iPhone and iPad applications have background access under iOS and iPadOS to update the app content. This ensures that an application always shows the most recent information and is up-to-date.
This ensures that apps are always up to date as soon as you open them and, for example, you immediately see new emails, news articles or weather updates without having to wait. Refreshing apps in the background is an automated process. Unfortunately, this function also has a less positive side, it is detrimental to the battery life of your iPhone or iPad.
Update iPad and iPhone apps automatically
Refreshing apps in the background is a useful option on the iPhone and iPad, which allows apps to retrieve and update data even without being actively open, if you allow it. By customizing this feature for each app and network connection, you maintain control over your device’s performance and the cost of your usage.
This feature improves the user experience by making apps faster and up to date, but it is essential to use it responsibly to minimize negative effects on battery life, data consumption and privacy.
Check which apps have access in the background
- Open Settings
- Navigate to ‘General’
- Tap ‘Background Freshers’
You will then be shown a list of all applications that use the feature. Tap the switch behind the app to disable background refreshing. The application will then only are updated when you open it.
Additionally, you can also tap ‘Background Refresh’ at the top of the list to only allow the apps to update over Wi-Fi or mobile data as well.
Limit the number of apps
It is a good idea to perform the above steps regularly to check the background refresh. It is smart to limit the number of apps. The fewer apps, the longer the battery life of your iPhone or iPad will last. Issues such as data consumption and privacy can also play a role in this.
- Battery consumption: Constantly refreshing apps consumes power because the devices connect to the internet. Apps that frequently refresh in the background can shorten the battery life of your iPhone or iPad. It is therefore smart to only allow essential apps to use this feature.
- Data usage: If apps are also allowed to refresh via mobile data, this may lead to additional data costs. Use the setting to limit refresh to Wi-Fi only if desired to save data usage.
- Privacy: Some apps can unknowingly send location data or other data to external parties via background refresh, which can have privacy implications. It is therefore advisable to disable the function for apps that you trust less.
Disable background app refresh
In addition, you can also completely disable background updating for all apps. You do this by tapping the ‘Refresh in background’ option at the top of the list and choosing ‘Off’.