How to Disable Background Apps on Windows 11

Your Windows 11 computer might have apps running in the background even when you don’t use them. This drains your battery and slows down your PC. The good news? You can turn these apps off easily.

Some apps need to run in the background. Weather updates and reminders are examples. But apps you rarely use don’t need to stay on. Turning them off gives you back speed and battery life.

Why Stop Background Apps?

• Your PC runs faster.
• Your battery lasts longer, especially on laptops.
• You control what uses your computer’s power.

How to Turn Off Background Apps on Windows 11

1. Open Settings. Press the Windows key + I on your keyboard at the same time. You can also click the Start button and then click Settings.

Here’s where to find Settings:

2. In the Settings window, click Apps on the left side menu.
3. Click Apps & features on the right side.

It looks like this:

4. Scroll through your apps list. Find the app you want to stop.
5. Click the three dots (⋮) next to it. Select Advanced options.

Here’s an example:

6. Look for Background apps permissions in the new window.
7. Click the dropdown menu. Select Never.

It looks like this:

8. Repeat these steps for each app you want to stop.

Important: Keep apps running in the background if you want notifications from them, like weather alerts or alarms.

Want more Windows 11 tips? Visit Microsoft Support.

Summary

Background apps slow down your Windows 11 PC and drain battery power. You can disable them by opening Settings, going to Apps & features, finding the app, clicking the three dots, selecting Advanced options, and changing Background apps permissions to Never. Keep essential apps like weather and alarms running. This simple change makes your computer faster and your battery last longer.