Alex Ruben
How to Effectively Stop Background Apps Running on Android
Are you experiencing battery drain or sluggish performance on your Android device? Background apps could be the culprit, consuming resources when you’re not actively using them. This guide will walk you through practical steps to identify and stop these background processes, significantly improving your device’s performance and extending battery life. By the end, you’ll know how to manually close apps, employ settings to automate this process, and customize app behavior to prevent unnecessary resource usage.
Before you start, ensure that your Android device is fully updated to the latest software version, as these settings may vary slightly across different versions. Familiarize yourself with your device’s navigation, as the steps outlined may differ based on your specific Android model and its manufacturer overlay.
Step 1: Access the Settings Application
Begin by launching the Settings application on your Android device. This can usually be found in the app drawer or on the home screen. The Settings menu is where you will configure the settings needed to manage background apps effectively.
Step 2: Navigate to Additional Settings
Once you are in the Settings, scroll down and tap on Additional settings. This option may vary based on your device, but it generally follows the same path across most Android devices.
Step 3: Open Developer Options
In the Additional settings, look for Developer options. If you don’t see this option, you may need to enable it by tapping on About phone and then repeatedly tapping on the Build number until you see a notification that Developer options have been enabled.
Step 4: Adjust Background Process Limit
Within Developer options, scroll down until you find the section labeled Apps. Here, look for the option Background process limit and tap on it. You will see various limits for background processes; select No background processes to stop all apps from running in the background. This action can help free up system resources and improve the battery life of your device.
Step 5: Force Stop Individual Apps
If you want to stop specific apps from running in the background, go back to the main Settings menu and select Apps. Find the app you wish to stop, tap on it, and then select Force stop. This will terminate the app’s processes until you open it again.
Step 6: Utilize Battery Optimization Settings
To further manage background apps, head back to the Settings and go to Battery. From here, tap on Battery optimization. You can select apps that you want to restrict from running in the background to save battery life. This feature allows your device to automatically limit background activity for selected apps when they are not in use.
Step 7: Set Apps to Never Run in the Background
If there are specific apps you know you’ll never need running in the background, you can set them to never run. In the Battery optimization section, select All apps from the dropdown menu. Choose the app you want to restrict and select Don’t optimize to ensure it doesn’t run in the background.
Extra Tips & Common Issues
When managing background apps, remember that some apps may require background activity to function properly (e.g., messaging apps, email clients). Be cautious when disabling background processes for essential apps, as it may hinder their functionality. Regularly checking your background app settings can help maintain optimal performance.
Conclusion
By following these steps, you can effectively manage background apps on your Android device, significantly improving its performance and battery life. Regularly monitoring which apps run in the background and adjusting settings as necessary is key to a smoother user experience. For further assistance, explore more guides on optimizing your Android device.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are background apps?
Background apps are applications that continue to run processes even when not actively being used. They can consume memory and battery life.
How can I see which apps are running in the background?
You can view running apps in the Settings under the Apps section, where you can see active apps and choose to stop them.
Will stopping background apps improve battery life?
Yes, stopping background apps can lead to better battery performance as it reduces the amount of resources consumed when the apps are not in use.