What Is Background App Refresh and How Does It Work
Background App Refresh is a feature on smartphones that lets apps continue running and updating even when you're not actively using them. Think of it like having multiple workers in a store who keep working on tasks even after you've left the checkout counter. When you close an app on your phone, it doesn't automatically stop completely. Instead, Background App Refresh allows that app to check for new information, download updates, or perform other tasks while you're using a different app or when your phone is locked.
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On iPhones running iOS, this feature uses a technology called "Smart App Refresh" that lets apps refresh their content at times when your device is plugged in and connected to WiFi. Android phones have a similar system where apps can run in the background with varying levels of restriction depending on how you've configured permissions. The feature exists because many apps need to stay somewhat active to provide you with timely notifications, updated information, or data synchronization.
For example, when you use a weather app, Background App Refresh allows it to check for updated forecasts throughout the day even when you're not looking at it. That's how you receive a weather notification about rain coming in two hours. Without this feature, apps would only update their information when you manually opened them. Email apps use this feature to show you new messages without you having to refresh manually. Social media apps refresh to show you new posts and notifications.
The mechanism works differently on iOS versus Android. On iOS, the system decides when apps can refresh based on your usage patterns and whether your device is charging. Android gives you more control but also requires more active management. Both systems use your device's resources—battery power, data, and processing power—when apps refresh in the background.
Practical takeaway: Background App Refresh keeps your apps updated without you having to manually check them, but it uses battery and data to do so. Understanding how it works helps you decide which apps should have this permission and which shouldn't.
Why Background App Refresh Matters for Your User Experience
Background App Refresh directly affects how quickly you get notifications and how current your information stays. Without it, your messaging apps couldn't alert you to new texts until you opened them. Banking apps couldn't monitor for suspicious activity. Navigation apps couldn't recalculate routes based on traffic changes. News apps couldn't push breaking news alerts to your device. This feature has become expected on modern smartphones because users have grown accustomed to receiving real-time information without manually refreshing every app.
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The timeliness of notifications depends heavily on Background App Refresh. When your mail app has this feature enabled, it can check for new messages every few minutes (or more frequently on iOS when the device is plugged in). Without it, you might miss urgent emails until hours later when you happen to open the app. For work applications, messaging platforms, and banking services, this delay could create real problems. A real estate agent might miss client inquiries. A parent might not see an emergency alert from school until it's no longer relevant.
There's also a synchronization benefit. Cloud storage apps like Google Drive and iCloud use Background App Refresh to sync your files across devices. When you save a document on your computer, the app can push that update to your phone in the background so the same version appears when you open it. Without this feature, you might open an older version of a document without realizing it's been updated elsewhere.
Data currency matters for specific app categories. Fitness apps track your steps and activity throughout the day partly through background processes. Banking apps can monitor your accounts for fraud. Weather apps can push alerts about severe storms. Health apps can send medication reminders. These features work best when apps can refresh in the background rather than only when you actively use them.
However, this convenience comes with tradeoffs. Background App Refresh consumes battery life, uses cellular or WiFi data, and can slow down your phone if too many apps are refreshing simultaneously. Users who travel frequently and have limited data plans face higher costs when too many apps refresh over cellular connections.
Practical takeaway: Background App Refresh provides current information and timely notifications, but you need to balance this against battery drain and data usage by choosing which apps truly need this permission.
How to Check Which Apps Have Background App Refresh Enabled
On iPhone devices, you can view Background App Refresh settings by opening the Settings app and navigating to General, then Background App Refresh. This screen displays every app installed on your device that has requested permission to refresh in the background. You'll see a complete list with toggles next to each app name, showing which apps currently have the feature enabled.
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The iPhone settings screen shows roughly 50 to 200 apps depending on how many you've installed. Each one has an on/off switch. Apps you've never used might still appear on this list because they requested the permission when you installed them, regardless of whether you actually use them regularly. Some apps come with Background App Refresh enabled by default, while others have it disabled by default.
On Android devices, the process involves more steps and varies by manufacturer and Android version. Open Settings, navigate to Apps or Applications, then Battery or Battery Optimization. From there, you'll find options to view which apps can run in the background. Some Android phones also have a separate "Background app refresh" setting under Display settings or Apps settings depending on the manufacturer (Samsung, Google Pixel, etc. organize this differently).
You can identify which apps have Background App Refresh enabled by looking for indicators. On both platforms, apps frequently refreshing in the background might cause your phone to heat up slightly or drain battery noticeably. Your phone's battery usage statistics can show you which apps consumed the most power. In Battery settings (iOS) or Battery usage (Android), you'll see percentages showing how much power each app consumed. High background activity often correlates with Background App Refresh being enabled.
Most people find they have 30 to 50 apps with Background App Refresh enabled by default, even though they regularly use only 5 to 10 of them. Apps that came with your phone or that you never uninstalled often retain these permissions.
Practical takeaway: Check your Background App Refresh settings to see exactly which apps can refresh in the background, then decide which ones actually need this permission based on how frequently you use them and whether you need current information from them.
Managing Background App Refresh to Extend Battery Life
Disabling Background App Refresh for apps you don't need to update constantly can extend your battery life by 5 to 15 percent depending on which apps you disable and how frequently they were refreshing. Users who travel frequently or face situations where they can't charge their phones during the day see the most significant battery improvements.
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The strategy involves identifying which apps genuinely need Background App Refresh and which apps you can disable it for without affecting your experience. Essential candidates for keeping enabled include messaging apps (SMS, email, messaging services), calendar apps, and any work-related applications where missing updates would cause problems. Apps where you actively seek information rather than receive notifications—like news aggregators, social media apps you scroll through intentionally, or entertainment apps—are good candidates for disabling Background App Refresh.
Gaming apps rarely need Background App Refresh unless they track achievements or online multiplayer elements. Photo editing apps don't need it unless you specifically want cloud syncing. Weather apps benefit from Background App Refresh if you want notifications about severe weather, but casual users who check the app manually might disable it. Navigation apps only need it actively while you're using them for directions.
A practical approach involves keeping Background App Refresh enabled for five to ten essential apps and disabling it for everything else. Most users find they get 90 percent of the utility from about 10 percent of their apps. You can always turn Background App Refresh back on for specific apps if you notice you're missing important updates.
On iPhone, disabling Background App Refresh entirely (the toggle at the top of the Background App Refresh settings screen) affects all apps, which most users don't want. Instead, individually toggle off apps you don't need. On Android, you can disable it entirely or manage it per app depending on your device. Some Android devices also offer battery-saving modes that automatically restrict Background App Refresh when battery drops below certain percentages.
Seasonal adjustments make sense too. During work periods when you need all notifications enabled, keep Background App Refresh on for work apps. During vacations or periods when you want minimal interruptions, you might disable it more broadly.
Practical takeaway: Selectively disable Background App Refresh