Putting apps to sleep in Windows 11 is a nifty trick to help your computer run smoother and save battery life. By doing this, you’re telling your PC to pause apps that are running in the background when you’re not using them. This way, they don’t hog all your system resources. In this guide, we’ll walk you through some simple steps to put apps to sleep in Windows 11, ensuring your computer stays speedy and efficient.
How to Put Apps to Sleep in Windows 11
Getting apps to nap is like giving your computer a breather. We’ll guide you through the steps so your system focuses on the tasks you’re actively working on.
Step 1: Open Settings
First, click on the Start button and select “Settings.”
This action takes you to the hub of all system configurations where you can tweak settings to your heart’s content.
Step 2: Navigate to System
In the Settings window, click on the “System” category.
This is where you will find all the options related to performance, battery, and notifications—a perfect place to start optimizing your app usage.
Step 3: Choose Battery & Power
Under System, select “Power & battery.”
Here, you’ll find options to manage how your computer uses power, which is crucial if you’re looking to put apps to sleep.
Step 4: Access Background Apps
Scroll down and click on “Battery usage.”
You’ll see a list of apps and how much energy they consume. This section is your key to controlling which apps snooze when not in use.
Step 5: Manage App Activity
Find the app you want to put to sleep and click on it. Select “Manage background activity” and toggle the switch to let Windows decide when to sleep the app.
This lets Windows automatically manage the app’s background activity, ensuring it doesn’t drain resources when you don’t need it.
After completing these steps, Windows 11 will intelligently decide when to put apps to sleep. This helps reduce system load and extends battery life by minimizing unnecessary background activities.
Tips for Putting Apps to Sleep in Windows 11
- Prioritize essential apps: Only put non-essential apps to sleep to avoid missing important notifications.
- Monitor battery usage: Regularly check battery usage to see which apps are power-hungry.
- Enable focus assist: Use focus assist to minimize interruptions while working, complementing the app sleep function.
- Update your apps: Keep apps updated as newer versions may handle background activity more efficiently.
- Use power mode settings: Adjust power mode to ‘Best power efficiency’ to automatically optimize app activity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I manually put an app to sleep?
No, Windows 11 does not allow manual selection of sleep states for individual apps; it relies on system settings to manage them.
Will putting apps to sleep save battery life?
Yes, it reduces unnecessary activity and conserves energy, especially on laptops.
Are there any drawbacks to putting apps to sleep?
Some apps might delay notifications or updates when put to sleep, impacting real-time tasks.
How can I check if an app is asleep?
There isn’t a direct indicator, but you can monitor app performance and battery usage in Settings.
Can I wake an app up from sleep?
Apps automatically wake up when you actively start using them again.
Summary
- Open Settings.
- Navigate to System.
- Choose Battery & Power.
- Access Background Apps.
- Manage App Activity.
Conclusion
Congratulations! You’ve just learned how to put apps to sleep in Windows 11, a handy way to keep your computer running smoothly and efficiently. By following these steps, you’ve ensured that your system resources are focused on the tasks you care about, without unnecessary distractions from background processes.
Remember, while putting apps to sleep can significantly improve battery life and performance, it’s crucial to balance which apps to sleep. Essential apps should remain active to keep you updated with critical notifications. Regularly check and update your system settings to maintain the best performance.
Windows 11 provides intelligent features to manage power and performance, and knowing how to use these tools is like having a secret recipe for a faster, more efficient computer. So, whether you’re working on important tasks or just browsing, your system will be more responsive, giving you a smoother user experience. If you want to delve deeper, there are plenty of resources online for advanced power management. Happy computing!
Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read over 50 million times.
After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.
His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.