How to stop apps from running in the background on Windows 10

On Windows 10, many apps you download from the Microsoft Store will continue to run in the background to take advantage of additional features, such as the ability to download data, update Live Tiles, and show notifications.

Although these features can be useful in a number of scenarios, apps running in the background (even when you didn’t start them) can drain battery, waste bandwidth and system resources. Luckily, if keeping apps updated isn’t something important for you, Windows 10 ships with settings to control which apps are allowed to operate in the background.

In this Windows 10 guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to prevent apps from running in the background.

How to stop background apps using Privacy settings

To disable apps from running in the background wasting system resources, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Privacy.
3. Click on Background apps.

Under the «Choose which apps can run in the background» section, turn off the toggle switch for the apps you want to restrict.

Alternatively, under the «Background Apps» section, you can turn off the Let apps in the background toggle switch to prevent any app from running in the background toggle switch.

Once you’ve completed the steps, you can still use the apps normally, but when you close them, all the processes will be terminated until you launch the app again.

How to stop background apps using System settings

Alternatively, on laptops and tablets, it’s also possible to prevent apps from running in the background enabling the Battery Saver mode.

While the feature will enable automatically as the battery life drops below 20 percent, you can enable the mode manually at any time using these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on System.
3. Click on Battery.

Under the «Battery saver» section, turn off the Battery saver status until next charge toggle switch.

Quick Tip: It’s also possible to turn on Battery saver by clicking the battery icon in the bottom-right corner of the taskbar and clicking the Battery saver button.

After completing the steps, none of your apps will be allowed to run in the background while the feature is enabled.

These instructions only apply for apps you acquired from the Microsoft store. If you’re looking to stop classic applications from using background resources, you need to close the program manually and make sure to stop the program from running at startup.

Update January 28, 2019: This guide has been revised to make sure it’s current with the latest version of Windows 10.

More Windows 10 resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10, visit the following resources:

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Run in the background indefinitely

To provide the best experience for users, Windows imposes resource limits on Universal Windows Platform (UWP) apps. Foreground apps are given the most memory and execution time; background apps get less. Users are thus protected from poor foreground app performance and heavy battery drain.

However, developers writing UWP apps for personal use (that is, side loaded apps that won’t be published in the Microsoft Store), or developers writing Enterprise UWP apps, may want to use all resources available on the device without any background or extended execution throttling. Line of business and personal UWP applications can use APIs in the Windows Creators Update (version 1703) to turn off throttling. Be aware that you can’t put an app into the Microsoft Store if it uses these APIs.

Run while minimized

UWP apps move to a suspended state when they are not running in the foreground. On desktop, this occurs when a user minimizes the app. Apps use an extended execution session in order to continue running while minimized. The extended execution APIs that are accepted by the Microsoft Store are detailed in Postpone app suspension with extended execution.

If you are developing an app that is not intended to be submitted into the Microsoft Store, then you can use the ExtendedExecutionForegroundSession with the extendedExecutionUnconstrained restricted capability so that your app can continue to run while minimized, regardless of the energy state of the device. В

The extendedExecutionUnconstrained capability is added as a restricted capability in your app’s manifest. See App capability declarations for more information about restricted capabilities.

Add the xmlns:rescap XML namespace declaration, and use the rescap prefix to declare the capability.

For more information, see the Restricted Capabilities section of App capability declarations.

When you use the extendedExecutionUnconstrained capability, ExtendedExecutionForegroundSession and ExtendedExecutionForegroundReason are used rather than ExtendedExecutionSession and ExtendedExecutionReason. The same pattern for creating the session, setting members, and requesting the extension asynchronously still applies: 

You can request this extended execution session as soon as the app comes to the foreground. Unconstrained extended execution sessions are not limited by energy quotas or by the operating system battery saver. As long as a reference to the session object exists, the app will stay in the running state and not enter the suspended state. If the app is closed by the user, the session will be revoked.

Registering for the Revoked event will enable your app to do any cleanup work required. In the suspending state, you can create an extended execution session with ExtendedExecutionReason.SavingData to save user data before the app is terminated and removed from memory.

Run background tasks indefinitely

In the Universal Windows Platform, background tasks are processes that run in the background without any form of user interface. Background tasks may generally run for a maximum of twenty-five seconds before they are cancelled. Some of the longer-running tasks also have a check to ensure that the background task is not sitting idle or using memory. In the Windows Creators Update (version 1703), the extendedBackgroundTaskTime restricted capability was introduced to remove these limits. The extendedBackgroundTaskTime capability is added as a restricted capability in your app’s manifest file:

Add the xmlns:rescap XML namespace declaration, and use the rescap prefix to declare the capability.

For more information, see the Restricted Capabilities section of App capability declarations.

This capability removes execution time limitations and the idle task watchdog. Once a background task has started, whether by a trigger or an app service call, once it takes a deferral on the BackgroundTaskInstance provided by the Run method, it can run indefinitely. If the app is set to Managed By Windows, then it still may have an energy quota applied to it, and its background tasks will not activated when Battery Saver is active. This can be changed with OS settings. More information is available in Optimizing Background Activity.

The Universal Windows Platform monitors background task execution to ensure good battery life and a smooth foreground app experience. However, personal apps and Enterprise line-of-Business apps can use extended execution and the extendedBackgroundTaskTime capability to create apps that will run as long as needed regardless of the device’s resource availability.

Be aware that the extendedExecutionUnconstrained and extendedBackgroundTaskTime capabilities can override default policy for UWP apps and may cause significant battery drain. Before using these capabilities, first confirm that the default extended execution and background task time policies do not meet your needs and perform testing in battery-constrained conditions to understand the impact your app will have on a device.

Prevent Microsoft Edge from running in the background in Windows 10

Microsoft Edge keeps running in the background. It, therefore, launches faster and is useful if you want to receive notifications. While Windows 10 keeps it in a suspended state, it still can consume some power and resource. In this post, I will show how you can disable the new Microsoft Edge (Chromium) from running in the background.

Block Edge from running in the background

When Edge runs in the background, it will appear in the system tray. While you can close Edge from here, it is best to make sure it is not running in the background. Follow these methods to disable the background option:

• Disable via System Tray icon
• Turn off via Settings
• Disable it using the Registry
• Configure the Group Policy setting.

Turning off is an option. It depends on how you use the browser. If you want to keep getting notifications from websites while it is not open, do not turn it off.

1] Disable via System Tray icon

When Edge is running in the background, you will see its icon in the Taskbar Notification Area.

• Right-click on the Edge Taskbar icon
• Uncheck Let Microsoft Edge run in the background option.
• Restart Microsoft Edge.

1] Turn off via Settings

• Type edge://settings/system in the address bar, and press the Enter key
• Toggle off the Continue running background apps when Microsoft Edge is closed setting.

I have noticed at times that even after disabling the option, Edge keeps running in the background and vice versa.

If that is the case with you, follow either the Registry method or the Group Public method. Windows Home users can only use the Registry method.

2] Change Registry setting to disable Edge from running in the background

If you are not able to find, then create a new key or folder under Microsoft and name it MicrosoftEdge.

Under MicrosoftEdge key, create another key Main. Verify if the path now looks exactly like as below-

If yes, then in the Main folder, create a new 32-bit DWORD with name AllowPrelaunch.

Double click to open it, and set the value as 0 (Zero).

This will stop Edge from running in the background.

3] Use Group Policy to change pre-launching settings for Edge

• Open Group Policy Editor by typing gpedit.msc in the Run prompt followed by pressing the Enter key
• Navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Microsoft Edge
• Find the policy which says, “Allows Microsoft Edge to pre-launch at Windows Startup….and each time Edge is closed.”
• Double click to edit it, and then choose the Disabled radio button
• You can also choose from the dropdown “Prevent Pre-launching.”
• Click on the OK button to complete

If you prevent pre-launch, Microsoft Edge won’t pre-launch during Windows sign in, when the system is idle, or each time Microsoft Edge is closed.

You may follow any of the methods, but always make sure to check which worked for you. I hope one of them worked for you, and you were able to disable the new Microsoft Edge Chromium from running in the background.

Date: December 25, 2019 Tags: Edge

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Ashish is a veteran Windows, and Xbox user who excels in writing tips, tricks, and features on it to improve your day to day experience with your devices.

How to stop Apps from running in the background in Windows 10

Windows 10 is a ray of hope to a new type of app ecosystem that Microsoft is pushing in hopes all developers adopt it as standard. These UWP or Universal Windows Platform apps can be found in the company’s Windows, Store, and in many ways, they operate differently from the traditional Win32 apps, but by nature, they are the same.

Like the regular Win32 apps, these apps can drain your battery if they are left to run in the background. The thing is, many of these apps need to run in the background in order for the user to take advantage of the full feature set. You see, for such things as live tiles and notifications to work, UWP apps must run in the background at all times.

Seeing as the information for live tiles and notifications are usually delivered from the cloud, UWP apps should drain less power from your battery when compared to Win32 apps, but this has yet to be tested by us, so it is still up in the air.

Stop Windows 10 apps from running in the background

There are four ways to do this, but first, we are going to look at how to stop specific apps from running – you know, the ones that are not overly important.

1] Via Privacy Settings

To accomplish this, click on the Start Menu then open the Settings apps. Click on Privacy, then scroll down to the option that says, Background Apps.

From here, you should see a list of apps that have permission to run in the background. Under Let apps run in the background section, simply use the toggle off/on switches to perform the relevant task. Keep in mind that apps such as the Alarm and Mail apps should always run in the background if they are used on a regular basis.

Turning them off means you won’t get awaken by the Alarm bell, and you won’t get notifications or live tile updates when a new email has arrived.

When you reduce the apps that can run in the background, you will definitely conserve power as well as make your PC run better.

2] Via Battery Saver mode

Another way of stopping UWP apps from running in the background, is simply, turning On the Battery Saver mode. Do this, and all apps will cease from running in the background right away. This is great for when you’re away from a power supply and want to get the most out of your battery’s energy.

To do this, click on the battery icon situated in the notification area, then click on the Battery Saver option to complete the task. See that? The whole process is as easy as saying your ABCs, so there should be no more complaints about battery problems in the future.

2] Using Registry Editor

Open Registry Editor and navigate to the following key;

Here:

• Create a new DWORD (32-bit) value with the name Default and set its value to 1
• Also, create another DWORD (32-bit) value with the name Migrated and set its value to 4

Restart your computer.

4] Using Group Policy Editor

Open Group Policy Editor and navigate to the following setting:

Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > App Privacy.

Locate the Let Windows apps run in the background setting and set it to Enabled.

From the drop-down menu for Default for all apps, select Force Deny.