GNOME 46 introduces a direct way to manage background applications, addressing long-standing user demand for more visibility and control over apps that continue running after their windows are closed. Previously, users relied on legacy system trays or third-party extensions to keep track of services like email clients, chat apps, and cloud sync tools. Now, the new Background Apps toggle in Quick Settings provides a unified, accessible solution that fits the GNOME design philosophy and works seamlessly with modern sandboxed apps.

Accessing Background Apps in GNOME 46

Step 1: Open the Quick Settings menu by clicking the system menu in the top-right corner of your GNOME desktop. This is the same panel where you find toggles for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and power settings.

Step 2: Look for the “Background Apps” section. This area only appears when compatible apps are running in the background. If no supported background processes are detected, the toggle remains hidden, keeping the menu uncluttered.

Step 3: Click to expand the Background Apps list. Here, you’ll see the names of apps currently running without open windows. Each entry includes a close (X) button for quickly terminating the background process without reopening the app window.

Step 4: To manage permissions, use the provided shortcut to App Settings. This lets you revoke an app’s ability to run in the background, offering more granular control over system resources and privacy.

How Background Apps Works

The Background Apps feature uses the xdg-desktop-portal backend, designed for sandboxed applications such as Flatpak and Snap. When these apps request to run in the background, GNOME registers their activity and displays them in Quick Settings. This approach ensures compatibility with modern Linux packaging standards and strengthens user awareness of active background processes.

It’s important to note that this system is not a return to the traditional system tray or AppIndicator model. Instead of persistent icons with custom menus, GNOME’s approach lists background apps in a single, discoverable menu, prioritizing clarity and minimalism. You can’t interact with these apps beyond closing them or opening their settings—there’s no right-click menu or status icon as found in KDE or Windows.

Supported Application Types

Currently, the Background Apps toggle displays only those applications that integrate with the portal API—primarily Flatpak apps and, in the future, other sandboxed formats. Traditional X11 tray icons or legacy app indicators (used by apps like Skype, Dropbox, or some Electron apps) are not automatically included, as GNOME continues to phase out older tray mechanisms in favor of sandbox-friendly solutions. This shift improves security and consistency, but may mean some apps won’t appear until they update to support the new portal.

Benefits and Limitations

This new toggle simplifies background process management. Users can:

  • Quickly see which apps are running unseen in the background.
  • Terminate background apps without reopening their main window.
  • Control background permissions directly from system settings.

However, there are some limitations:

  • No custom context menus or interactive controls for background apps—only close and settings options are available.
  • Apps must support the portal API to appear in the list; legacy tray apps require extensions or alternative solutions.
  • The feature is not intended as a full replacement for system trays or status notifiers, but as a step toward more transparent background process management.

Alternative Approaches

For users who rely on traditional system tray icons for quick access or status updates, several GNOME Shell extensions remain available. These extensions restore tray or AppIndicator functionality, allowing older apps to display icons and menus in the top bar. While effective for legacy workflows, these solutions may not be as secure or future-proof as the new portal-based approach, and their long-term support depends on community maintenance and GNOME’s extension API stability.

GNOME 46’s Background Apps toggle streamlines monitoring and control of modern background applications, making it easier to manage system resources and privacy. For legacy or non-portal apps, extensions remain an option, but the new feature marks a clear shift toward unified, user-friendly background process management in GNOME.