By default, Windows 10 runs several background apps, whether you start them or not. For example, apps like Weather, Phone Link, Camera, Game Bar, and Cortana run in the background by default. These background apps not only use up limited system resources like RAM but also cause noticeable battery drain on Windows 10 laptops, reducing overall battery life. Thankfully, you can quite easily stop these background apps in Windows 10 by revoking the permission to run in the background. This will instantly speed up your PC and extend battery life.
In this guide, I will show you two methods to disable background Store apps, either individually or all at once. Let’s get started.
Before You Start
- This guide specifically covers Microsoft Store apps. If you are trying to stop standard desktop programs (like Chrome, Steam, or Spotify) from auto-launching or starting with Windows, you need to disable them in the Task Manager. To do that, right-click on the Taskbar and select “Task Manager“. Go to the “Startup” tab, select the app you want to stop, and click “Disable“.
Important note: When you stop an app from running in the background, it cannot perform background tasks. For example, if you disable the “Alarms & Clock” app, your alarms won’t ring. So, only turn off apps that you don’t need.
How to Turn Off Individual Background Apps in Windows 10
- Press the “Windows” key to open the Start menu.
- Click the “Privacy” option on the home screen.
- Go to the “Background apps” tab on the sidebar (you have to scroll down a bit).
- On the right panel, turn OFF the toggle next to the app you want to stop running in the background.
That is all. From now on, that specific app will not run in the background. Do keep in mind that, once you revoke this permission, the app cannot perform its background tasks while it’s closed. For example, if you disable Alarms & Clock, your alarms will not ring. In my case, I disabled it as I don’t use my system as an alarm clock.
Which apps should you NOT disable?
While it is generally safe to disable all the apps in the list, I recommend keeping these apps enabled for a smoother Windows experience.
- Windows Security (to receive real-time security alerts)
- Settings (to sync your settings across devices)
- Weather (to see live weather on your taskbar)
- Microsoft Store (for automatic app updates)
To reverse the change and grant background run permission, simply follow steps 1 through 3, then turn ON the toggle next to the app in step 4.
Stop All Background Apps in Windows 10
This is the nuclear option. If you don’t want any Store app to run silently in the background, you can revoke permissions for all of them at once. This is the easiest and fastest way to free up system resources and save battery life.
- Press the “Windows” key to open the Start menu.
- Click the “Privacy” option on the home screen.
- On the left panel, scroll down and select the “Background Apps” tab.
- On the right panel, turn OFF the “Let apps run in the background” toggle.
That is all. As soon as you switch off the toggle, all Microsoft Store apps stop running in the background.
To reverse the change and grant background run permission, simply follow steps 1 through 3, then turn ON the toggle next to the app in step 4.
If you have any questions or need help, comment below. I’ll be happy to assist. If you are using Windows 11, follow this guide instead.
