I can tell you an easy way to see what background stuff is running on your system, it's called task manager. Windows 11 task manager has a list called 'background processes', I'm looking at it right now, and can see things that are on but aren't open, things windows itself is running, and other stuff. The only drawback is it doesn't tell you more details then that, like the publisher or what user/service started it, but if you want anything more detailed process explorer can tell you that, and if the process/app is set to automatically start/restart it'll do that if you kill it. I've used it for years even before it showed background processes to kill problematic apps, though for a while process explorer was my go to until task manager added minor functions it was lacking. Answer from crlcan81 on reddit.com
Windows 11Windows 10 · Select Start , then select Settings > Apps > Installed apps. Scroll to the desired app, select More options on the right edge of the window, then select Advanced options. In the Background app permissions section, under Let this app run in background, select one of the ...
My Googling about how to turn off background apps has yielded this advice:
"To disable background apps in Windows 11, open the Settings app and navigate to the Apps tab. Then, select the app you want to disable, go to Advanced options, and choose "Never" under Background Apps Permissions."
There are like 10 thousand apps in the Apps tab. The thought of selecting every app, one by one, and going through all the rigamarole that is required to turn off background permissions makes me want to hurl myself out a window. It is simply an unthinkable task. (It makes one wonder if this is perhaps by design.)
Is there no other way to accomplish the goal?? Please be my hero and advise. Many thanks.
(Also, even if I could just view a list of what apps are running in the background, that would be helpful.)
Whenever I am watching Youtube on chrome, or in a call on Discord and i am tabbed into another application and go to tab back, its as if the application is unloaded, and i need to wait like 2 seconds, or sometimes click on the screen to have the… More on learn.microsoft.com
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October 10, 2024
How to stop an app from running in the background?
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May 1, 2025
Windows 11: How to Fix Lagging Background Apps While Playing Games Fullscreen?
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December 8, 2025
Unable to change background apps settings in Windows 11
I've been on Windows 11 for a while and I've never experienced or heard of this bug. It almost sounds like an issue with an antivirus or something along those lines. What other apps/programs are running while you game? More on reddit.com
November 21, 2025 - This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable let apps run in the background for your account or all users in Windows 11. In Windows 11, you can use apps that can continue to perform actions even when you are not actively in the app’s window. These are commonly called background apps...
Windows 11 · Some apps can run in the background when you’re not actively using them. Background activity allows apps to send notifications, sync data, and stay up to date. However, apps that run in the background can also increase battery usage. Windows lets you control background activity for supported apps so you can reduce power consumption and improve battery life.
October 6, 2023 - Also useful if you need to disable a non-Microsoft third-party app from running in the background. For this, you will need to create a registry file and run it with administrative privilege. Before you proceed, create a restore point. You can use the restore point to revert your PC to its previous state if something goes wrong when editing the registry entries. ... Press Win + R to open the Run dialog. Type notepad and click OK to open the text editor app. ... Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\BackgroundAccessApplications] "GlobalUserDisabled"=dword:00000001 [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Search] "BackgroundAppGlobalToggle"=dword:00000000
1 week ago - In this guide, we’ll tackle different methods of turning on and off background apps in Windows 11 and some special considerations you should remember when making such a change.
December 3, 2025 - You’ll be redirected to the Apps & features page. There, under the Background apps permissions section, choose again the Never option. Keep in mind that this option will work only if your PC has a battery. For example, it wouldn’t be available if you’re running Windows 11 on a VM machine.
October 10, 2024 - **3. Configure Multitasking Settings:**Adjusting Windows 11’s multitasking settings can also help prevent background apps from being unloaded.
July 23, 2025 - Step 3: Find and double-click on the "Let Windows apps run in the background" policy in the right pane. ... Step 5: Under the Options section, open the drop-down for "Default for all apps" and pick "Force Deny." Step 6: Click "Apply" and then "OK" to save changes. In conclusion, Windows 11 provides a sophisticated computing background that makes running background apps convenient.
September 22, 2021 - Disable Background Apps in the Settings app 1. Launch the Windows Settings app. 2. Click "Apps" on the left sidebar, then "Apps & features." 3.
I show you how to disable background apps on windows 11 and how to stop background apps in windows 11 in this video. For more videos like this then please le...
3 weeks ago - To disable background apps on Windows 11, open Settings > Apps > Installed apps, open "Advanced options," and then select "Never" for the app
November 14, 2023 - You can disable them from the Settings app, Power and Battery settings, or disable them from Group Policy. We’ve covered this for Windows 10 in the past; however, here’s an updated version for Windows 11 users. One of the more straightforward ways to stop apps from running in the background is via the Settings app.
How to disable background apps on Windows 11? In this guide, learn how to turn off or disable background applications on Windows 11. Hope this helps!🔔 Like...
How to Disable Background Apps in Windows 11 👍 Step-by-Step Guide Want to improve your PC's performance and save battery life? In this quick tutorial, you'l...
November 5, 2024 - Manage Background Permissions : Click on an app, then choose between Always , Power optimized , or Never under the Background App Permissions option. If you’re using Windows 11 Pro or higher, the Group Policy Editor offers a more advanced option to disable all background apps at once.
September 15, 2023 - Scroll down to Background apps permissions, and select Never from the drop-down menu. The default option is Power optimized (recommended). If you choose this option, Windows will decide what’s best to help save the most power while still allowing the app to update periodically and receive notifications. Some versions of Windows 11 let you turn off background apps through the Local Group Policy Editor.
March 30, 2025 - Windows 11 installed apps settings menu advanced options · On the System -> Apps -> Installed apps -> App name, under Background apps permissions, choose what background action to allow for the specific app.
February 6, 2026 - Background apps in Windows 11 are applications that continue running even when you are not actively using them. While some background activity is useful for notifications and updates, too many background apps can slow down your PC, drain battery ...
October 19, 2024 - Not all apps have this feature. Go to Apps, installed apps and go through them. For example 'Copilot'. Click on the 3dots and select 'Advanced options'; apps only with this option works. Select 'let this app run in the background'. Select never.