What Are Background Apps and Why They Matter
Background apps are programs running on your device that you may not actively see or use at any given moment, but they continue operating in the background. According to research from Pew Research Center, the average smartphone user has between 60 to 100 apps installed, though many people don't realize how many are running simultaneously at any time. These applications consume device resources like battery power, memory, and data even when you're not directly interacting with them.
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Understanding background apps is important because they directly affect how your device performs. When too many apps run in the background, your phone or computer may slow down, your battery drains faster, and your data usage increases. For example, a navigation app might continue using GPS even after you've closed it. A social media app might refresh feeds periodically. Email clients may sync messages every few minutes. Weather apps update forecasts. These small activities, multiplied across dozens of apps, create a noticeable impact on device performance and battery life.
Different types of background activity exist. Some apps refresh data occasionally, some check for notifications, and others track location or gather usage information. Not all background activity is harmful—some is necessary for your device to function properly. System updates need background processes. Security software requires background monitoring. Messages and calls need apps ready to receive them. The key is understanding which apps genuinely need to run in the background and which ones don't.
Studies from battery testing labs show that managing background apps can extend battery life by 20 to 40 percent, depending on how many unnecessary apps are running. A device with 15 actively running background apps will drain its battery significantly faster than one with only 5. By learning which apps need background access and which don't, you gain control over your device's performance and efficiency.
Practical Takeaway: Start by understanding that background apps are normal and some are necessary, but excessive background activity is a common reason devices slow down and batteries drain faster than expected.
How to Check Which Apps Are Running in the Background
The first step in managing background apps is seeing which ones are actually running. The process differs between Android devices and Apple devices, and also varies based on which version of the operating system you're using.
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On Android devices, open your Settings app and look for "Apps" or "Application Manager"—the exact name depends on your device manufacturer and Android version. Once there, you'll typically see a list of all installed applications. Many Android versions show a "Running" tab or section that displays only currently active apps. You can also check battery usage by going to Settings > Battery or Settings > Battery and Device Care, which shows which apps have used the most power recently. This gives you concrete data about which background apps are actually consuming resources. For example, if you see that a game you haven't played in weeks has used 15 percent of your battery, you know it's running unnecessary background processes.
On Apple iOS devices, the process is different because iOS doesn't show a traditional "running apps" list the way Android does. However, you can see which apps have used the most battery by going to Settings > Battery > Battery Usage. This shows battery consumption over the last 24 hours and the last 10 days. You can also check which apps have requested permission to access location, by going to Settings > Privacy > Location Services. This reveals which apps are tracking your location in the background. Additionally, Settings > Privacy shows what permissions each app has been granted—camera, microphone, contacts, photos, and more.
On Windows computers, you can open Task Manager by right-clicking the taskbar or pressing Ctrl+Shift+Esc. The Processes tab shows everything currently running. Look for unfamiliar program names consuming significant CPU or memory resources. You can also check the Startup tab to see which apps are set to launch automatically when you turn on your computer. On Mac computers, open Activity Monitor (found in Applications > Utilities) to see running processes and their resource usage.
Pay attention to resource usage numbers. CPU percentage shows how much processing power an app is using. Memory (or RAM) shows how much of your device's temporary storage it occupies. For example, if an app is using 5 percent CPU while your screen is off, that's excessive. If an app is using 300 MB of RAM but you rarely use it, you might want to disable its background activity.
Practical Takeaway: Use your device's built-in settings to view which apps are running and how much battery or processing power they're consuming, which gives you specific data to guide your decisions.
Managing Background Apps on Android Devices
Android offers several methods to control background app activity. The most straightforward approach is to restrict background data and background processes for individual apps.
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The first method involves going to Settings > Apps, selecting a specific app, and looking for options like "Battery" or "Battery Optimization." Here you can choose whether the app is "Optimized" (which restricts background activity) or "Unrestricted" (which allows full background access). Apps like email, messaging, and calling services generally need "Unrestricted" access to work properly. Apps like games, news readers, or entertainment services often don't need unrestricted background access. Making these choices app-by-app gives you fine control over what runs when you're not using your device.
A second method is to restrict background data usage. Go to Settings > Network and Internet > Data Usage (or similar, depending on your Android version), then find the app-specific data usage section. You can toggle off "Background data" for individual apps. This prevents them from using data while running in the background, which saves both data and battery. For example, you might turn off background data for streaming apps or social media but leave it on for email.
A third option is managing which apps start automatically. On many Android devices, go to Settings > Apps, then look for a "Startup" or "Auto-start" section. Some apps are set to launch automatically when you restart your device. Disabling auto-start for apps you don't regularly use reduces the number of background processes from the moment your device turns on. However, be cautious—some system apps need auto-start enabled to function properly.
Android also includes a "Do Not Disturb" or "Focus Mode" feature that can be scheduled. This prevents background notifications and alerts during specific times, which helps preserve battery and reduce interruptions. Some Android devices also have a "Battery Saver" or "Power Saving Mode" that automatically restricts background activity when your battery drops below a certain percentage—usually 15 or 20 percent.
Be aware that disabling background activity for some apps may affect their functionality. Disabling background data for your email app means it won't notify you of new messages until you open the app manually. Disabling background activity for your messaging app might delay receiving messages. These trade-offs are often worthwhile, but understanding them helps you make informed choices about which restrictions matter most to you.
Practical Takeaway: Use Android's battery optimization and background data controls to restrict unnecessary app activity, starting with apps you rarely use or entertainment apps that don't need real-time notifications.
Managing Background Apps on iPhone and iOS Devices
iPhones and iPads handle background app management differently than Android devices because Apple's iOS is designed to limit background activity more strictly by default. However, you still have several ways to take control.
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The most effective method is disabling "Background App Refresh." Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh, where you'll see a toggle to turn off this feature entirely, or you can scroll down to see individual apps and toggle their background refresh on or off. Background App Refresh allows apps to download new data and check for updates even when you're not using them. Disabling it for apps like news, weather, or social media can significantly extend battery life. However, apps like email, messaging, or calendar may not function optimally without it. The key is choosing which apps genuinely benefit from background refresh and which ones don't.
A second approach involves checking location permissions. Many apps request permission to access your location in the background. Go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services, and you'll see every app that has requested location access. For each app, you can choose "Never," "While Using," or "Always." Most apps function fine with "While Using" instead of "Always." Navigation apps need "Always," but a restaurant review app doesn't. This single change can noticeably improve battery life because location tracking is one of the most battery-intensive background activities.
iPhone also allows you to disable background activity through "Low Power Mode." Enable this in