Overview – Stop Background Apps in Windows 11
The background apps and services keep running in the background and consume internet data and device’s battery.
It seems that want to increase your computer’s performance and reduce internet data consumption by stopping background apps in Windows.
Some applications keep running in the background checking for updates, using the scripts, excessive battery consumption, and moreover using extra internet data and Hardware resources including RAM, and CPU Usage even after you close them.
Now, you might be thinking “How do I stop apps from running in the background in Windows 11?”
No problem, by the end of this article, you will be able to stop background apps in Windows 11 in the following ways:
What happens when I disable background apps?
When the programs are running in the background, they are either minimized to the system tray (Taskbar) or kept hidden, consuming the internet data, RAM, and CPU usage. Once the background programs are disabled, they will not be running unless launched manually, thus resulting in consuming no RAM and internet data in the background.
Method #1: Using Windows Settings
You can disable any particular background app by using Windows Settings. However, if you need to disable all background apps, you may proceed to the next method using Command Prompt.
Step #1: Go to the Windows Settings from the Start Menu.
Step #2: Select the “Apps” option from the left sidebar/navigation pane and select the “Apps & Features” option.
Step #3: Select the vertical 3-dots menu (also called Kebab Menu) next to the App name and icon that you want to close. Select the “Advanced Options” button from the menu that appeared. If you don’t see the option listed, this means that the application doesn’t allow the users to tweak its configuration from Windows Settings.
Step #4: Under the “App Permissions” section, you will find the “Background App Permissions” option. Select the “Never” option from the dropdown menu.
You may use the command prompt to stop all background programs from running at the same time by following the steps in the next method.
Method #2: Using Command Prompt (CMD)
Step #1: Search for “Command Prompt” in Start Menu and run it as an administrator.
Step #2: Type the command: Reg Add HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\BackgroundAccessApplications /v GlobalUserDisabled /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f and press the enter key. The background applications except the built-in Windows Programs will be stopped.
Note: If you want to re-enable the disabled applications, type the command: Reg Add HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\BackgroundAccessApplications /v GlobalUserDisabled /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f and press the enter key.
Method #3: Using Group Policy Editor
Step #1: Search for “Edit Group Policy” from the Start Menu and press the enter key.
Step #2: Expand the left pane and navigate to the following path: Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\App Privacy folder. A list of privacy options appears. Double Click the “Let Windows apps run in background” option that is by default set to “Not Configured”.
Step #3: Select the “Disabled” option from the “let Windows apps run in the background” popup panel and press the “Apply” button.
Method #4: Using Registry Editor
If you keep configuring your device’s settings, then it’s better to automate the registry backup in your device to recover windows built-in settings, in case if any unexpected data loss occurs.
Step #1: Search for “Registry Editor” from the Start Menu and press the enter key.
Step #2: Expand the left pane and navigate to the following path: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\BackgroundAccessApplications
Step #3: Double-Click the “GlobalUserDisabled” option and an Edit DWORD (32-bit) value window appears in a popup, set its value data from 0 to 1 with the hexadecimal base, and press the “OK” button.
Note: If you want to re-enable the background apps running in the background, revert its value data to “0”.
FAQs Related to Background Apps in Windows
Should I turn off background apps on Windows 11?
Yes, it is suggested to turn off the background apps on windows unless you don’t use them. The apps running in the background consume excessive battery, internet data, and degrade the device’s performance.
Which apps should not be stopped from running in the background?
Some applications such as System Optimizers, Antivirus, VPNs, etc, must be kept enabled and kept running in the background to keep your device guarded against the virus, and unnecessary data collection.
How do I find out what Apps are running in the background in Windows 11?
To find out the apps running in the background, follow the steps: Click Ctrl + Shift + Esc key combination to open task manager and you will find all the applications running in the background. If you need a more comprehensive and detailed view, click the ‘details’ tab on the top bar.
Next Steps
We’ve covered how to prevent background apps from running in the background in Windows 11.
The applications running in the background increase the RAM and CPU usage, so it’s recommended to prevent them from running as far as possible for the device’s better performance and internet speed. However, you need not worry a lot about running background apps in the background if you have a high spec laptop or PC, but still, there is no loss disabling them.
Now it depends on your preferences whether or not to stop background apps from running in Windows 11.
Further, customize your Windows by following the related articles below.
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