The background app refresh term refers to a phone setting that many people overlook. It plays a big role in how smoothly your device runs every day. This refresh feature lets the apps update the content even if you do not access it. However, it sometimes drains the battery and data.
In this article, get deeper insights into what background app refresh really does and how you can manage it effectively. Also, we will explain some pros and cons. Once you know how it works, you can easily optimize your phone’s performance and extend battery life.
What is background app refresh?
Background app refresh is a built-in feature that aims to automatically prepare apps with new information. By doing so, you don’t have to wait for the app to load every time you open it.
For instance, your emails can fetch new emails in the background and send you a notification. The way it works is so simple. Your phone allows some apps to run mini tasks in the background using Wi-Fi or mobile data. However, there’s a small problem. It uses more battery and data. This is the reason why many people choose to keep it on only for necessary apps.
Is background app refresh necessary?
It depends. It is necessary for some people. Let’s know the advantages you get by keeping certain apps refreshed.
- Always up-to-date: Background app refresh always keeps your apps updated. If you want to go outside and check the weather instantly, you can see live forecasts by just opening the weather app. You don’t need to manually refresh every time.
- Faster access: When your apps are updated in the background, they open quickly. Suppose you open a social media app and see the recent posts. This fast opening reduces your waiting time.
- Smarter notifications: This keeps you updated and lets you receive important notifications from critical apps in time. It includes health trackers and reminders. Without an app refresh, you may miss important alerts.
Disadvantages of background app refresh
Let’s know about the other side of enabling background app refresh.
- Faster battery drain: This constant refreshing of so many apps’ activities can make your phone’s battery drain faster. Tom’s Guide points out that background app refresh is the main phone battery killer.
- Higher data usage: Some background refreshing takes mobile data to run. This can be problematic for people with limited data plans, as it may incur extra charges.
- Reduced performance: It is common that if several apps are running in the background, they can slow down your phone by consuming extra memory and processing power, making it slower to open other apps. If your device is older, it may be more affected.
If you want to find the balance: A tailored approach for your usage – strategically disabling background app refresh is crucial. Choose which apps you truly need to update, like emails or messaging apps. And turn off the refresh feature for less important apps, such as games or shopping apps. When you turn them off, you can save battery and data.
Stay Informed, Save Battery, Optimize Performance!
When should you disable background app refresh?
As we mentioned above, if your phone keeps dying quickly or starts to lag, it’s time to adjust your background refresh settings. Let’s check which categories of apps need to be enabled for background refresh to ensure normal operation, and which are not.
Which apps should have background refresh?
- Messaging apps, like WhatsApp or Messenger, receive new message notifications in real-time without opening them, relying instead on background refresh.
- Navigation apps, such as Google Maps or Waze, benefit greatly from background refresh. If you get stuck in traffic, you can get another route instantly. Even if you switch to another app, they will work.
- Cloud storage/sync apps: Turning on background refresh for apps like Google Drive or Dropbox is necessary to automatically sync your files if needed. So you can make sure your documents or photos are always backed up.
- News/weather apps: These types of apps rely on background refresh to display the latest updates for breaking news or emergency forecasts.
- Parental control apps: These apps also need a background refresh to maintain connection and monitoring, including location tracking and recording screen time. This gives parents accurate reports and alerts immediately.
Apps that can have background refresh disabled
There are some categories of apps that can run without needing to be refreshed in the background.
- Games: Most games don’t require real-time updates, and they don’t need to run in the background to function properly.
- Streaming services: Apps like Netflix, YouTube, and Spotify don’t need constant updates in the background. You usually stream content only when you actively open the app.
- Single-purpose utility apps: Every device has single-purpose utility apps, including calculators, flashlights, or QR scanners. They don’t offer live updates and don’t need to refresh in the background. Just open it whenever you need it.
- Shopping apps: Disabling background refreshing for them only stops unimportant notifications.
- Social media apps, like Instagram or TikTok, benefit from notifications. However, they don’t need to constantly refresh. It is best to adjust the background refresh settings based on actual needs for better concentration.
How to turn off background app refresh? (Android & iOS)
On iOS devices
Steps to turn off background app refresh on iPhone & iPad:
- Open the Settings > Tap General > Background App Refresh.
- Choose one of the following options:
Off – turns off background refresh for all apps.
Wi-Fi – allows refresh only when connected to Wi-Fi.
Wi-Fi & Cellular Data – allows refresh on both Wi-Fi and mobile data. - To disable for specific apps, scroll down and toggle off the apps you don’t want to refresh.
On Android
- Access Settings on your Android device.
- Tap Connections or Network & Internet > select Data usage.
- Select “Mobile data usage” and tap on the app you want to restrict.
- From the app settings options, just turn off “Allow background data usage.”
What happens when you turn off background app refresh?
If you turn off background refresh for certain apps, you may experience delays in receiving messages or updates. And your phone might run smoothly and last longer. It’s advised to consider what primary apps you use every day and make adjustments.
Advanced tips for optimizing app and device management
Managing background app refresh is just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to optimizing your device’s performance, battery life, and data usage. To truly get the most out of your phone, consider implementing these additional advanced tips for a smoother, more efficient experience.
Regularly check app permissions
To optimize the app and device management, the first tip is to check app permissions regularly. Turn off useless permissions. This helps to protect your privacy and also saves battery life. To check the app permissions, access your phone’s settings > app list, then check each app’s information.
Use low power mode strategically
Low power mode is a smart way to extend your battery life, especially if you are traveling or out for a long time. When you turn on low power mode, it automatically pauses background refresh and limits visual effects. Meanwhile, it reduces system performance slightly to save energy.
Customize individual app refresh
You’d better take a few minutes to dive into the settings of key apps, tweak them to suit your needs, and optimize device performance. Some apps allow you to customize their refresh rate or how often they update in the background. For example, many social media apps let you adjust how frequently they check for new content. If you don’t need constant updates, you can reduce the frequency, saving both battery and data.
Clear cache and unused data regularly
The next tip is to clear the cache and unused files regularly. What happens is that apps store temporary files over time, which take up valuable space. Regular cleaning helps your phone run faster. It’s like giving your phone a fresh start. Regular cleanup at least once a month is great. It will be enough to keep your device optimized.
Bonus tips for parents
If you are a parent and concerned about your kid’s screen time and want to manage their app use, set up FlashGet Kids parental controls. It’s also important to monitor and control which apps are using the most resources. Tools like FlashGet Kids provide a comprehensive solution for managing apps, setting time limits, and blocking unnecessary apps when children are using their devices. This can help you maintain control over both digital safety and healthy habits.
Wrapping up
If you appropriately manage background app refresh, it can make a huge positive impact on your phone’s performance and battery life. The best way to manage is to keep a balance: enable it for important apps like messaging or maps, and turn off this refresh for others.
Since everyone’s habits are not the same, you should take a customized approach to fit into your routine and device needs. At the end, all you need to do is stay mindful of these small habits.
FAQs
Yes, apps running in the background can use mobile data to update content, sync files, or download notifications, especially with social media.
It can, especially if many apps are refreshing at once. Background activity uses processing power and memory, which may slow down older phones or cause battery drain.
No, turning it off doesn’t stop notifications. You’ll still get alerts like messages or calls in real time. However, apps won’t update their content until you open them, so new data might appear slightly delayed.
Not exactly. Background app refresh updates content when the app isn’t open, while running in the background means the app is still active or performing tasks, like music playing or file downloads continuing.
