Windows Inside & Out · Task Manager & Performance · Lesson 2 of 5

Background Apps and Power Settings

Control apps that run out of sight and pick the right balance of speed and battery.

Apps that keep running after you close them

Closing an app's window does not always stop it. Some apps keep working out of sight. These are background apps, apps that run even when you aren't looking at them.

Some background work is useful. Your email checks for new messages. OneDrive backs up your files. Your antivirus watches for threats. But every background app uses some memory, processor time and battery.

Look at the small icons near the clock on the taskbar. Click the small up arrow to see hidden ones. Many of these are apps running in the background. Right-clicking one often shows a Quit or Exit option.

Two places in Settings help you control them:

1. Startup apps: open Settings, then Apps, then Startup. Each switch decides if that app starts by itself when you sign in. Turning one off doesn't remove the app. You can still open it yourself anytime.
2. Background permission: for some apps, open Settings, then Apps, then Installed apps. Click the three dots next to the app, then Advanced options. Under Let this app run in background, you can choose Never. Not every app has this option.

Each app in the Startup list shows an impact rating: High, Medium, Low or None. It tells you how much that app slows down startup. High impact apps you rarely use are the best ones to switch off.

Leave on the things you rely on, like your antivirus, your backup and the software for your mouse or touchpad.

On a Mac, open System Settings, then General. Look for Login Items to see apps that open when you sign in.

Power modes and efficiency mode

Windows can trade speed for battery life. You choose the balance with power mode.

Open Settings, then System, then Power & battery. Find Power mode. There are usually three choices:

• Best power efficiency: saves the most energy. It limits background activity, so things may feel a little slower.
• Balanced: the normal choice for most people. Fast when you need it, saving power when you don't.
• Best performance: the most speed. It uses more power and battery, and the fan may be louder.

On a laptop, you may also see Energy saver. Some versions of Windows call it Battery saver. It cuts background activity to stretch the last part of your battery. You can set it to turn on by itself at a battery level you pick.

If your laptop suddenly feels slow, check this page first. It may be set to save power.

Task Manager has its own tool called efficiency mode. It tells Windows to give one app a lower priority, meaning it gets the processor last. Your other apps stay quick.

To use it, open Task Manager and the Processes page. Right-click an app and choose Efficiency mode. A small green leaf icon shows it is on. Do the same again to turn it off. Some parts of Windows can't be changed, so the option is greyed out.

Efficiency mode suits an app that has to keep running but isn't urgent. Don't use it on the app you are working in.

On a Mac laptop, the matching setting is Low Power Mode, in System Settings under Battery.