Hello, Guys welcome back here you will learn How to Disable Background Apps on Windows 11. Running programmes in the background allows you to multitask and receive notifications even when you’re not using them. However, not every app on your PC needs to run in the background, particularly those that can consume a lot of memory and drastically slow down your PC.
We’ll show you a couple of different ways to disable background programmes on Windows 11, whether you want to disable just a few apps or all of them at once.
Fair warning: Disabling all background programmes may impair the functionality of certain apps, such as Microsoft Outlook.
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So, let’s get this party started.
1. USE THE SETTINGS APP
The Settings app in Windows 11 is the simplest way to prohibit programmes from running in the background.
Step 1: Open the Start menu and click on the gear icon to launch the Settings app.
Step 2: Navigate to the Apps tab on your left and click on Apps & features.
Step 3: Scroll down or use the search bar at the top to locate the app you wish to disable. Click on the three-dot menu next to it and select Advanced options.
Step 4: Under Background apps permissions, use the drop-down menu and choose Never.
Likewise, you can repeat the same steps above to prevent other apps from running in the background.
2. MODIFY BATTERY SETTINGS
If you’re using a Windows laptop, you can also manage background activity for particular apps in the Settings by monitoring their energy usage. This is how.
Step 1: Press Windows key + I to launch the Settings app.
Step 2: In the System tab, click on Power & battery.
Step 3: Under Battery, click on Battery usage to expand it.
Step 4: Here, you’ll find a list of apps on your PC along with their battery usage.
Locate the programme you want to stop from running in the background. Select Manage background activity from the three-dot menu symbol next to it.
Step 5: Under Background apps permissions, select Never.
3. USE TASK MANAGER
While you can use the Settings app to prevent Windows Store apps from running in the background, you’ll need to utilise the Task Manager in Windows 11 to prevent traditional desktop apps from running in the background.
Step 1: Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager. Click on More details to expand it.
Step 2: Navigate to the Startup tab and select the program you wish to prevent launching at startup. Then click on Disable.
This will prevent the program from launching as your PC boots up.
4. EDIT GROUP POLICY
When you want to change how your system runs, Group Policy on Windows is really beneficial. You may, of course, use it to limit background activity for apps on your PC. You may also use Group Policy Editor to prevent all apps from running in the background at the same time.
Step 1: Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialogue. Type in gpedit.msc and press Enter.
Step 2: In the Group Policy window, use the left pane to navigate to the following folder.
Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\App Privacy
Step 3: On your right, double-click on ‘Let Windows apps run in the background’ policy.
Step 4: Select Enabled and click on Apply followed by OK.
5. TWEAK WINDOWS REGISTRY
To stop background programmes on Windows 11, you may also use the Registry Editor to modify the registry files. This is how.
A word of caution. Registry files are an essential component of the Windows operating system. So, make sure to carefully follow the instructions and make a backup of the registry files beforehand.
Step 1: Press Windows key + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
Step 2: Use the address bar at the top to navigate to the following key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows
Step 3: Right-click on the Windows key, go to New and select Key. Name it AppPrivacy.
Step 4: Inside the AppPrivacy key, right-click anywhere on the empty space, go to New and select DWORD (32-bit) Value. Name it LetAppsRunInBackground.
Step 5: Double click on the newly created key and change its value to 2. Then click OK.
To make changes take effect, exit the Registry Editor and restart your computer. This should prohibit all of your PC’s programmes from running in the background.
MANAGE THE APP’S ACTIVITIES
All major apps on Windows 11 are permitted to run in the background by default. Preventing undesirable apps from running in the background is an excellent method for managing system resources and allocating them to other apps.

