The Aggressive Memory Management
Windows 11 utilizes an aggressive memory management system designed to prioritize foreground applications and conserve battery life on laptops. By default, if an application is minimized or running in the background and the system determines that resources (RAM or CPU) are needed elsewhere, Windows 11 may automatically suspend or even completely close the background application without warning. While this keeps the active window running smoothly, it can be disastrous if you rely on background apps for continuous syncing, receiving real-time notifications (like Slack or Discord), or maintaining active network connections.
Adjusting Background App Permissions
To stop Windows 11 from automatically closing specific background applications, you need to change their individual power and background permissions, moving them from the “Power optimized” state to “Always allowed.”
Open the Settings app (Windows Key + I). In the left-hand menu, click on Apps, and then select Installed apps on the right side. Scroll through the list or use the search bar to find the specific application that keeps closing unexpectedly. Click the three-dot menu icon next to the app’s name and select Advanced options. (Note: If “Advanced options” is missing, it means the app is a traditional Win32 program and its background behavior is managed within the app itself, not by Windows). Scroll down to the Background apps permissions section. You will see a dropdown menu labeled “Let this app run in background.” By default, it is usually set to “Power optimized (recommended)”. Click this dropdown and change it to Always. Windows 11 will now exempt this specific application from its aggressive memory management, ensuring it never automatically closes it to save power or resources.