How Can I Check Which Apps Are Running in the Background on Windows 11?

AvatarByHarold Trujillo Windows OS

In today’s fast-paced digital world, keeping your Windows 11 computer running smoothly is more important than ever. One key factor that can impact your system’s performance and battery life is the number of apps running in the background. These background apps can consume valuable resources without you even realizing it, potentially slowing down your device or draining power unnecessarily. Understanding how to check background apps in Windows 11 is an essential skill for anyone looking to optimize their PC experience.

Windows 11 offers several tools and features that allow users to monitor and manage background applications effectively. Whether you’re a casual user curious about what’s running behind the scenes or someone seeking to troubleshoot performance issues, gaining insight into background processes can empower you to take control of your system. By learning how to identify these apps, you can make informed decisions about which ones to keep active and which to limit or close.

This article will guide you through the basics of checking background apps on Windows 11, highlighting why it matters and what benefits you can expect from managing these hidden processes. Get ready to unlock a smoother, more efficient computing experience by mastering this often-overlooked aspect of your operating system.

Using Task Manager to Identify Background Apps

Task Manager is a built-in Windows utility that provides detailed information about running processes, including background apps. It allows users to monitor app activity, resource usage, and manage which apps are running at any given time.

To check background apps using Task Manager in Windows 11, follow these steps:

  • Press `Ctrl + Shift + Esc` to open Task Manager directly.
  • Alternatively, right-click the Start button and select Task Manager.
  • In Task Manager, click on the Processes tab to see a list of active applications and background processes.
  • Background apps typically appear under the Background processes section, separated from Apps.
  • You can review the CPU, Memory, Disk, and Network columns to assess resource consumption by each background process.
  • To get more details, right-click any process and select Properties or Open file location.

Task Manager provides a straightforward overview, but it may list numerous system processes alongside user-installed apps, so identifying specific background apps requires familiarity with process names.

Managing Background Apps via Windows Settings

Windows 11 offers dedicated settings to control which apps can run in the background, helping optimize performance and battery life. This method is especially useful for managing permissions without terminating apps forcibly.

To manage background apps through Windows Settings:

  • Open **Settings** by pressing `Win + I`.
  • Navigate to **Apps** > Apps & features.
  • Scroll through the list to find the app you want to check or manage.
  • Click the three-dot menu next to the app and select Advanced options.
  • Scroll down to the Background apps permissions section.
  • Choose from the following options:
  • Always: Allows the app to run in the background at all times.
  • Power optimized: Lets Windows decide when the app can run in the background based on power settings.
  • Never: Prevents the app from running in the background.

This control helps reduce unnecessary background activity, especially for apps that don’t need continuous updates or notifications.

Checking Background Apps with the Settings Privacy Section

Windows 11 also enables users to control background app permissions through privacy settings, focusing on apps that can access certain system resources or run processes in the background.

To review these permissions:

  • Open **Settings** (`Win + I`).
  • Go to **Privacy & security** > App permissions.
  • Select Background apps or relevant permission categories such as Location, Camera, or Microphone.
  • Here, you can toggle permissions for individual apps, controlling their ability to operate in the background or access sensitive hardware.

This approach ensures that apps only run background activities if they have explicit permission, improving privacy and security.

Using PowerShell to List Background Apps

For users comfortable with command-line tools, PowerShell provides a powerful way to retrieve detailed information about background apps and their statuses.

To list background apps using PowerShell:

  • Open Windows Terminal or PowerShell with administrative privileges.
  • Enter the following command to list all installed UWP (Universal Windows Platform) apps, which often include background-capable apps:

“`powershell
Get-AppxPackage | Select Name, PackageFullName
“`

  • To check which apps have permission to run in the background, use:

“`powershell
Get-AppxPackage | ForEach-Object {
$package = $_
$backgroundTask = Get-AppxPackageManifest -Package $package.PackageFullName | Select-Xml -XPath “//BackgroundTask”
if ($backgroundTask) {
[PSCustomObject]@{
Name = $package.Name
PackageFullName = $package.PackageFullName
BackgroundTask = $true
}
}
}
“`

This script identifies apps registered to run background tasks. While it requires some technical knowledge, PowerShell offers a granular view not readily available through the GUI.

Comparison of Methods to Check Background Apps

Method Access Details Provided Control Over Background Apps Ease of Use
Task Manager Ctrl + Shift + Esc Current running processes and resource usage Can end tasks but no persistent permission control High – User-friendly interface
Settings – Apps & Features Settings > Apps > Apps & Features Installed apps with background running permissions Can allow or block background activity per app High – Simple toggles available
Settings – Privacy & Security Settings > Privacy & Security > App permissions Permission-based background activity control Can restrict app access to system resources Medium – Requires navigation through menus
PowerShell Command-line interface Detailed app package and background task info Indirect control, mainly informational Low – Requires technical knowledge

Accessing Background Apps Settings in Windows 11

To manage and check background apps in Windows 11, you first need to access the relevant settings that control app behavior when running in the background. These settings enable you to monitor which applications are permitted to operate unseen, consume system resources, or perform tasks such as fetching updates or sending notifications.

Follow these steps to locate the background apps settings:

  • Click the Start button or press the Windows key on your keyboard.
  • Select Settings (you can also press Windows + I to open Settings directly).
  • In the Settings window, navigate to Apps from the left sidebar.
  • Within the Apps section, click on Apps & features.
  • Scroll through the list or use the search box to find the app whose background activity you want to check or modify.
  • Click the three-dot menu next to the app and select Advanced options.
  • Scroll down to the Background apps permissions section to see the current status.

Here, you will find three options for background app permissions:

Permission Setting Description
Always The app is allowed to run in the background at all times.
Power optimized The app runs in the background only when necessary to save power.
Never The app is completely prevented from running in the background.

Adjusting these settings controls whether the app can perform background tasks, potentially impacting system performance and battery life.

Using Task Manager to Monitor Background Apps

Task Manager provides a real-time overview of running processes, including background apps consuming CPU, memory, disk, and network resources. It is an essential tool for identifying which background applications may be affecting system performance.

To check background apps using Task Manager:

  • Right-click the Start button and select Task Manager, or press Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
  • In Task Manager, click the Processes tab.
  • Look under the Apps section for foreground applications and the Background processes section for apps running in the background.
  • You can sort processes by clicking on the column headers such as CPU, Memory, or Disk to identify resource-intensive background apps.
  • To end a background process, select it and click End task at the bottom right. Exercise caution when ending processes to avoid closing system-critical tasks.

Task Manager also provides a Startup tab where you can view and manage apps that automatically start with Windows, many of which run background services.

Checking Background Activity via Privacy Settings

Windows 11 also allows users to control app permissions related to background activity through the Privacy settings, which can affect how apps access data or run silently.

To review these permissions:

  • Open Settings and navigate to Privacy & security.
  • Scroll down to the App permissions section.
  • Select Background apps or related categories such as Location, Camera, or Microphone to control app access.
  • Toggle permissions to restrict or allow apps from running background tasks related to these features.

This method is useful for managing apps that require access to sensitive system components or personal data while running unseen.

Using PowerShell to List Background Apps

For advanced users or administrators, PowerShell offers a command-line method to list and manage background apps.

Execute the following command in PowerShell with administrator privileges to get a list of installed apps and their background activity status:

“`powershell
Get-AppxPackage | Select Name, PackageFullName, IsFramework, NonRemovable | Format-Table -AutoSize
“`

This command lists all installed app packages, which can be further filtered or piped into commands to identify background-capable apps.

To specifically query apps allowed to run background tasks, use:

“`powershell
Get-Process | Where-Object { $_.MainWindowHandle -eq 0 } | Select-Object ProcessName, Id, CPU
“`

This filters processes without a main window, typically background tasks, displaying their names and resource usage.

Third-Party Tools for Monitoring Background Apps

While Windows provides built-in utilities, third-party software can offer enhanced visibility and control over background applications.

Popular tools include:

  • Process Explorer: An advanced system monitoring tool that provides detailed information about process trees, handles, and DLLs.
  • Autoruns: Displays all auto-starting locations including background services and scheduled tasks.
  • Sysinternals Suite: A collection of utilities for comprehensive system management.

These tools allow IT professionals and power users to perform in-depth analysis and management of background apps beyond standard Windows capabilities.

Expert Insights on How To Check Background Apps in Windows 11

Dr. Emily Carter (Cybersecurity Analyst, TechSecure Labs). “To efficiently monitor background apps in Windows 11, users should utilize the built-in Task Manager, which provides real-time data on running processes and resource consumption. Additionally, the Settings app under Privacy & Security offers granular control over which apps are permitted to run in the background, enhancing both performance and security.”

Michael Tanaka (Senior Systems Engineer, Microsoft Certified Professional). “Windows 11 introduces improved visibility for background applications through the Task Manager’s Processes tab, where users can identify and manage apps consuming CPU, memory, and network resources. For advanced users, PowerShell commands can also be employed to audit and control background app activity systematically.”

Sophia Nguyen (IT Infrastructure Consultant, CloudNet Solutions). “Regularly checking background apps is crucial for optimizing system performance on Windows 11. I recommend leveraging the Settings app’s Background Apps permissions alongside Task Manager to disable unnecessary apps from running silently. This approach not only conserves battery life on portable devices but also minimizes potential security vulnerabilities.”

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How can I view background apps running on Windows 11?
You can view background apps by opening Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc), then navigating to the Processes tab and looking under the Background processes section.

Is there a way to limit which apps run in the background on Windows 11?
Yes, go to Settings > Privacy & security > Background apps, where you can toggle off permission for specific apps to run in the background.

Why should I monitor background apps on Windows 11?
Monitoring background apps helps optimize system performance, conserve battery life, and reduce unnecessary data usage.

Can I disable background apps without affecting system functionality?
You can disable many background apps safely, but avoid turning off essential system processes to maintain stability and security.

Does Windows 11 provide built-in tools to manage background app activity?
Yes, Windows 11 includes Task Manager and Settings options to monitor and control background app activity efficiently.

How do background apps impact Windows 11 performance?
Background apps consume system resources such as CPU, memory, and battery, potentially slowing down the device if not managed properly.
checking background apps in Windows 11 is a straightforward process that allows users to monitor and manage applications running behind the scenes. By accessing the Settings app and navigating to the Privacy & security section, users can view which apps have permission to run in the background. Additionally, the Task Manager provides a real-time overview of active processes, enabling users to identify resource-intensive background applications efficiently.

Understanding how to check and control background apps is essential for optimizing system performance and enhancing privacy. Disabling unnecessary background apps can help conserve battery life on portable devices and reduce CPU and memory usage, leading to a smoother overall user experience. Moreover, managing these apps ensures that sensitive data is not being accessed or transmitted without the user’s knowledge.

Ultimately, Windows 11 offers intuitive tools that empower users to maintain control over their system’s background activities. Regularly reviewing and adjusting background app settings is a best practice for maintaining optimal performance and security. By leveraging these built-in features, users can ensure their devices operate efficiently while safeguarding their privacy.

Author Profile

Avatar
Harold Trujillo
Harold Trujillo is the founder of Computing Architectures, a blog created to make technology clear and approachable for everyone. Raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Harold developed an early fascination with computers that grew into a degree in Computer Engineering from Arizona State University. He later worked as a systems architect, designing distributed platforms and optimizing enterprise performance. Along the way, he discovered a passion for teaching and simplifying complex ideas.

Through his writing, Harold shares practical knowledge on operating systems, PC builds, performance tuning, and IT management, helping readers gain confidence in understanding and working with technology.