Forum Discussion
Win11 Allow app to run in background setting resets to On after app updates
After disabling background permissions for certain apps in Settings → Apps → Installed apps → Advanced options, the settings automatically revert to enabled when those apps are updated through the Microsoft Store.
This issue occurs repeatedly with the same group of apps, so you must manually toggle the settings after each update to prevent background activity.
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This can happen when a Store update replaces or re-registers the app package. Windows may then treat it as a newly registered package and restore its default background permission. The setting should ideally be preserved, so repeated resets involving the same apps are worth reporting through Feedback Hub.
On Windows 11 Pro or Enterprise, you can use Group Policy to enforce the restriction:
- Open Terminal and run:
Get-AppxPackage | Select-Object Name, PackageFamilyName - Find the affected app and copy its PackageFamilyName.
- Press Win + R, enter gpedit.msc, and press Enter.
- Go to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > App Privacy.
- Open Let Windows apps run in the background and set it to Enabled.
- Keep the default set to User is in control, then add the affected package family names to Force deny these apps.
- Apply the policy and restart Windows.
This policy applies to packaged Store apps, but it may not control traditional desktop programs or protected Windows components.
Windows 11 Home does not provide this Group Policy setting. The practical options there are:
- Disable the app again under Installed apps > Advanced options > Background apps permissions > Never.
- Check Settings > Apps > Startup and disable its startup entry separately.
- Open the app itself and turn off any option such as “run at startup” or “continue running in the background.”
- Uninstall the app if it is not needed.
You can temporarily disable automatic app updates in Microsoft Store settings and update apps manually, but this also delays security and reliability fixes. After each manual update, check the background permission again.
Also note that the background permission controls Store-app background tasks. It does not stop a separate Windows service, startup process or browser extension used by the same application.
- Open Terminal and run:
Disable automatic updates for this app in Settings > Apps > Launch, or use the Group Policy Editor to lock down its background execution permissions.
