Some apps let you manage background activity, which determines what they can do when they’re in the background and not actively in use. Apps that can run in the background can send and receive notifications, sync information, and stay up to date.

A "clean boot" starts Windows with a minimal set of drivers and startup programs, so that you can determine whether a background program is interfering with your game or program. This is similar to starting Windows in Safe Mode, but provides you more control over which services and programs run at startup to help you isolate the cause of a problem.

Windows background apps and your privacy. In Windows, apps can continue to perform actions even when you are not actively in the app’s window. These are commonly called background apps. You can decide which apps will run in the background, and which won't.

This troubleshooter runs automatically on devices on Enterprise and Pro SKUs of Microsoft 365 Desktop that Microsoft detects are missing the package Microsoft.AAD.BrokerPlugin. Devices check for applicable troubleshooters once a day. The troubleshooter cannot be run manually.

There are different ways to remove apps and programs, so if you can't find the one you're looking for, you can try another location. Note that some apps and programs are built into Windows and can't be uninstalled. You can try to repair a program first, if it's just not running correctly.

The Microsoft Defender Offline scan will automatically detect and remove or quarantine malware. Learn how to remove malware from your PC. Use Microsoft Defender Antivirus in Windows 10 or Windows 11 to scan your PC for malware, viruses, or other threats.

If some Windows functions aren't working or Windows crashes, use the System File Checker to scan Windows and restore your files. Though the steps below might look complicated at first glance, just follow them in order, step-by-step, and we’ll try to get you back on track. Run the System File Checker tool (SFC.exe)

System File Checker is a utility in Windows that checks for problems with files on your computer. To run it, follow these steps: Make sure you've installed the latest updates for Windows, and then restart your machine. To find out more, read Update Windows.

Configure startup applications from File Explorer. Fix the error: We couldn’t find this app. If you see the massage We couldn’t find this app as an app title in Settings, the app could be on a removable drive, a network drive, or the path to the app might not exist.

Windows 10. Potentially unwanted applications (PUA) are a category of software that can cause your machine to run slowly, display unexpected ads, or at worst, install other software which may be more harmful or annoying. Windows Security has reputation-based protection that can help protect your PC from potentially unwanted applications.