Background apps: the policy values that actually stop UWP apps running
SHORT ANSWER
Setting LetAppsRunInBackground to 2 under SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\AppPrivacy denies all UWP apps background execution, with GlobalUserDisabled set to 1 as the per-user equivalent. It reliably stops Store apps consuming CPU, memory and network while you play, which the Settings toggle alone does not always achieve on Windows 11.
Exactly what it changes
Read straight from the application source. If a tool will not show you this, it is asking for trust it has not earned.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\AppPrivacy
LetAppsRunInBackground = 2 (deny)
Machine-wide policy denying UWP apps background execution.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\BackgroundAccessApplications
GlobalUserDisabled = 1
Per-user equivalent, covering the path the Settings UI writes to.
What it does
UWP and Store apps can run background tasks — syncing, notifications, live tiles — without a visible window. Each is small; collectively they are a steady drip of CPU, disk and network.
Windows 11 removed the global master toggle from Settings, which is why the policy value is the reliable route.
When it helps
- Removes a steady background load, most noticeable on lower-core-count CPUs.
- Reduces unexpected network activity during a match.
- One of the more reliable stutter reductions on older or budget systems.
When it hurts
- Store app notifications stop arriving — including Mail, Calendar and messaging apps.
- Anything relying on background sync stops syncing until opened.
- It does not affect classic desktop applications at all, which is where most people's real background load actually is.
How to undo it
Delete the LetAppsRunInBackground policy value and set GlobalUserDisabled back to 0.
Verdict
Worth doing if you do not depend on Store app notifications. Be aware it only covers UWP apps — pruning your startup list matters more.
Related guides
Everything else we change is listed too
All 127 optimizations are published in full, with what each one does and which are free. You can apply any of them by hand using pages like this one — the tool exists to do it in one click and put it back after every Windows update.