Google Chrome is one of the best and most trusted browsers. However, you may find it running in the background after you have closed the app, so in this article, I have mentioned how we can stop chrome from running in the background.
Why Chrome May Be Running In The Background
Before you learn how to stop Chrome from running in the background, you should understand why it does. The browser has its reasons for running in the background, and while some are beneficial, others may give you more reasons to want to stop the Chrome background activity. Here are some reasons why Chrome may run in the background on your computer:
- It runs in the background so you can continue your last session or not lose the tabs you opened.
- There are chrome extensions that fetch information like weather reports.
- It runs in the background to reduce its load time when you open the browser.
How To Stop Chrome From Running In The Background on a Windows PC
To begin with, let’s see ways to stop Chrome from running in the background for Windows PC users. There are two options.
Option 1: Use Google Chrome In-app Settings
Follow these steps to stop Chrome from running in the background of your Windows PC from the browser’s in-app settings.
- Launch Google Chrome by double-clicking the icon or right-clicking it and selecting Open. You may also search for the app using the Windows search button.
- Click on the three dots at the top right corner of the browser.
- Next, select Settings in the prompt that shows up.
- Scroll down in the Settings page and click on Advanced.
- Scroll down the left window pane and click on System.
- Next, click the toggle next to the “Continue running background apps when Google Chrome is closed” option.
Option 2: Stop Chrome From Running By Default In Windows Startup
Windows lets apps like Chrome run in the background by default when you turn on your computer, but you can disable this startup feature on your computer. Here are the steps to do this.
- Open the Windows Settings page by pressing the start button and selecting Settings under the pinned apps section. Alternatively, you can press the Windows + I buttons simultaneously.
- Click on Apps in the left window pane.
- Next, click on Startup in the Apps section.
- Find Chrome and turn off the toggle next to it.
How To Stop Chrome From Running In The Background On Mac OS
Unlike the Windows version, Chrome Settings on Mac OS does not provide a medium to stop the browser from running in the background.
However, you can check your Dock and click on Chrome if it has a "dot" under its icon. This dot lets you know it still runs in the background even though it is closed. After you click on it, press Command + Q to close it completely.
However, it will not stop other programs like Chrome extensions, you need to take some steps further to do this. You can use the activity monitor or stop Chrome from running by default in Mac startup. Let's see the steps in both options:
Option 1: Use Activity Monitor on Mac
Here are the steps to disable Chrome and its other programs from running in the background of your Mac OS using the activity monitor app:
- Press Command + Shift to open Spotlight Search.
- Type "activity monitor" and open the app.
- Next, find Google Chrome and click on it.
- Then click on the stop button to kill Chrome's background processes. This button is at the top center of your screen with an "X."
- Confirm you want to close the process by clicking on Quit in the pop-up.
Option 2: Stop Chrome from Running By Default In Mac Startup
Like in Windows, Chrome may run in the background when you turn on your Mac computer. Follow these steps to stop this from happening:
- Click on the Apple logo at the top left corner of your screen.
- Select the System Preferences… option.
- Next, click on Users & Groups.
- Check for Login Items on the screen and click on it.
- Find Google Chrome in the list of login items. Disable it if it is available on the list.
Conclusion
When apps like Google Chrome run in the background of your computer, they may drain your battery or consume your CPU and RAM. Chrome may also send distracting notifications when you are busy with other things and play a part in slowing down your computer's booting process. You may stop Chrome from running in the background to avoid these complications.
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