How To Get Lower Background Processes On Windows

Your computer feels sluggish because too many background applications are competing for your CPU, memory, and disk resources. We are going to clean up your startup list and restrict background permissions to ensure only the apps you actually need are running.

Why this happens

Applications often register themselves to launch at startup or request permission to keep running in the background for updates and notifications. Over time, these add up and consume significant system resources.

Steps

1. 01
   Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager and click the CPU, Memory, and Disk columns to identify which specific applications are consuming your resources.
2. 02
   Select any unused applications that you recognize and click End task in the top right, ensuring you never terminate items listed under Windows processes.
3. 03
   Navigate to Settings/Apps/Startup and toggle off any applications you do not need to launch automatically when you sign in.
4. 04
   Go to Settings/Apps/Installed apps, click the three dots next to an app, and select Advanced options to set Let this app run in the background to Never.
5. 05
   If you use Microsoft Edge, click the three dots in the top right corner, go to Settings/System and performance, and turn off Continue running background extensions and apps when Microsoft Edge is closed.
6. 06
   Uninstall programs you no longer use by going to Settings/Apps/Installed apps, clicking the three dots beside the program, and selecting Uninstall.
7. 07
   Restart your computer and open Task Manager again to compare your new resource usage against your previous baseline.

Still not working?

If your CPU or memory usage remains at 100% after these steps, check the Task Manager's Processes tab to see if a specific Windows process or driver is spiking. Persistent high usage often points to a corrupted driver or malware, in which case you should run a full scan with your preferred security software or check your manufacturer's website for updated chipset drivers.

Frequently asked questions

Will disabling background apps stop my files from syncing?

Yes, if you set background permissions to 'Never' for apps like OneDrive or Dropbox, they will stop syncing until you manually open the application.

Should I be worried if my process count is high?

Not necessarily. Windows naturally runs many essential background services; you should only be concerned if those processes are actively consuming high percentages of your CPU or memory.