How to Allow Apps to Run in the Background Selectively on Windows 11

Quick fix: Windows 11 22H2+ removed the global “Allow apps to run in background” toggle. To control per-app: Settings → Apps → Installed apps. Click the three-dot menu next to an app → Advanced options. Under Background apps permissions, set Never (block), Power optimized (only when plugged in), or Always.

Background apps consume battery, CPU, and network. Microsoft moved away from a single toggle to per-app control via the Background apps permissions setting. The setting only appears for apps that support background activity (Store apps, some Win32).

What causes this need

Background apps update content, sync data, send notifications. Useful for messaging (Teams, Discord) but wasteful for utilities you don’t actively use (e.g., a weather app that’s always polling). Selective control balances battery / responsiveness with notification reliability.

Method 1: Per-app Background apps permission

The standard route.

1. Open Settings → Apps → Installed apps.
2. Find the app (search if needed).
3. Click the three-dot menu next to its name → Advanced options.
4. Scroll to Background apps permissions.
5. Pick one:
   • Always — app runs in background regardless of power state. Best for messaging apps.
   • Power optimized (recommended) — runs when plugged in, paused on battery. Best for most apps.
   • Never — never runs in background. Saves the most resources but breaks notifications.
6. Setting saves immediately.
7. For apps without this option: they’re Win32 apps that don’t use the Windows background API. Use Method 2 to control them.
8. Repeat for each app you want to configure.

This is the standard control.

Method 2: Block Win32 apps via Task Manager Startup

For desktop apps without the toggle.

1. Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc).
2. Switch to Startup apps tab.
3. Right-click an app you don’t want auto-starting → Disable.
4. Apps with status Disabled won’t start with Windows.
5. For apps running in system tray that you didn’t start: they may have system services. Open services.msc → find the service → right-click → Properties → Startup type: Manual or Disabled.
6. For Windows services tied to apps: be careful not to disable system-critical services.
7. For Win32 background tasks scheduled: open Task Scheduler (Win+R, taskschd.msc) → check for scheduled tasks belonging to apps → disable as needed.
8. For chat apps with their own “Run on startup” setting (Slack, Discord, Spotify): disable in the app’s own settings, not Task Manager.

This controls Win32 background processes.

Method 3: Use Group Policy / registry for global enforcement

For multi-user or managed PCs.

1. Open Group Policy Editor: gpedit.msc (Pro/Enterprise).
2. Navigate to Computer Configuration → Administrative Templates → Windows Components → App Privacy.
3. Find Let Windows apps run in the background. Set to Enabled.
4. Under Default for all apps: pick Force Deny to block all by default. Or Force Allow to allow all.
5. You can also specify per-app exceptions: list app package family names that override the default.
6. Run gpupdate /force.
7. For Home edition (no Group Policy): registry equivalent: HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\AppPrivacy → LetAppsRunInBackground DWORD value: 0=user controls, 1=allow, 2=deny.
8. Reboot for policy to apply.

This is the right path for enforced policies.

How to verify the fix worked

• Settings → Apps → Installed apps → pick app → Advanced options. Background apps permissions reflect your choice.
• For Power optimized: Windows status appears as “Power saver paused this app” or similar.
• Task Manager → Processes tab. Background apps you blocked don’t appear.
• Battery life improves (laptops).

If none of these work

If apps still run in background: App reset: Settings → Apps → Advanced options → Reset. Clears app cache and permissions; may need to re-set Background apps permission. For apps with system tray icons: those may be Win32 with their own auto-start. Disable in app’s own settings. For Edge / WebView2: Edge has its own “Continue running background extensions” setting in edge://settings/system. For Cortana / Search: protected system processes can’t be blocked. For OneDrive: disable startup via OneDrive Settings → Settings tab → uncheck Start OneDrive automatically. For diagnostic data: even with all apps blocked, Windows itself sends telemetry. Settings → Privacy → Diagnostics & feedback → minimize.

Bottom line: Settings → Apps → Installed apps → three-dot menu → Advanced options → Background apps permissions: Never / Power optimized / Always. Task Manager Startup tab for Win32 apps. Group Policy for enforced settings.