save memory and bandwidth if a background app is consuming too much of these resources.

When you stop a program from running in the background, you save power and memory so it can be used for applications you use more frequently.

Other Ways to Stop Programs

There may be situations where you want to stop a program to avoid distractions or to save battery or memory, but there’s no option to turn it off in the background.

Some programs automatically start running when you boot up your computer, even if you don’t plan to use them right away or at all. It’s easy to see how this can affect other applications you want to use. One simple way to limit this type of application is to disable it from the settings.

One application may not respond or may use more memory than you want, either intentionally or due to a glitch, so you may need to force close these programs in Windows 11.

Finally, think carefully about whether you want this program on your computer. If you don’t need this application, it can be uninstalled, thus eliminating any concerns about its impact on system performance or battery life.

Go to Settings > Apps > Installed Apps to remove your programs.

Conclusion

In this article, we discussed how to stop background programs in Windows 11. By disabling background apps on Windows 11, you can manage connectivity, performance, and battery power. Additionally, if you are using a limited connection, disabling apps can be a significant benefit. It’s also important to note that some Win32 desktop applications allow you to control their background operation; each application varies, so you can look for the option in the app settings.

When it comes to managing applications on Windows, there are other things you can do. For example, you can set apps to open at startup or disable them. If you no longer need applications on Windows, it’s a good idea to uninstall them on Windows 11.