How to stop apps from running in the background in Windows
Jul 31, 2025 am 08:01 AMGo to Settings > Privacy or Apps > Background apps and toggle off apps to stop them from running in the background. 2. Open Task Manager, go to the Startup tab, select unnecessary apps, and click Disable to prevent them from launching at startup. 3. Use Task Manager’s Processes tab to right-click and end specific background apps currently running, noting not to end critical system processes. 4. Adjust power settings under System > Power & battery to modify advanced options like processor power management and restrict background services for further control. 5. Uninstall unused apps entirely via Settings > Apps > Installed apps to permanently prevent background activity. Combining these methods effectively stops unwanted background apps, improves performance, and conserves battery life.
Stopping apps from running in the background in Windows can help improve performance, reduce battery usage, and free up system resources. Here’s how to do it effectively using built-in tools.

1. Manage Background Apps in Settings
Windows 10 and 11 include a built-in setting to control which apps can run in the background.
Steps:

- Press Windows I to open Settings.
- Go to Privacy > Background apps (in Windows 10) or Apps > Background apps (in Windows 11).
- Under "Choose which apps can run in the background," you’ll see a list of apps.
- Toggle off the apps you don’t want running when not in use.
Note: Some system apps (like Settings or Windows Shell) can't be disabled here—and shouldn’t be.
This is the easiest way to stop most third-party apps (like Spotify, Discord, or social media apps) from consuming resources when minimized.

2. Disable Startup Apps via Task Manager
Many apps launch at startup and continue running in the background. You can stop them from launching automatically.
Steps:
- Press Ctrl Shift Esc to open Task Manager.
- Click on the Startup tab.
- Select any app you don’t need at startup.
- Click Disable.
Common offenders: Adobe Reader, Skype, OneDrive (if you don’t use it), printer software, and game clients like Steam or Epic.
Disabling these won’t stop the apps entirely—they’ll just stop launching when you turn on your PC.
3. Use Task Manager to End Running Background Processes
If you want to stop an app that’s currently running in the background:
- Open Task Manager (Ctrl Shift Esc).
- Go to the Processes tab.
- Look for apps under “Background processes.”
- Right-click the app and select End task.
?? Be careful: Don’t end processes you don’t recognize—some are essential for Windows to function.
This is a temporary fix. The app may restart later unless you disable it from startup or background permissions.
4. Adjust Power & Advanced Settings (Optional)
For deeper control, especially on laptops, you can tweak power settings:
- Go to Settings > System > Power & battery (Windows 11) or Power & sleep (Windows 10).
- Click on Additional power settings > Change plan settings > Change advanced power settings.
- Expand Processor power management and adjust Minimum processor state to limit background activity during idle.
Also, under Background services, some apps can be restricted via Group Policy or Registry (advanced users only).
5. Uninstall Unnecessary Apps
If you don’t use an app at all, the best way to stop it from running in the background is to remove it:
- Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
- Find the app, click the three dots, and choose Uninstall.
This prevents it from auto-starting or running silently.
Basically, the combination of disabling background permissions, blocking startup apps, and ending unnecessary processes gives you full control. Most people only need to use the first two methods—it’s simple and effective.
The above is the detailed content of How to stop apps from running in the background in Windows. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!

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