Close Background Apps Windows 10: Fast Steps

When too many apps keep running in the background, your Windows 10 PC can feel sluggish, drain its battery faster, and slow down startup. This guide shows you several quick ways to close those background apps, from using Task Manager to changing system settings, so you can reclaim performance without hunting through menus.

What You’ll Need

A Windows 10 PC or laptop with administrator access (for changing some settings).
About 5 minutes of your time.
No additional software required – all tools are built into Windows.

Step-by-Step

Open Task Manager quickly. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc together. This opens Task Manager directly. If it opens in compact view, click “More details” at the bottom.
Go to the Processes tab. You’ll see a list of running apps and background processes. Click the “Processes” tab if it’s not already selected.
Sort by resource usage. Click the “CPU” or “Memory” column header to sort apps by what they’re using. The heaviest hitters appear at the top. This helps you spot which apps are actually slowing things down.
End an app. Right-click the app you want to close (e.g., a game, a chat app, or a web browser) and select “End task.” The app closes immediately. Repeat for any other apps you want to stop.
Check Startup apps. Click the “Startup” tab on the left. This shows apps that launch when you sign in. Right-click any app you don’t need at startup and choose “Disable.” This doesn’t close the app now, but it stops it from running in the background next time you boot up.
Use the system tray. Many apps run silently in the notification area (bottom-right corner). Click the up arrow (^) to see hidden icons. Right-click an app icon (like OneDrive, Slack, or Spotify) and look for “Exit,” “Quit,” or “Close.” This fully closes the app, not just its window.
Disable background apps via Settings (for Microsoft Store apps). Go to Start > Settings (gear icon) > Privacy > Background apps. Here you’ll see a list of apps. Toggle off any app you don’t want running in the background. You can also turn off “Let apps run in the background” at the top to disable all of them at once.
Close apps from the taskbar. For apps with open windows, simply click the X in the top-right corner of the window. But note: some apps (like browsers) may keep running in the background after you close the window. Check Task Manager to be sure.
Use Alt+F4. Click on the app window you want to close, then press Alt + F4. This closes the active window immediately. It’s faster than reaching for the mouse.

Common Mistakes

Ending system processes. Don’t end tasks like “Windows Explorer,” “Client Server Runtime Process,” or “System.” These are critical for Windows to work. If you accidentally end Explorer, your taskbar and desktop disappear – you can restart it by pressing Ctrl+Shift+Esc, clicking File > Run new task, typing “explorer.exe,” and pressing Enter.
Closing apps that are actively saving. If you have unsaved work in a document or a game that’s auto-saving, ending the task can lose data. Always save first, or let the app finish its save cycle.
Disabling all startup apps. Some startup apps are useful, like your antivirus or cloud sync. Disabling everything can slow down your PC in other ways or leave you unprotected. Be selective.
Assuming closing the window closes the app. Many apps (like Spotify, Discord, or email clients) minimize to the system tray instead of actually closing. Always check the tray or Task Manager.

Tips

Use the “App history” tab in Task Manager. It shows which apps have used the most CPU and network over time. This helps you identify persistent background hogs you might not notice.
Restart your PC regularly. A reboot clears most background processes and refreshes memory. If you notice slowdowns, a quick restart often fixes it better than manually closing apps.
For UWP apps (from Microsoft Store), the Settings > Privacy > Background apps toggle is the most reliable way to stop them from running. For traditional desktop apps, use Task Manager or the app’s own settings.
Check your battery usage. If you’re on a laptop, go to Settings > System > Battery, and click “Battery usage by app.” This shows which apps drain your battery most. You can restrict them from running in the background from there.
Use “Efficiency mode” (Windows 10 version 2004+). In Task Manager, right-click a process and choose “Efficiency mode” to limit its resource usage without closing it. This is great for apps you need open but aren’t actively using.

Troubleshooting

An app won’t close with “End task.” If the app is frozen, right-click it in Task Manager and choose “End task.” If that doesn’t work, try right-clicking again and selecting “Go to details,” then right-click the highlighted process and choose “End process tree.” This kills all related processes. If it still won’t close, restart your PC.
Background apps keep coming back. Some apps are set to auto-start or have a service that restarts them. Check the app’s own settings for an option like “Start on login” or “Run in background.” Also, check the Startup tab in Task Manager and disable anything related.
Task Manager shows high CPU but no obvious app. Click the “CPU” column to sort. If the top process is “System” or “Antimalware Service Executable,” that’s normal – Windows Defender runs scans. If it’s a process you don’t recognize, right-click and select “Search online” to check what it is before ending it.
You disabled background apps, but battery still drains. The Settings > Privacy > Background apps toggle only affects Microsoft Store apps. Traditional desktop apps (like Chrome or Slack) are not controlled by that setting. You’ll need to close them via Task Manager or change their own settings.
After ending a task, your screen flickers or taskbar disappears. This usually happens if you ended “Windows Explorer.” Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager, click File > Run new task, type “explorer.exe,” and press Enter. Your desktop will come back.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it safe to close all background apps?

Not all. You should never close system processes like “System,” “Windows Explorer,” or “Client Server Runtime Process.” Also, closing apps that are actively syncing (like OneDrive) may cause data loss. Stick to closing user apps you recognize.

What’s the difference between closing a window and ending a task?

Closing a window (clicking X) often just hides the app – it may still run in the background. Ending a task in Task Manager completely stops the app and its background processes. Use “End task” when you want to fully quit an app.

Will closing background apps speed up my PC?

Usually yes, especially if you have many apps eating CPU or memory. But if your PC is slow due to a failing hard drive or low RAM, closing apps may only help a little. Check Task Manager to see what’s actually using resources.

How do I stop apps from running in the background permanently?

For Microsoft Store apps, go to Settings > Privacy > Background apps and toggle off the ones you want. For traditional desktop apps, look in the app’s own settings for “Start on login” or “Run in background” and disable it. Also, disable them in the Startup tab of Task Manager.

Does closing background apps affect notifications?

Yes. If you close an app like WhatsApp or your email client, you won’t get notifications from it until you open it again. If you rely on notifications, keep those apps running or enable their background permission in Settings.

Why does Task Manager show many “Background processes” I don’t recognize?

Many are Windows services or drivers that are essential. Some are from apps you installed. If you see a process you don’t recognize, right-click it and select “Search online” to check what it is before ending it. Never end a process just because you don’t know it.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

More in this bed

The whole Tech How-To bed →