Windows 10: Turn On or Off Background Apps in Windows 10

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  1. Turn On or Off Background Apps in Windows 10


    How to: Turn On or Off Background Apps in Windows 10

    How to Turn On or Off Background Apps in Windows 10


    In Windows 10, you can choose which apps can receive info, send notifications, and stay up-to-date, even when you're not using them. Turning background apps off can help conserve power.

    This tutorial will show you how to turn on or off to let apps run in the background for your account or all users in Windows 10.


    CONTENTS:
    • Option One: To Turn On or Off Background Apps for Current User in Settings
    • Option Two: To Turn On or Off Individual Background Apps for Current User in Settings
    • Option Three: To Turn On or Off Background Apps for Current User using a REG file
    • Option Four: To Turn On or Off Background Apps for Current User in Command Prompt
    • Option Five: To Enable or Disable Background Apps for All Users in Local Group Policy Editor
    • Option Six: To Enable or Disable Background Apps for All Users using a REG file




    OPTION ONE [/i] To Turn On or Off Background Apps in Settings
    1. Open Settings, and click/tap on the Privacy icon.

    2. Click/tap on Background apps on the left side, and turn on (default) or off to Let apps run in the background under Background Apps on the right side. (see screenshots below)

    3. When finished, you can close Settings if you like.


    Turn On or Off Background Apps in Windows 10 [​IMG]






    OPTION TWO [/i] To Turn On or Off Individual Background Apps in Settings
    1. Open Settings, and click/tap on the Privacy icon.

    2. Click/tap on Background apps on the left side, and turn on (default) or off apps under Choose which apps can run in the background on the right side. (see screenshots below)

    *note You will need to have background apps turned on in Option One or Option Three to be able to turn on or off individual apps that can run in the background.

    *tip If you do not see Microsoft Edge (or any app) listed, then reset the app. It should appear in this list afterwards.

    3. When finished, you can close Settings if you like.


    Turn On or Off Background Apps in Windows 10 [​IMG]






    OPTION THREE [/i] To Turn On or Off Background Apps using a REG file

    *note The downloadable .reg files below will modify the DWORD values in the registry keys below.

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\BackgroundAccessApplications

    GlobalUserDisabled DWORD

    0 = On
    1 = Off

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Search

    BackgroundAppGlobalToggle DWORD

    0 = Off
    1 = On


    1. Do step 2 (on) or step 3 (off) below for what you would like to do.


    2. To Turn On Background Apps
    *note This is the default setting.
    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

    Turn_On_Background_Apps.reg

    Download

    3. To Turn Off Background Apps
    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

    Turn_Off_Background_Apps.reg

    Download
    4. Save the .reg file to your desktop.

    5. Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

    6. When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

    7. If you like, you can now delete the downloaded .reg file.





    OPTION FOUR [/i] To Turn On or Off Background Apps in Command Prompt
    1. Open a command prompt.

    2. Copy and paste the commands below you want to use into the command prompt, and press Enter.
    (Turn on background apps - default)
    Reg Add HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\BackgroundAccessApplications /v GlobalUserDisabled /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

    Reg Add HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Search /v BackgroundAppGlobalToggle /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f

    OR

    (Turn off background apps)
    Reg Add HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\BackgroundAccessApplications /v GlobalUserDisabled /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f

    Reg Add HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Search /v BackgroundAppGlobalToggle /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
    3. You can now close the command prompt if you like.





    OPTION FIVE [/i] To Enable or Disable Background Apps for All Users in Local Group Policy Editor

    *note You must be signed in as an administrator to do this option.

    The Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education Option Six to set this policy using a REG file instead.


    1. Open the Local Group Policy Editor.

    2. In the left pane of Local Group Policy Editor, navigate to the location below. (see screenshot below)
    *Arrow Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\App Privacy


    Turn On or Off Background Apps in Windows 10 [​IMG]

    3. In the right pane of App Privacy in Local Group Policy Editor, double click/tap on the Let Windows apps run in the background policy to edit it. (see screenshot above)

    4. Do step 5 (default), step 6 (always enable), or step 7 (always disable) below for what you would like to do.


    5. To Allow Users to Turn On or Off Background Apps for their Accounts
    A) Select (dot) Not Configured or Disabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 8 below. (see screenshot below)

    *note Not Configured[/B] is the default setting.

    6. To Always Enable Background Apps for All Users
    A) Select (dot) Enabled, select Force Allow in the Default for all apps drop menu, click/tap on OK, and go to step 8 below. (see screenshot below)

    7. To Always Disable Background Apps for All Users
    A) Select (dot) Enabled, select Force Deny in the Default for all apps drop menu, click/tap on OK, and go to step 8 below. (see screenshot below)


    Turn On or Off Background Apps in Windows 10 [​IMG]

    7. When finished, you can close the Local Group Policy Editor if you like.





    OPTION SIX [/i] To Enable or Disable Background Apps for All Users using a REG file

    *note You must be signed in as an administrator to do this option.

    The downloadable .reg files below will modify the DWORD value in the registry key below.

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\AppPrivacy

    LetAppsRunInBackground DWORD

    (delete) = Default
    1 = Always enable
    2 = Always disable


    1. Do step 2 (default), step 3 (always enable), or step 4 (always disable) below for what you would like to do.


    2. To Allow Users to Turn On or Off Background Apps for their Accounts
    *note This is the default setting.
    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.

    Default_user_choice_for_Background_Apps.reg

    Download

    3. To Always Enable Background Apps for All Users
    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.

    Always_enable_Background_Apps_for_all_users.reg

    Download

    4. To Always Disable Background Apps for All Users
    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.

    Always_disable_Background_Apps_for_all_users.reg

    Download
    5. Save the .reg file to your desktop.

    6. Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

    7. When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

    8. If you like, you can now delete the downloaded .reg file.

    That's it,
    Shawn


    Related Tutorials

    :)
     
    paulsalter, Jun 19, 2015
    #1
  2. DMGJM Win User

    Windows 10 Background App running called "SURFACE"

    I am in Windows 10 - Settings - Privacy - Background Apps

    I am turning off background apps that are not needed.

    There is an app listed as "Surface".

    What is this "Surface" background app and what will happen if I turn it off?

    Thank you.
     
    DMGJM, Jun 19, 2015
    #2
  3. DMGJM Win User
    Windows 10 Background App running called "SURFACE"

    I am in Windows 10 - Settings - Privacy - Background Apps

    I am turning off background apps that are not needed.

    There is an app listed as "Surface".

    What is this "Surface" background app and what will happen if I turn it off?

    Thank you.
     
    DMGJM, Jun 19, 2015
    #3
  4. Brink
    Brink New Member

    Turn On or Off Background Apps in Windows 10

    Hey Paul,

    There's no exact details on how many yet, but I would assume that it would depend on your system specs and if the installed app supports running in the background or not. If all both check out, then Windows 10 would at least automatically have them listed here.
     
    Brink, Jun 19, 2015
    #4
  5. Thanks for info, that makes sense

    The limit in 8 did seem odd to me
     
    paulsalter, Jun 19, 2015
    #5
  6. Edward Win User
    Some apps are still appearing in task manager even off but they don't appear when I disable superfetch. I want superfetch on but what else can I do so they don't appear in task manager?
     
    Edward, Apr 26, 2016
    #6
  7. Brink
    Brink New Member
    Hello Edward, *Smile

    Which apps are still running in the background even though turned off for this?

    If you haven't already, see if restarting the computer after turning them off may help.

    If you have Fast Startup turned on, then you might see if temporarily turning it off, restarting the computer, then turning fast startup back on may help.
     
    Brink, Apr 26, 2016
    #7
  8. Edward Win User

    Turn On or Off Background Apps in Windows 10

    Hi Thanks for the reply. The apps that are showing are settings, weather, photos, groove and movies & TV apps. but they don't appear immediately after startup. I'll try the fast startup option *Smile
     
    Edward, Apr 26, 2016
    #8
  9. Edward Win User
    Hi Brink, *Smile They appeared again and I noticed they usually appear when the display is turned off and than on but the good thing is that when they are appearing in task manager in RAM they open faster. Another thing why is Movies and TV app is not on the list which can be turned on or off?
     
    Edward, Apr 26, 2016
    #9
  10. Brink
    Brink New Member
    Since those are default system apps, I'm betting they are being loaded and used by something. I'm not sure why the Movies & TV app isn't listed. It's not on my system either.
     
    Brink, Apr 26, 2016
    #10
  11. The latest screen shot of background apps as of Fast Ring 14976:

    Turn On or Off Background Apps in Windows 10 [​IMG]
     
    John Pombrio, Oct 16, 2016
    #11
  12. Brink
    Brink New Member
    Thank you John. Tutorial updated. *Smile
     
    Brink, Oct 16, 2016
    #12
  13. Turn On or Off Background Apps in Windows 10

    Be aware that until Microsoft updates the normal users to the latest fast ring build, the oh so nice "all apps on/off" button is missing. You have to turn them off one. at. a. time.
     
    John Pombrio, Oct 18, 2016
    #13
  14. chok Win User
    Thanks, but anyone knows how to turn it OFF or ON using a .cmd file?
     
  15. Brink
    Brink New Member
    Hello @chok, *Smile

    Here are the commands to turn on/off background apps:

    (On)
    Reg Add HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\BackgroundAccessApplications /v GlobalUserDisabled /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

    (Off)
    Reg Add HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\BackgroundAccessApplications /v GlobalUserDisabled /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
     
    Brink, Sep 1, 2017
    #15
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Turn On or Off Background Apps in Windows 10

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