How to Control Whether an App Can Run in the Background in Windows 11

Background apps in Windows 11 are programs that keep working when you are not looking at them. They check for email, sync data, refresh live tiles, and download updates. Too many of them drain a laptop battery, use data, and slow the system down.

You can control this per app from the Settings ⚙️ app. It takes about a minute for each app, and you don’t need to restart.

How to Control Background App Permissions in 🪟 Windows 11

Windows 11 lets you decide what each app may do when you are not actively using it. Used well, this saves battery and frees up memory and processor time for the apps you are working in.

Traditional desktop programs, the ones installed with a setup file, usually do not offer a background setting. Their three-dot menu has no Advanced options entry. To stop one of those from running in the background, check its own settings or the Startup apps list.

Step 1Open Your App Settings

1. Click the Start button, usually in the bottom-left or center of the taskbar 🖥️.
2. Select Settings. You can also press Windows Key + I on your keyboard to open Settings ⚙️ directly. The Settings window should now be open.

   

3. In Settings, click Apps in the left menu.
4. Select Installed apps. You should now see a list of the programs on your PC.

   

These steps are the same on Windows 11 Home and Pro.

Step 2Find the App You Want to Control

The list shows every app on your computer. Scroll through it to find the one you want to manage. You can also type the app’s name in the search 🔍 box above the list to jump straight to it. The Sort by menu can help too: it lets you sort by name, size, or install date. Sorting by name is useful if you know what you are looking for. Sorting by size can show you which big apps are worth a closer look.

Step 3Access Advanced Options

1. Find the app you want to change in the list.
2. To the right of the app's name, click the three dots (...). This is the "More options" button. A small menu opens.
3. Select Advanced options from this menu. The app's own settings page opens.

   

4. Scroll down to the Background apps permissions section. Use the Let this app run in the background drop-down to pick a setting.

If Advanced options is missing from the menu, the app is probably a traditional desktop program. Those do not have this setting. If the background permissions section is missing or greyed out on a Store app, your PC may be managed by an organization that sets this through policy. In that case, ask your IT administrator.

Step 4Adjust Background App Permissions

Background app permissions control whether each program can run when you are not actively using it. You choose between Always, Power optimized, or Never for each app. The change takes effect right away and does not need a restart. To undo it, come back to the same page and pick a different option.

• Always: The app is always allowed to run in the background. It can fetch information and send you notifications even when you are not using it. This can use more power, so it is a poor choice for battery-hungry apps on a laptop. Save it for apps where timely alerts matter, such as a messaging app you rely on.
• Power optimized (recommended): This is the default for many apps and is usually the right choice. Windows decides when the app may run in the background, based on things like battery level and how you use the app. The app can still get important notifications and update from time to time. It keeps apps working without wasting much battery.
• Never: The app is not allowed to run in the background at all. You won't get notifications or updates from it until you open it. This suits apps you rarely use, or ones you want to be sure are not using resources when you don't need them.

Start with the apps you use most. If they are not already set to Power optimized, change them to that. For apps you only open once in a while, such as a rarely used game or a utility you open every few months, consider setting them to Never.

If your laptop battery drains quickly, check the Store apps near the top of the battery usage list in Settings › System › Power & battery. Those are good candidates for a stricter setting. After you change an app, use the PC normally for a day or two and see whether anything you care about has stopped working.

For example, if you set your email app to "Never," you may not see new emails until you open the app manually. Be sure you understand what this means for each app before you change its settings. If an app stops notifying you, set it back to Power optimized or Always.

References:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/privacy/windows-background-apps-and-your-privacy

Summary

Managing background apps helps your computer run better and saves battery power by stopping unused programs from running out of sight. To change the setting, go to Installed apps, open the advanced options for a specific program, and set its background permission to Never or Power optimized. Remember that desktop programs without an Advanced options entry need to be managed in their own settings.