Putting apps to sleep on Windows 10 can be a real game-changer if your system feels sluggish or if you just want to squeeze out better battery life. It’s honestly pretty straightforward—head into the settings, find the apps that hog resources in the background, and just toggle them off. But of course, Windows has its quirks, and sometimes these settings don’t stick immediately or reset after updates. Still, it’s worth trying if you’re battling constant slowdowns or background noise from apps you don’t even use anymore.
How to Put Apps to Sleep on Windows 10
Method 1: Use Privacy Settings to Disable Background Apps
This is the main way Windows keeps track of which apps can run in the background, and it’s good for stopping apps that are unnecessarily eating up CPU, RAM, or battery. It’s especially handy for laptops where every little bit counts. The idea is to prevent apps from running unless you actively open them, which should give your system a noticeable boost. Sometimes, these toggles work smoothly right away, but other times you might have to restart your PC or toggle a few settings again—Windows loves to make things a bit complicated.
- Open Settings via the Start menu or press Windows + I.
- Select Privacy from the menu.
- Scroll down in the left sidebar and click on Background apps.
- Here you’ll see a list of apps with toggles next to them. Turning off the toggle for an app stops it from running in the background. Be mindful—if you rely on notifications from a certain app, leaving it enabled might be necessary.
Keep in mind, on some machines this change might not take immediate effect or can reset after Windows updates. Restarting your PC sometimes helps seal the deal. Also, if you’re into PowerShell, you can disable background apps with commands like Get-AppxPackage *app* | Remove-AppxPackage for more advanced control, but that’s more of a later step for tech-savvy folks.
Method 2: Use the Battery Saver Mode
Another way to curb resource hogs, especially on laptops, is turning on Battery Saver mode. It automatically limits background activity among other things. You can toggle it via the Action Center or go into Settings > System > Battery and turn on Battery saver. This is kinda like setting a blanket over your system, making sure apps don’t run wild when you’re trying to conserve juice. Works pretty well—sometimes better than toggling individual apps, especially if you’re running low on battery and just want to keep going.
- Open Settings, head to System, then Battery.
- Turn on Battery saver. You can set it to activate automatically at certain battery levels, which is handy.
Just be aware—this doesn’t turn off processes permanently, but it does a good job of limiting background activity temporarily. If you want more granular control, stick with the Privacy settings method.
Method 3: Use Third-Party Tools or Scripts
If you’re feeling fancy, there are tools like Winhance or other system optimizers that can help automate the process of managing background processes. These tools often offer customizable profiles for putting apps to sleep or disabling background tasks en masse. Not necessarily foolproof, but on some machines they kinda streamline the process and save time.
Alternatively, some people use PowerShell scripts or batch files to kill or suspend processes. Not the safest route for everyone, but since Windows stores a lot of background info in processes, it’s an option if you’re comfortable with command line work. Just be cautious—you might accidentally disable something you actually need, so do backups or test in a controlled environment first.
Tips & Stuff to Keep in Mind
- Check which apps are running background activity periodically—Windows Task Manager can show you what’s hogging resources.
- Limit resource-heavy apps when you notice slowdown, especially if they aren’t essential.
- If notifications are pressure, keep those critical ones enabled; everything else can chill.
- Revisit your settings after major Windows updates—sometimes these resets happen more often than you’d wish.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens when I put an app to sleep?
Basically, it stops running in the background, which means less CPU, RAM, and battery drain. You don’t get notifications from it unless you reopen or re-enable it.
Will I miss updates or alerts?
Yeah, if the app is asleep or disabled, you won’t get notifications or quick updates from it unless you turn it back on. Good to plan for that if it’s critical.
Can I bring back a sleeping app, or do I have to restart?
Super easy—just go back into Settings, toggle it back on, or restart the app. Sometimes, a reboot is needed if Windows doesn’t pick up the change right away.
Does controlling background apps impact security?
Not directly. But reducing background activity cuts down on unwanted data exchanges, which could be a plus security-wise. Still, make sure you’re not disabling security apps or antivirus in the process.
Is this feature available on all Windows 10 versions?
Most are, but if you’re on an older build or certain editions, some features might be missing or behave differently. Upgrading or updating Windows can help access these controls better.
Summary
- Open Settings.
- Go to Privacy.
- Select Background apps.
- Turn off toggles for apps you want sleeping.
- Close Settings and done.
Wrap-up
Controlling background apps isn’t a perfect science, but it’s a quick way to declutter your system and make it run snappier. Especially if you’re juggling multiple apps or noticing slowdowns, it can be a real relief. Just remember, every system is different, and some apps might need background activity for notifications or updates—so don’t kill critical ones unless you’re sure. Hopefully, this saves someone a few headaches and a bit of performance drain. Good luck tinkering!