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How to disable background apps on Windows

Take control of your computer's performance by learning how to disable background apps on Windows and optimize your system's resources.

Oyinebiladou Omemu profile image
by Oyinebiladou Omemu
How to disable background apps on Windows
Photo by Andrew M / Unsplash

Behind the scenes on your Windows laptop, many apps continue to run in the background, quietly using up system resources even when you're not actively using them. This happens because many apps are designed to perform tasks even when not actively in use. For example, your email client might be checking for new messages, or your music streaming app might be caching songs for offline listening.

While this background activity can be convenient and even essential for some apps, however, there are some significant drawbacks to having multiple apps running in the background. For one, it can slow down your computer's performance, especially if you have limited RAM or processing power. Background apps can also consume battery life, eat up bandwidth, and even pose security risks if they're not properly updated or maintained. This is where disabling background apps becomes necessary.

In this guide, we will show you how to disable background apps on your Windows computer.

How to disable background apps on Windows

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Background apps can enhance your user experience, so it's not recommended to disable them entirely. Instead, consider disabling only the apps you don't use frequently to free up resources and improve performance.

Step 1: Go to Settings on your Windows.

Step 2: Click on Privacy.

Step 3: Scroll down and click "Background Apps" under "App permissions"

Step 4: Under "Background Apps," toggle off "Let apps run in the background." This will stop all apps running in the background.

Step 5: If you don't want to disable all background apps, scroll down and toggle off the apps you want to exclude from running in the background, under "Choose which apps can run in the background"

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No more constant switching between devices or worrying about running out of battery.

Conclusion

Disabling background apps on Windows can be a great way to free up system resources, improve performance, and extend battery life. By taking control of which apps run in the background, you can optimize your computer's performance and ensure that it's running smoothly and efficiently.

However, as you start disabling background apps, always be cautious of freeing up resources and keeping essential apps running. Some apps, like your antivirus software or cloud storage sync client, need to run in the background to function properly. By being mindful of which apps you disable and when, you can enjoy the benefits of a more streamlined system without sacrificing functionality.

Image credit: Oyinebiladou Omemu/techloy.com

Oyinebiladou Omemu profile image
by Oyinebiladou Omemu

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