Ever notice when Google Maps sends your ETA before you step foot in your car? Or when Spotify alerts you about an album release you didn’t know about? You can thank background app refresh for that. In this blog, we’ll discuss the pros & cons of background app refresh, how it works and how you can turn it on & off.
What does background app refresh mean?
Background app refresh is a smartphone feature that allows apps to idle in the background (when you’re not using them) in order to send convenient alerts and make updates. Depending on the app in question, this feature can be very helpful. However, having a lot of active background apps can drain your battery, since they can chug data at an alarming rate of 3-5MB per hour. So how do you turn it off? Do you even want to? Let’s get into it.
Benefits of background app refresh
If background app refresh uses data and battery power, why have it on? There are a few good reasons, actually.
- It keeps your apps updated
- Social media apps, like Instagram, can preload in the background so you don’t have to wait for the latest content to load every time you open the app.
- Creates a smoother experience
- Background app refresh allows for a smoother user experience, because you can jump from one app to another without having to wait for each one to load.
- Enables greater personalization
- It also serves to personalize your experience by allowing apps like Spotify and Netflix to analyze your streaming habits and recommend other stuff you’ll like.
Should I keep background app refresh on or off?
Whether or not you want to leave background app refresh enabled is up to you. There are a few things to consider.
If you currently have an unlimited data plan and also prefer a seamless experience when using your phone, it would make sense for you to keep it on. But if you don’t have unlimited data and are willing to wait for your apps to load, turning off background app refresh is a great way to save some mobile data. If you find yourself always borrowing a charger, turning off background app refresh can help you conserve battery, too.
Fortunately, background app refresh isn’t an all-or-nothing feature. You can turn it off on apps you rarely use and leave it on for the ones you open most frequently.
How to turn off background app refresh for iPhone
- Open the Settings app and select General
- Scroll down and tap Background App Refresh
- Now you should see a list of every app that has permission to idle in the background
- To disable Background App Refresh for select apps, slide the switches to Off
To disable background app refresh for all apps, tap the option at the top of the page and select one of the following:
- Wi-Fi & Cellular Data: This is the default, so you won’t want to choose this
- Wi-Fi Only: Apps only update if you’re connected to a Wi-Fi network
- Off: This stops apps from updating in the background entirely
How to turn off background app refresh for Android phones
- Go to Settings and select Apps & Notifications
- Select See All Apps
- Tap the app you want to disable background app refresh for, then select Mobile Data & Wi-Fi
- Turn the Background Data slider to Off
Performing these steps will prevent the app from using data and battery in the background, but background usage will continue when connected to Wi-Fi. Note: “Background App Refresh” is an Apple term, but Android’s background data operates in the same way.
So, now you’ve configured your background apps. Before you start switching off your apps’ background data, it might be a good idea to learn how to turn background app refresh back on again. If you want your suspended apps to start checking for new content, follow these steps for re-enabling background app refresh.
How to turn on background app refresh for iPhone
- Open the Settings app and select General
- Scroll down and tap Background App Refresh
- Now you should see a list of every app that has permission to idle in the background
- To enable Background App Refresh for your most frequently used apps, slide their switches to On
How to turn on background app refresh for Android phones
- Open Settings, then tap Connections
- Select Data usage
- Scroll down to the Mobile section and tap Mobile data usage
- Select the app from below the usage graph
- Turn on Allow background data usage
Follow these steps for each app for which you would like to permit refreshing in the background.
Still wondering “Why is my phone dying so fast?”
Reconfiguring background app refresh isn’t the only way you can save your phone battery and data usage. For instance, did you know that YouTube can seriously impact your data allotment and battery life? Simple changes to your viewing habits such as downloading videos on Wi-Fi to watch offline, turning off autoplay, and disabling muted playback can produce instant gains to your data and battery longevity. Check out our other blog for more YouTube and video streaming tips with instructions.
A battery-saving technique to pair with these YouTube hacks is programming your phone into Low Power Mode. It’s a lot easier than it sounds, and most phones automatically reduce their battery usage once power has dipped below the 20% threshold. When in this mode, your phone will disable certain animations, reduce screen brightness, and power off the display quicker when not in use.
How to enable Low Power Mode on iPhone:
- Open Settings and select Battery
- Slide the Low Power Mode slider to On
How to enable Low Power Mode on Android phones:
- Open Settings and select Battery and Device Care
- Tap Battery
- Select Power Saving and tap the switch
You’re the background app refresh boss now
Now you’ve got a whole toolbox of battery and data tricks – your friends will be so jealous. Remember, for important apps you use every day, like the Mint Mobile app, background app refresh can be a great feature that makes the app experience smoother, but at the cost of background data and battery life. Go explore your phone’s settings page and put the power back in your hands.
Originally published August 2022; Updated August 2024
