Menu
Disable Unnecessary Background Apps

A "Background App" is a program that runs in the background, usually invisible to the user. Windows 10 has a propensity to allow too many apps to run in the background. This is because the interface features those annoying "live tiles" that are constantly accessing your internet connection in order to fetch new data, and receive notifications so that they can update their tiles.

You may not be interested or even be annoyed by them, but since they're running in the background, they're taking up memory space, using network bandwidth, and if you're using a portable device, draining your battery. Fortunately, Microsoft allows you to control some of the background apps.

In the Start menu, select Settings (the gear icon). In the Windows Settings window that appears, near the bottom, select Privacy. In the Privacy scroll down to the bottom of the left pane and select Background apps.

Background apps with slide switch to to turn it off

The right pane will now display a list of Background apps, each with a slide switch to to turn it off, preventing it running on startup and staying in the background. Turn off any apps whose live tile updates you're not interested in.


Learn more at amazon.com

More Windows Administration Information:
• Internet Connection Sharing in Windows XP
• Application, Program, Process, Service, Thread; What Does it All Mean?
• The Security and Maintenance of Messages in Outlook Express
• Windows Server 2019 and PowerShell All-in-One For Dummies
• Windows 10 New Storage View
• Command Line to Get Computers Model, Vendor, and Serial Number
• Introduction to Windows PowerShell
• Computer Technician's Guide to Dealing with Customers
• FreeDOS
• Disable Programs That Run at Startup on Windows 10