Should You Continue Running Background Apps When Google Chrome is Closed?

Hitting the X button when you close Google Chrome can mean different things but for most people, you can continue running background apps when closed.

Why should I keep running background apps when Google Chrome is closed?

• Sync – If you use messaging apps like Slack, WhatsApp or even Google Chat, having them run in the background ensures you’re up-to-date with the latest messages and any data shared across your devices.
• Notifications – Again, with the messaging apps, if you’ve closed the browser, you can still receive important notifications without keeping the browser open.
• Quick access – When you launch your browser again, the running apps will already be preloaded so you’ll open them much faster.

How do I keep background apps running when Google Chrome is closed?

1. Launch your Chrome browser and click the three vertical ellipses in the top right corner.
2. Select Settings.
3. Select System then on the right-hand side, toggle on Continue running background apps when Google Chrome is closed.
4. Close the browser and your background apps will keep running.

While running background apps may be beneficial in ensuring a continuous workflow, it has its downsides. Too many background processes can have a negative effect on your system performance and can affect the lifespan of your battery.

Not too mention, the startup time may be prolonged and cause lagging when launching other programs. If you are unsure on whether to turn it on or off, we have a rough idea of how many processes you should be running based on your device’s specs.

You can stop unnecessary processes and save your PC from a system slowdown. Afterall, Chrome is notorious for being a CPU-hogger so it would be in your best interest to limit the number of background processes.

Also keep in mind that having this feature turned on can prevent Chrome from shutting down correctly. If it happens, simply toggle it off and on again to resolve it.

It’s a wrap from us but do let us know whether you keep running background apps when Google Chrome is closed. Also let us know your reasons why in the comment section below.