Speed Boost: Enable Efficiency Mode on Resource-Hogging Apps in Windows 11 Task Manager

You can make Windows 11 feel noticeably faster by putting heavy background apps into Efficiency mode in Task Manager.

This is for Windows 11 users who juggle lots of tabs and apps, especially on older laptops or lower-RAM PCs.

Time required: about 1 minute.

Quick Answer

Open Task Manager with Ctrl + Shift + Esc, sort by CPU or Memory, then right-click non-essential high-usage background processes and turn on Efficiency mode. Windows lowers priority and power use for those processes so your active app gets more resources.

What You Need

• A Windows 11 PC (22H2 or later recommended)
• Permission to open Task Manager
• At least one background app currently using high CPU or memory

Step-by-Step: Turn On Efficiency Mode

1. Open Task Manager.
   Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc (or right-click Start > Task Manager).
   Expected result check: You can see the Processes list with CPU and Memory columns.
2. Find a resource-hogging background app.
   Click the CPU or Memory column header to sort from highest to lowest usage.
   Expected result check: A non-essential background app appears near the top (for example, an idle browser process or sync client).
3. Enable Efficiency mode for that process.
   Right-click the process and select Efficiency mode, then confirm.
   Expected result check: The process shows an efficiency indicator (leaf icon), and CPU spikes should reduce over the next moments.
4. Repeat only for other non-essential background processes.
   Apply it to apps you are not actively using right now.
   Expected result check: Foreground apps feel more responsive.
5. Test responsiveness.
   Switch between your usual apps and open a few tabs/files.
   Expected result check: Faster app switching, fewer stutters, and often better battery life on laptops.

Common Mistakes

• Turning Efficiency mode on for the app you are actively using.
• Applying it to every process without checking what they do.
• Expecting huge gains when your PC is already mostly idle.
• Not retesting after making the change.

Troubleshooting

• Efficiency mode option is missing: Update Windows 11, then reopen Task Manager.
• An app becomes too slow: Right-click the process and turn Efficiency mode off.
• No speed improvement: Check startup apps, free disk space, and memory pressure.
• Not sure it worked: Watch CPU/Memory trends in Task Manager for 2–3 minutes before and after.

Reference Links

• Microsoft Support: Task Manager — https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/task-manager-in-windows-31caee1e-f7a6-431b-8c06-190ee1d2b76a
• Windows Central: Efficiency mode guide — https://www.windowscentral.com/software-apps/windows-11/how-use-efficiency-mode-windows-11-task-manager
• Tom’s Guide benchmark context — https://www.tomsguide.com/computing/windows-operating-systems/this-hidden-windows-11-setting-will-give-your-pc-an-instant-speed-boost-heres-how-to-try-it

Related Reads on FreeTechTricks

• No-App Needed: Set WebP Images as Desktop Wallpaper in Windows 11
• Windows 11 Hidden Trick: Pan and Tilt Your Webcam from Settings
• Windows 11 Trick: Run a Network Speed Test from the Taskbar in Seconds

Next Step

Apply the same tweak to one more non-essential background app, then compare app-switch speed during your normal workflow.