6 methods to disable background apps on phones and computers

If you're unsure how to disable background apps on Android, iPhone, and Windows 11 on computers, check out Mytour's article right away. This article will surely help you protect your phone and computer effectively.

The harmful effects of running apps in the background

Background apps are applications that operate automatically even when you're not using them directly on your phone. This can consume a lot of resources such as battery and RAM, significantly impacting the device's performance. 

The consequences can include fast battery depletion, overheating, lagging, and slower performance than usual. Additionally, the device may encounter more serious issues such as freezing or crashing.

Benefits of Disabling Background Apps

• Save Battery Life: Background apps often consume significant battery power. By disabling them, you reduce the strain on your battery and prolong its life.

• Improve Performance: Reducing background apps helps free up system resources, including RAM and CPU. This enhances processing capabilities and makes the device run smoother, avoiding lagging or delays.
• Reduce Heat: With fewer background apps running, the device emits less heat, helping prevent overheating and maintaining stable operation.
• Save Data: Some background apps may consume mobile data when they update information. By disabling them, you can control data usage.
• Enhance Security: Some background apps may pose security risks. Therefore, disabling them reduces the risk of being attacked by unwanted malicious apps.

How to Disable Background Apps on Computer in Detail

Background apps have various adverse effects on your computer. So, how do you disable these apps? The method of disabling varies for each version of Windows. Learn in detail how to disable them on your computer through the following steps:

How to Disable Background Apps on Win 11

To disable Microsoft Store apps running in the background on your computer, you can do so in the Settings section. Below is the detailed guide from Mytour for you:

• Step 1: Open the Settings interface by pressing the 'Win + I' key combination.

• Step 2: Select the 'Apps' tab on the left side.
• Step 3: Next, choose 'Apps and features.'
• Step 4: Find and select the app you want to disable => then select 'Advanced options.'
• Step 5: Scroll down to find the 'Background apps permissions' section.

• Step 6: Click on the dropdown menu of 'Let this app run in the background' and select 'Never.' (Or for some devices, simply toggle the On/Off button). This way, you've disabled the background running ability of the app.

Method 2: You can also turn it off via Power & Battery Settings

• Step 1: Open the Settings page by pressing the 'Win + I' key combination.

• Step 2: Select the 'System' tab and scroll down to the 'Power & Battery' section.
• Step 3: Scroll down to the 'Battery usage per app' subsection.
• Step 4: Click on the dropdown menu to view 'Battery levels' within the Last 7 days.
• Step 5: To change permissions for background apps, click on the three-dot menu near the app name. Then, press the 'Manage background productivity' button. Note that this option only applies to Microsoft Store apps.
• Step 6: Choose 'Never' under 'Background apps permissions' in 'Power optimized'. Selecting 'Always' will allow the app to continue running when not in use.

• Step 7: Repeat the above steps for all apps that you believe drain battery when not in use.

How to Disable Background Apps on Windows 10

To disable background apps on Windows 10, you can use various methods. However, to avoid unwanted effects, you need to accurately identify the apps you want to turn off. Using Task Manager or adjusting settings in Settings is a convenient way to disable unnecessary apps.

Method 1: Use Task Manager to Disable

• Step 1: Use the key combination 'Ctrl + Shift + Esc' to open Task Manager.

• Step 2: Go to the 'Processes' tab to view the list of processes and apps running on your computer.

• Step 3: Find and click on the app you want to close.
• Step 4: Finally, click the 'End Task' button in the bottom right corner of the window to close the app.

Method 2: Use Settings to Disable 

• Step 1: Press the 'Win + I' key combination to quickly open the Settings window.

• Step 2: Select 'Privacy' and then scroll to select 'Background apps'.
• Step 3: In the displayed list, review the apps allowed to run in the background.
• Step 4: Choose the apps you want to prevent from running in the background and switch them to the 'Off' state.

How to Disable Background Apps on Windows 8/8.1

To perform how to disable background apps on Windows 8/8.1, follow these steps:

Method 1: Use Task Manager

• Step 1: Press and hold the 'Ctrl' and 'Shift' keys simultaneously, then press the 'Esc' key to open the Task Manager window.

• Step 2: In the Task Manager window, if you want to view running programs, click on the 'Processes' option.
• Step 3: Scroll down to view the list of displayed and hidden apps. To stop or end a program, click on the app. Then click on the 'End Process' button. 

Method 2: Use the “X” icon with Windows 8.1

You can disable an app by moving the mouse pointer to the top edge of the screen to reveal the control bar, then click on the 'X' icon at the top right corner, similar to how it works in Windows 7 and earlier versions.

Method 3: Disable via Taskbar (For Windows 8.1)

Windows 8.1 always displays all Modern UI apps on the Taskbar. So to close a specific app, simply right-click on its icon and select 'Close window'.

How to Disable Background Apps on Windows 7

Unlike Windows 10, to close background apps on a laptop running Windows 7, you can do so using the following methods:

Use Task Manager to Disable Background Apps

• Step 1: Press and hold the 'CTRL' and 'ALT' keys, then press the 'DELETE' key to open the Windows Security window.

How to Easily Disable Background Apps on Your Phone

In addition to turning off background apps on your computer, you can also do so on your phone. So how do you turn them off? Is it different from the process on a computer? Let's find out with Mytour through the following specific steps:

How to Disable Background Apps on iPhone, iPad

Method 1: Deleting via the multitasking window on iPhone, iPad

• Step 1: Open the multitasking window.

• Step 2: Swipe right in the multitasking window to find the app you want to stop running in the background. 
• Step 3: Then, swipe the app up to close it.

Method 2: Turning Off in Phone Settings

• Step 1: Access the Settings app on your phone and select 'General'.

• Step 2: Choose the 'Background App Refresh' option.
• Step 3: Here, tap on 'Off' to stop all apps from running in the background. Alternatively, you can adjust each specific app by tapping the corresponding button for each app to turn it off.

Furthermore, to be able to use more apps on your phone, you may consider iPhones with larger storage capacities. These products allow you to comfortably use multiple apps without worrying about running out of storage or experiencing lag. Some suitable options for you include:

How to Disable Background Apps on Android

Method 1: Closing Apps Using the Multitasking Window

• Step 1: On your phone, tap on the multitasking icon as illustrated.

• Step 2: Choose the 'Close all' option.
• Step 3: That's it, the process of shutting down background apps on your phone has been successfully completed.

Method 2: Turning Off Background Apps Using Settings

• Step 1: Open Settings and select the 'Apps' section on your phone.

• Step 2: Select the app you want to disable => Then press 'Force stop'.
• Step 3: Finally, click 'OK' to complete the process of shutting down background apps.

Here is the article guiding how to disable background apps on Android, iPhone, and Win 11 on your computer by Mytour. We hope this article helps you easily perform this task.

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