diff --git a/src/yuzu/configuration/config.cpp b/src/yuzu/configuration/config.cpp
index 92d9fb161..0cc3688c2 100644
--- a/src/yuzu/configuration/config.cpp
+++ b/src/yuzu/configuration/config.cpp
@@ -705,6 +705,8 @@ void Config::ReadUIValues() {
     UISettings::values.callout_flags = ReadSetting(QStringLiteral("calloutFlags"), 0).toUInt();
     UISettings::values.show_console = ReadSetting(QStringLiteral("showConsole"), false).toBool();
     UISettings::values.profile_index = ReadSetting(QStringLiteral("profileIndex"), 0).toUInt();
+    UISettings::values.pause_when_in_background =
+        ReadSetting(QStringLiteral("pauseWhenInBackground"), false).toBool();
 
     ApplyDefaultProfileIfInputInvalid();
 
@@ -1103,6 +1105,8 @@ void Config::SaveUIValues() {
     WriteSetting(QStringLiteral("calloutFlags"), UISettings::values.callout_flags, 0);
     WriteSetting(QStringLiteral("showConsole"), UISettings::values.show_console, false);
     WriteSetting(QStringLiteral("profileIndex"), UISettings::values.profile_index, 0);
+    WriteSetting(QStringLiteral("pauseWhenInBackground"),
+                 UISettings::values.pause_when_in_background, false);
 
     qt_config->endGroup();
 }
diff --git a/src/yuzu/configuration/configure_general.cpp b/src/yuzu/configuration/configure_general.cpp
index 98bc9b391..34e1d7fea 100644
--- a/src/yuzu/configuration/configure_general.cpp
+++ b/src/yuzu/configuration/configure_general.cpp
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ void ConfigureGeneral::SetConfiguration() {
     ui->toggle_check_exit->setChecked(UISettings::values.confirm_before_closing);
     ui->toggle_user_on_boot->setChecked(UISettings::values.select_user_on_boot);
     ui->theme_combobox->setCurrentIndex(ui->theme_combobox->findData(UISettings::values.theme));
+    ui->toggle_background_pause->setChecked(UISettings::values.pause_when_in_background);
 
     ui->toggle_frame_limit->setChecked(Settings::values.use_frame_limit);
     ui->frame_limit->setEnabled(ui->toggle_frame_limit->isChecked());
@@ -42,6 +43,7 @@ void ConfigureGeneral::ApplyConfiguration() {
     UISettings::values.select_user_on_boot = ui->toggle_user_on_boot->isChecked();
     UISettings::values.theme =
         ui->theme_combobox->itemData(ui->theme_combobox->currentIndex()).toString();
+    UISettings::values.pause_when_in_background = ui->toggle_background_pause->isChecked();
 
     Settings::values.use_frame_limit = ui->toggle_frame_limit->isChecked();
     Settings::values.frame_limit = ui->frame_limit->value();
diff --git a/src/yuzu/configuration/configure_general.ui b/src/yuzu/configuration/configure_general.ui
index 0bb91d64b..26b3486ff 100644
--- a/src/yuzu/configuration/configure_general.ui
+++ b/src/yuzu/configuration/configure_general.ui
@@ -65,6 +65,13 @@
             </property>
            </widget>
           </item>
+           <item>
+             <widget class="QCheckBox" name="toggle_background_pause">
+               <property name="text">
+                 <string>Pause emulation when in background</string>
+               </property>
+             </widget>
+           </item>
          </layout>
         </item>
        </layout>
diff --git a/src/yuzu/main.cpp b/src/yuzu/main.cpp
index 2d82df739..757d42a3a 100644
--- a/src/yuzu/main.cpp
+++ b/src/yuzu/main.cpp
@@ -675,6 +675,24 @@ void GMainWindow::RestoreUIState() {
     Debugger::ToggleConsole();
 }
 
+void GMainWindow::OnAppFocusStateChanged(Qt::ApplicationState state) {
+    if (!UISettings::values.pause_when_in_background) {
+        return;
+    }
+    if (state != Qt::ApplicationHidden && state != Qt::ApplicationInactive &&
+        state != Qt::ApplicationActive) {
+        LOG_DEBUG(Frontend, "ApplicationState unusual flag: {} ", state);
+    }
+    if (ui.action_Pause->isEnabled() &&
+        (state & (Qt::ApplicationHidden | Qt::ApplicationInactive))) {
+        auto_paused = true;
+        OnPauseGame();
+    } else if (ui.action_Start->isEnabled() && auto_paused && state == Qt::ApplicationActive) {
+        auto_paused = false;
+        OnStartGame();
+    }
+}
+
 void GMainWindow::ConnectWidgetEvents() {
     connect(game_list, &GameList::GameChosen, this, &GMainWindow::OnGameListLoadFile);
     connect(game_list, &GameList::OpenDirectory, this, &GMainWindow::OnGameListOpenDirectory);
@@ -2311,6 +2329,9 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[]) {
     // After settings have been loaded by GMainWindow, apply the filter
     main_window.show();
 
+    QObject::connect(&app, &QGuiApplication::applicationStateChanged, &main_window,
+                     &GMainWindow::OnAppFocusStateChanged);
+
     Settings::LogSettings();
 
     int result = app.exec();
diff --git a/src/yuzu/main.h b/src/yuzu/main.h
index e942d1248..fd4b9ccf5 100644
--- a/src/yuzu/main.h
+++ b/src/yuzu/main.h
@@ -119,6 +119,7 @@ public slots:
     void SoftwareKeyboardGetText(const Core::Frontend::SoftwareKeyboardParameters& parameters);
     void SoftwareKeyboardInvokeCheckDialog(std::u16string error_message);
     void WebBrowserOpenPage(std::string_view filename, std::string_view arguments);
+    void OnAppFocusStateChanged(Qt::ApplicationState state);
 
 private:
     void InitializeWidgets();
@@ -244,6 +245,8 @@ private:
     // The path to the game currently running
     QString game_path;
 
+    bool auto_paused = false;
+
     // FS
     std::shared_ptr<FileSys::VfsFilesystem> vfs;
     std::unique_ptr<FileSys::ManualContentProvider> provider;
diff --git a/src/yuzu/uisettings.h b/src/yuzu/uisettings.h
index c57290006..84824caae 100644
--- a/src/yuzu/uisettings.h
+++ b/src/yuzu/uisettings.h
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ struct Values {
 
     bool confirm_before_closing;
     bool first_start;
+    bool pause_when_in_background;
 
     bool select_user_on_boot;