- You can easily prevent specific apps from running in the background through Windows Settings.
- If you want to stop all apps from running in the background at once, use the Group Policy Editor or the Registry Editor.
Method 1: Use the Settings App
The easiest way to prevent apps from running in the background is via the Settings app on Windows 11 . So, let’s start with that.
Step 1: Press the Windows key + I to launch the Settings app and head to Apps > Installed apps .
Step 2: Scroll down or use the search bar at the top to locate the app you wish to disable. Click the three-dot menu next to it and select Advanced options .
Step 3: Under Background apps permissions, use the drop-down menu and choose Never .
You can repeat the same steps above to prevent other apps from running in the background.
Method 2: Edit Group Policy
Group Policy on Windows is a useful tool for making system-wide changes in Windows. You can also use the Group Policy Editor to disable all the apps from running in the background at once.
Note: Group Policy Editor is not available in the Windows 11 Home edition.
Step 1: Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog. Type in gpedit.msc and press Enter .
Step 2: In the Group Policy window, use the left pane to navigate to the following folder.
Computer 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 Disabled and click Apply followed by OK .
Method 3: Tweak Windows Registry
You can also modify a few registry files to disable background apps on Windows 11. Here’s how.
Step 1: Press the Windows key + R , type in 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 the newly created key and change its value to 2 . Then click OK .
