How to Stop Programs from Running in the Background on Windows 10/11

This page tells some solutions of how to stop programs from running in the background. Are you concerned about the computer's battery life? Is your computer running slow? Read on to close all apps running in the background.

In Windows, apps and programs can automatically run when you are not taking action in the window. These are the background apps. To speed PC speed or save battery life, you can read the below solutions to stop programs from running in the background on Windows 10 and 11.

Should I Turn Off Background Apps?

Many people wonder if they should turn off background apps on their phones or computer. The answer to this question depends on how you use your device and how important battery life is to you. If you regularly use a lot of apps and prefer to have them running in the background, then you probably don't need to worry about turning them off. However, if you are someone who doesn't use many apps or are concerned about battery life, turning off background apps can help conserve power. To turn off background apps, go to the following options. You can select which methods you want to allow to stop Windows apps from running in the background.

Methods to Stop Programs from Running in the Background on Windows 10 and 11

Here are four ways to turn off background programs. All steps are available for Microsoft store apps. To manage background activity, you can press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to launch task manager and disable apps from Startup.

Turn Off Background Apps on Windows 10

Close All Apps Running in the Background on Windows 11

Turn Off Background Apps on Windows 10

1. Using Privacy Settings

Step 1. Right-click the Windows icon and select Settings.

Step 2. Select the Privacy and click on the Background apps.

Step 3. Then you can see the toggle on the right side.

• Close all background apps - Under the "Let apps run in the background" section, turn off the toggle switch.

• Choose which apps can run in the background - Under the "Choose which apps can run in the background" section, choose to close one or some apps.

Once it applies, the running process will quit until you open it again.

2. Turn On Battery Saver

Step 1. Right-click the Windows icon and select Settings.

Step 2. Choose System and choose Battery from the left menu.

Step 3. Under the "Battery saver" section, turn on the "Battery saver status until next charge."

Close All Apps Running in the Background on Windows 11

1. Disable Background Apps with Settings

Step 1. Right-click the Windows icon and click on the Settings (Or press Windows + I to wake Settings).

Step 2. Click on the Apps on the left side and select Apps & features.

Step 3. Locate the app you want to close background permission and click the three-dot next to the app name. Click the "Advanced options."

Step 4. Under the "Background app permissions" section, you can see the "Let this app run in background" tab. Click the drop-down menu and select Never.

2. Use Power & Battery Settings to Close Background Apps

Note: Available for Microsoft store apps.

Step 1. Open Settings.

Step 2. Click on the System tab and select Power & Battery.

Step 3. Scroll down to choose Battery usage.

Step 4. Locate the app and click on the 3-dot next to the app name. (Better to choose Batter levels for the last seven days.) Click on the "Manage background activity."

Step 5. Go to the "Background apps permissions," click the drop-down list and select Never.

Conclusion

If you notice that your PC is running slowly or your battery life is shorter than usual, it could be because you have programs running in the background. You'll need to access your computer's settings to stop these programs from running. You can identify which programs are running in the background and end them. This will help save on your battery life and make your PC run more smoothly. If you're unsure how to access the Settings, get back to the methods part and look for running programs you don't need.

You May be Concerned About:

How to Fix Computer Running Slow with EaseUS Partition Master Free

One of the above solutions aims to fix a computer running slow. You can not always use it to speed up the PC, even if it does work in closing background apps. So we recommend a powerful third-party software - EaseUS Partition Master Free.

It's excellent in managing the hard drive to make the device perform well.

Check what EaseUS Partition Master Can Do:

Step 1: Locate and select the target drive/partition

Launch EaseUS Partition Master and go to Partition Manager, select the target drive/partition to adjust its size, right-click on it and choose "Resize/Move".

Step 2: Resize or move the partition

1.To shrink the partition, simply drag one of its ends to free up unallocated space. Once done, click "OK". 

2. To extend the partition, make sure that there is unallocated space aside (if there isn't, follow the above steps to create some). In the same way, drag your mouse into the unallocated space. Click "OK".

3. To move a partition position, you need to leave unallocated space next to the target partition. If no, free up some unallocated space first.

Right-click the target partition, select "Reize/Move". Then drag the whole partition leftward or rightward to adjust its position. Click "OK" to confirm. 

Step 3: Confirm the result and apply changes

At this step, you will see the new disk partition information & diagram.

To save changes, click the "Execute Task" button and then "Apply".