Stop Background Apps in Windows 11 to Reclaim RAM, CPU, and Battery

Your PC feels busy even when you’re not doing anything — the fan spins, RAM is half-used at idle, and a laptop battery drains while it sits there.

Why: Many Store and modern apps keep running in the background to fetch updates, sync data, and show notifications, even when their window is closed. Microsoft confirms that “apps that run in the background can increase battery usage.” A few are worth it (mail, messaging); most — games, media players, utilities — have no reason to run when you’re not using them.

Fix 1: Set a specific app to “Never” run in the background (most precise)

This is the cleanest fix: turn off background activity for one app at a time without uninstalling anything.

1. Open Settings → Apps → Installed apps.
2. Find the app, click the More options (three dots) next to it, and choose Advanced options. (If there’s no Advanced options entry, that app doesn’t support background control — skip it.)
3. Under Background app permissions, open the Let this app run in background list.
4. Choose Never.

The three options are:

• Always — runs in the background continuously; uses the most power.
• Power optimized (recommended) — Windows decides when to let it run to save power.
• Never — won’t run in the background at all; no notifications or updates while it’s closed.

Set Never for things you launch manually (games, editors, players). Leave Power optimized or Always for mail, calendar, and messaging if you rely on their notifications.

Fix 2: Use Battery usage to catch the worst offenders

Windows ranks which apps burned the most power in the background, so you can target them directly.

1. Open Settings → System → Power & battery → Battery usage.
2. Look at the list — apps with high background usage will show it.
3. For an app with options, click More options (…) → Manage background activity, then set Let this app run in the background to Never.

This is the fastest way to find the one app quietly draining the machine rather than guessing.

Fix 3: Uninstall apps you don’t use at all

If an app brings no value, removing it ends every background process, service, and updater it carries — not just the main app.

1. Open Settings → Apps → Installed apps.
2. Click More options (…) next to the app → Uninstall → confirm.

Pre-installed trial apps, old games, and toolbars you never opened are safe to remove and free up both RAM and disk.

FAQ

Will setting apps to Never break notifications? Only for those apps — they won’t notify you or update while closed. Keep mail and chat apps on Power optimized or Always so you still get alerts.

Is there one switch to stop all background apps? Older Windows had a single master toggle; Windows 11 manages it per app (with the Power optimized default doing most of the work automatically). Set the few heavy ones to Never and you’ll get most of the benefit.

Background apps vs startup apps — what’s the difference? Startup apps launch when you sign in; background apps keep running after their window is closed. They’re separate lists — trim both for the best result.

Sources: Microsoft Support — Manage background activity for apps in Windows, Microsoft Support — Windows background apps and your privacy