Manage Background Apps in Windows 11: A Step-by-Step Guide
Background apps in Windows 11 run hidden processes even after you close their main windows so they can download updates, sync files, and send notifications. Left unchecked, these hidden tasks drain your laptop battery and waste system memory.
Stopping unnecessary programs from running in the background helps your PC run faster and keeps your battery charged longer. You can control these settings for each installed app through the main Settings menu. Each app gets one of three options:
- Always. The app is always allowed to run in the background.
- Power optimized (recommended). Windows decides based on battery needs.
- Never. The app won’t run in the background when you’re not actively using it.
Open Settings , go to Apps, then Installed apps, and click the three-dot menu next to an app and choose Advanced options. Under Background apps permissions, pick Always, Power optimized (recommended), or Never. The change applies to that app only and takes effect immediately, with no restart needed. Some desktop programs lack this setting and manage background activity inside the program itself.
How to stop or allow apps to run in the background in 🪟 Windows 11
The steps are the same on Home and Pro, and you don’t need an administrator account to change them for your own use.
Here’s how to change that behavior, one app at a time. Settings handles almost every configuration task in Windows 11, so this is the only tool you need.
- Open the Settings app. Press the Windows key + I shortcut, or click Start then Settings, as shown below.
If you prefer, type Settings into the taskbar ’s search box and open it from the results. Either way, the Windows Settings window should appear and look similar to the image below.
- In the Settings app, click Apps in the left-hand menu. The Apps page opens on the right.
- On the right side, click the Installed apps tile. You should see a list of every app on the PC, which you can sort or search by name.
- In Settings Apps Installed apps, find the app you want to adjust and click the menu (three-dotted) button next to it. A short menu drops down.
- From the menu, select Advanced options, as highlighted below. The app's own settings page opens.
- On the page for that app (Settings Apps Installed apps > the app's name), find the Background apps permissions section.
- Open the drop-down list there and choose the level you want: Always keeps the app running constantly, Power optimized (recommended) lets Windows manage power automatically, and Never blocks background activity entirely.
The choice you make applies only to the selected app, so repeat the steps for each app you want to change. The adjustment takes effect immediately. You don't need to restart or sign out. To undo it, return to the same page and pick Power optimized (recommended) again.
If you don't see a Background apps permissions section for an app, that is normal. Windows shows this setting mainly for Microsoft Store apps. Traditional desktop programs manage their own background behavior, usually through a setting inside the program itself or through its startup entry.
Avoid setting everything to Never.
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Conclusion:
- Managing background apps in Windows 11 gives you control over how apps behave when you aren't using them.
- By following the steps above, you can choose for each app whether it runs in the background, based on your preferences and your device's needs.
- Keep in mind that setting at least one app to Always may be necessary for essential device functions, such as staying connected and receiving app updates.
Adjusting these background permissions gives you precise control over system resources and battery life.
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About the Author
Richard
Tech Writer, IT Professional
Richard is a writer at Geek Rewind who turns complex IT tasks into clear, step-by-step guides. He draws on years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, focusing on Windows, Linux and WordPress: the problems people actually run into, and the fixes that work. His server and WordPress guides come from systems he runs himself. Richard builds and maintains the platform behind Geek Rewind, from its Ubuntu servers and Nginx configuration to its custom WordPress plugins. Many new tutorials start with readers' questions, and he's always glad to answer them in the comments.
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