How To See What Apps Are Running In The Background Windows 11 |top| Jun 2026

If you suspect a specific background process is malicious, right-click it in Task Manager and select before ending it.

Background apps can consume system resources (CPU, memory, network) and battery life. Windows 11 provides several built-in tools to identify exactly which applications are running behind the scenes. If you suspect a specific background process is

Review the percentage list to identify the most demanding hidden processes. 🛡️ Summary: Which Method Should You Use? Fast Shortcut Task Manager Ctrl + Shift + Esc Changing app permissions Windows Settings Win + I > Apps Fixing high disk or network lag Resource Monitor Win + R > resmon Extending laptop battery life Power & Battery Win + I > System PleaseI can provide specific steps to: Review the percentage list to identify the most

This is the most reliable method for seeing what is actively running right now. The system tray (bottom-right corner of taskbar, near

The system tray (bottom-right corner of taskbar, near the clock) shows icons of actively running background apps.

Click the tab (the list icon on the left sidebar).