What is Background App Refresh?
The short answer
Background App Refresh is a setting that lets apps check for new content even when you’re not using them, so they load faster when you open them.
How does it work?
When you close an app, it doesn’t necessarily stop running completely. With Background App Refresh turned on, your phone gives apps short windows of time to fetch new data. For example:
- Your email app pulls in new messages so they’re waiting when you open it
- Social media apps load your feed ahead of time so there’s no loading spinner
- News apps download the latest stories so you can read them right away
Your phone is smart about it — it learns when you typically use certain apps and refreshes them just before those times. It also pauses background refreshes when your battery is low or when you’re on a weak connection.
Does it drain your battery?
It can. Each individual refresh uses a tiny amount of battery, but if you have dozens of apps all refreshing throughout the day, it adds up. It also uses mobile data, which matters if you’re on a limited plan.
If your battery seems to drain faster than it should, this is one of the first things worth checking.
How to manage it
On iPhone, go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh. You can turn it off entirely, limit it to Wi-Fi only, or toggle it for individual apps.
On Android, go to Settings > Apps, tap an app, then look for Battery or Background usage. The exact steps vary by manufacturer.
A good approach is to keep it on for apps you use constantly — like messaging or email — and turn it off for everything else.
Should you turn it off completely?
You don’t have to. Turning it off for all apps means things will take a second longer to load when you open them, and notifications from some apps may arrive late. But if battery life is a priority or you’re on limited data, turning it off for apps you rarely use is an easy win.