By default, Google Chrome exhibits a behaviour that many users find surprising: when you click the red ‘X’ to close the browser, it does not actually stop running. Chrome keeps a background process alive in the system tray, allowing Chrome extensions and web apps (like Google Chat or desktop notifications) to continue functioning and consuming system resources.
If you are using a laptop on battery power, or a desktop with limited RAM, you should disable this feature to ensure that when you close your browser, it is truly closed.
How to Disable Background Apps
You can turn this feature off directly from Chrome’s internal settings menu.
- Open the Google Chrome browser on your desktop computer (Windows, Mac, or Linux).
- Click the three-dot menu icon in the top-right corner of the window.
- Select Settings from the dropdown menu.
- In the left-hand sidebar, click on System.
- Look for the toggle switch labelled Continue running background apps when Google Chrome is closed.
- Click the toggle to turn it Off (the switch will turn grey).
There is no need to restart the browser. The next time you close the final Chrome window, the application will terminate completely, instantly freeing up memory and CPU cycles.
A Faster Method (Windows Only)
If you are on a Windows PC and you notice the Chrome icon sitting in your system tray (the small area next to your clock in the bottom-right corner of the screen) after you have closed the browser, you can disable the feature from there without opening Settings.
- Locate the small Google Chrome icon in the System Tray. (You may need to click the small “up arrow” to reveal hidden icons).
- Right-click on the Chrome icon.
- You will see an option labelled Let Google Chrome run in the background with a checkmark next to it.
- Click that text to uncheck it.
The icon will instantly disappear from the system tray, and Chrome will respect your decision to remain fully closed moving forward.