what to know
- Go to Settings > Apps , select an app from the list, then tap App Battery Usage .
- Then, tap "Force Stop" to turn it off, or turn off "Allow background use" to prevent background activity.
- To see what apps are running in the background, go to Settings > System > Developer Options > Running Services .
This article explains how to prevent apps from running in the background on Android 9 and above.
Here's how to kill background apps on Android:
The settings screen may vary depending on your phone manufacturer and Android version, but the same options should be available.
Go to Settings > Apps .
Select the app you want to stop and click Force Stop .
If you don't use the app, it's best to uninstall it now. Click Uninstall to remove the app from your device.
Click OK on the confirmation prompt.
This will only clear battery or memory issues until you restart your phone. Any applications launched at startup will be restarted and may cause the same issue.
When you restart your phone, the app will restart. To turn off all background activity for an app, select App battery usage and tap the Allow background usage switch to turn it off.
Your Android device can have multiple apps running in the background for a number of reasons. Most of the time, it won't cause battery issues or limit your phone's memory. One of the factors that causes your Android device's battery to drain too quickly is having too many apps running.
You can view apps running in the background by tapping the square overview navigation icon in the lower right corner of your Android display.
Google Pixel phones use swipe navigation by default. To set up three-button navigation on your Google Pixel, go to Settings > System > Navigation Mode .
Keep in mind that some applications may have multiple windows open, such as multiple tabs within the Google Chrome mobile browser. Each of these may consume resources and thus drain the battery.
There are many poorly written apps on Google Play that may consume more battery power, CPU, or memory than expected when you install them on your phone. Auditing your installed apps (as mentioned above) is good mobile hygiene.
The best way to reduce the burden on Android system resources and extend battery life is to ensure that the apps running in the background are the ones you want to run. There are several ways to view these background applications.
Go to Settings > System > Developer Options .
This is something you have to enable to see it. If you need help, we've got a simple guide on how to turn on Android developer mode.
Click Run Service . It shows the applications currently running on Android and the amount of RAM used by each application. You can click on an item in the list to find the "Stop" button, which will force it to close.
To see which apps are draining your battery, go to Settings > Battery > Battery Usage .
As you follow the next steps, look for and consider closing any of the following applications:
- Consumes excessive memory or battery power and is not optimized.
- Running in the background that you forgot or didn't expect.
To put your phone into battery saver mode, go to Settings > Battery > Battery Saver and turn on the Use battery saver switch.
If you are using a Samsung device, go to Battery and device maintenance > Battery and turn on power saving features .
Swipe up from the bottom of your phone's screen, hold for a moment, then release. Swipe left or right to find the app you want. Once you see it, click on it to bring it to the front.
Android sometimes removes permissions from an app if you haven't used it for a while, which can cause headaches later. If you don't want Android to do this, go to App Information and turn off the "Pause app activity if not in use" switch.
