Pretty much everyone who’s used Windows 10 for a while has experienced that sluggish feeling, especially when there are tons of apps running in the background. Sometimes, closing those apps isn’t enough, or it feels like Windows just keeps annoying you with unnecessary stuff, even after a restart. The goal here is to free up system resources—CPU, RAM, disk—so your PC can breathe a little easier. Usually, it’s about managing what’s running without breaking anything essential. Because, of course, Windows has to make it harder than necessary with some background processes you probably don’t even know about. This guide will walk through how to open the Task Manager, spot those resource hogs, and shut them down properly, hopefully giving your PC a shot of speed and responsiveness.
How to Close Apps Running in Background on Windows 10
Accessing the Task Manager
First off, you need to get into the Task Manager. The fastest way is just to hit Ctrl + Shift + Esc. That shortcut seems simple, but it’s often overlooked. Unlike trying to right-click the taskbar to get to it, this method usually works instantly. Once open, you’ll see a window full of tabs and processes — don’t let it overwhelm you, just focus on the Processes tab.
This is the core area where Windows shows all the active apps and background processes. It organizes everything by resource usage (CPU, memory, disk, network), so you can easily spot which processes hogging the most juice. On one of my setups, the background apps sometimes shoot up to 50%, and that’s when the system feels super laggy.
Finding the Culprits: Which Apps to End
Look over the list and pick the apps or processes you *know* aren’t critical. For instance, anything labeled as “Background process” related to apps you haven’t used in a while, or resource-heavy Chrome tabs, streaming apps, or updater tools. Just be cautious about ending stuff like “System, ” “Windows Explorer, ” or “ anty-virus processes” — those are essential or can cause weird issues if killed. It’s kind of weird, but on some machines, closing something in the background one time causes a hiccup, only to work fine after a reboot. Rules vary, but when in doubt, leave system stuff alone.
Stopping the Apps: End Them Properly
Once you’ve selected a process you’re pretty sure you don’t need right now, click on End Task. That’s usually at the bottom right corner. Now, watch your resources dip a bit immediately. Not sure why it works, but ending those hefty background apps can sometimes give your performance a noticeable boost — especially if those apps kept running even after closing their window or paused in the background.
Keep an eye out — some apps may restart immediately if they’re set to auto-relaunch, so you might have to check again later or disable startup items if needed.
Wrap Up: Close the Task Manager
Once done, hit the big X button at the top right to close the Task Manager. That’s all there is to it — your system should feel a little more responsive. Honestly, on some setups, I’ve seen a slight speedup just by killing a couple of heavy background processes on a whim. Not rocket science, but worth doing if your PC feels sluggish.
Tips for Keeping Background Apps in Check
- Make a habit of checking the Task Manager now and then — especially if performance drops unexpectedly.
- Use the Startup tab in Task Manager to disable apps that you don’t need launching at boot. Less starting means fewer processes hiding in the background later.
- Be careful with system processes like System or svchost.exe — those are crucial. Ending those usually causes more trouble than it’s worth.
- If some apps keep hogging resources, sometimes switching to lighter alternatives or limiting their background activity (check app settings or Power & Sleep options) helps.
- Power plans—like switching to Power Saver mode—can also reduce background activity if you’re just trying to squeeze out some extra juice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I bother closing background apps in Windows 10?
Because those sneaky apps can gobble up CPU, memory, and disk so your system just drags along. Closing them frees everything up, making your PC faster and more responsive—especially on older hardware.
How do I know which apps are safe to close?
If an app is using a ton of CPU or RAM, that’s a clear sign it might be slowing things down. The Processes tab makes it obvious, but always double-check (like with system or security processes) before ending anything critical.
Can closing processes cause crashes or bugs?
If you mess with the wrong processes, yeah, it can. Make sure you understand what you’re ending. Usually, ending non-essential apps is safe, but it’s smarter to avoid killing system-critical stuff unless you know what you’re doing.
How often should I clear background processes?
Whenever your system feels sluggish, or weekly maintenance isn’t a bad idea — just enough to keep things running smooth without stressing out.
Are there automated tools for this?
There are, but be cautious. Some third-party apps claim to clean background processes automatically, but they sometimes cause more harm than good or come bundled with malware. Stick to Windows built-in tools or well-known utilities if needed.
Summary
- Open Task Manager with Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
- Go to the Processes tab.
- Pick unnecessary or resource-heavy processes.
- Hit End Task.
- Close the Task Manager.
Wrap-up
This whole process isn’t foolproof, but it’s surprisingly effective at clearing out the clutter. Managing what runs in the background helps your system stay snappy, especially if you tend to leave too many apps open or if Windows boots with a ton of stuff. Just a quick check now and then can prevent that annoying slowdown. Hopefully, this shaves off a few hours for someone — it’s a simple way to give that sluggish PC a bit of a reboot from the inside out.