If you want to maximize your phone’s battery life, you might think closing background apps would help. However, this is not necessarily the case—closing those apps could actually use more power. Here’s why that happens.
Most Background Apps Aren’t Running
Android Suspends Apps Using Available RAM
Credit: Bertel King
On computers, when multiple applications are open, they consume CPU resources and power. However, this is different on Android devices. When you open several apps on your phone, they don’t run simultaneously in the same way; instead, Android suspends them, using available RAM to keep them on hold without consuming battery.
When you return to an app, it resumes quickly from RAM, giving the impression that it was always active. Some apps request permission to run continuously in the background, which can lead to battery drain, particularly for messaging, backup, and streaming apps that require constant processing.
Closing Apps Requires a Full Reload
This Increases Strain on Your Device
Credit: Bertel King
When you swipe up to close an app, you’re actually ending it, which releases the RAM for other use. This action doesn’t save battery, especially for apps that were already suspended, because Android will have to reload the app completely when you decide to access it again.
Reopening the app means the CPU has to work harder to load everything from storage, consuming more power and possibly causing delays. You may also lose any unsaved progress, such as text you were drafting, and experience longer loading times.
Better Management of Background Apps
Optimize Your Device’s Performance
Android is created to maximize battery efficiency, in contrast to devices that can remain plugged in. To manage which apps have authorization to run in the background, go to your phone’s Settings, then navigate to Settings -> Battery -> Battery Usage. Identify apps that drain battery and consider uninstalling those you don’t need.
For those you wish to keep, go to Settings -> Battery -> Manage Background Apps. Newer Android versions allow you to choose from options like Always Allow, Don’t Allow, and Smart Usage. The latter is typically a good choice, but you can revoke background access to poorly optimized or seldom-used apps.
Regularly reviewing the “Always Allow” list helps, as some apps may have been granted permissions upon installation but are later found to be underutilized. Reducing this list effectively helps conserve battery life.
It’s About What Apps Do, Not How Many Are Open
Having less resource-intensive apps like a gallery or note-taking application in the background won’t impact your battery as significantly as a resource-hungry app like GPS navigation. It’s less about the number of apps you have open, and more about the activities they are performing.
