To see what’s running in the background in Windows 11, press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager and look at the Processes page. Open apps are listed under Apps, and everything else under Background processes. You can also check the hidden icons next to the clock on the taskbar.
Microsoft’s tips to improve PC performance recommend Task Manager for spotting apps you aren’t using, and its guides to managing background activity and background apps and your privacy explain how to stop apps from running when you’re not using them. Background apps can sync data and send notifications, but too many of them use memory and battery.
How to check background apps in Task Manager
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
- Select Processes in the left pane.
- Scroll to Background processes.
- Select the CPU or Memory column header to sort by what uses the most.
You see every running process, with the busiest at the top. To close one, select it and select End task. Only end processes you recognize; ending Windows processes can make the PC unstable until you restart.
Check the system tray
Select the up arrow next to the clock to show hidden icons. Many background apps, like cloud storage and chat apps, sit here. Right-click an icon to see options such as quitting the app or opening its settings.
You can close tray apps you don’t need right now without opening Task Manager.
How to stop an app from running in the background
- Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
- Select More options (…) next to the app and choose Advanced options.
- Under Background app permissions, open Let this app run in the background and choose an option.
Microsoft describes the three choices:
- Always: the app can always run in the background, receiving info, sending notifications and staying up to date.
- Power optimized (recommended): Windows decides what’s best to save power while still allowing notifications and periodic updates.
- Never: the app won’t run in the background, so you get no notifications or updates from it, but you save the most power.
The app follows your choice. Microsoft notes that desktop apps, the kind you install from the internet as .exe files, don’t appear here; use the app’s own settings to stop it from running in the background or at startup.
On a laptop you can reach the same setting from Settings > System > Power & battery > Battery usage: select More options next to an app, then Manage background activity. Microsoft adds that if you want your device to stay connected and get app updates, at least one app should be set to Always.
Stop apps from starting with Windows
Many background apps launch when you sign in. In Task Manager, select Startup apps from the left-hand menu, right-click an app you don’t need right away, and select Disable, as Microsoft suggests. For more detail, see how to change startup programs in Windows 11.
The app no longer opens automatically, so fewer things run in the background after you restart.
Check Background Apps on Windows 10
Windows 10 uses the same Task Manager. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc, select More details if you see the small view, and look at the Processes tab. Startup apps are on the Startup tab instead of a Startup apps page.
To stop Store apps from running in the background on Windows 10, open Settings > Privacy > Background apps and turn off the apps you don’t need. Microsoft’s background-app guidance explains the Windows 10 and Windows 11 settings. Desktop programs aren’t listed there; use their own settings.
Frequently asked questions
Which background processes are safe to end?
Apps you recognize and opened yourself, such as a chat or music app, are generally safe to close. Leave anything under Windows processes alone unless you know what it does.
Why don’t I see Advanced options for an app?
The background permission option only appears for supported apps, mostly from the Microsoft Store. Desktop apps are controlled from their own settings.
Will stopping background apps speed up my PC?
It can help on PCs with limited memory or battery. Microsoft also suggests checking the Performance and Startup apps tabs in Task Manager to find what uses the most resources.
Matthew Burleigh is the founder, head writer, and editor of Solve Your Tech, which he launched in 2012. He has written technology tutorials since 2008 and worked in IT since 2003, including small-business support, IT management, and consulting. He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science from Arizona State University.
Matthew writes practical guides for Windows, iPhone and iPad, Microsoft Office, Outlook, Google apps, and Android. Solve Your Tech’s guides are checked step by step against the device or app maker’s own documentation and tested on his own devices whenever he has the hardware or software, with clear steps, sources, and update dates.
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