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Discover how apps update themselves on iPhone and iPad even when they’re not actively in use.
Wondering how Background App Refresh works? By enabling this feature, apps refresh their content in the background, even if you’re not using them. However, if you experience issues with storage, data usage, or battery life on your iPhone, you might want to consider turning it off. We'll walk you through what Background App Refresh is, and how you can enable or disable it on your device.
Quick Overview of Background App Refresh
Background App Refresh ensures apps keep running and refreshing content in the background while you're not interacting with them. To enable this feature, go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh > Background App Refresh > Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi & Cellular Data.
How to Enable or Disable
What is Background App Refresh on iPhone?
Background App Refresh ensures apps stay current even when not in active use. When you switch to another app or lock your iPhone, Background App Refresh lets the content of apps update in the background.
- For example, if you leave Twitter (X) running in the background and return later, you'll see the same tweet or page where you left off. Without this feature, X may reload and show the top of your feed again.
Should I turn off Background App Refresh?
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Turn off Background App Refresh if you’re facing battery or data problems. Since this feature uses extra resources to keep apps up-to-date in the background, it can drain battery life faster than expected. If your battery is already an issue, it may make things worse.
- Also, if you're on a limited data plan, you may want to prevent apps from consuming data unnecessarily, especially when you're not connected to Wi-Fi.
- If you don’t want to disable the feature for all apps, you can toggle it on or off for individual apps.
Do apps that run in the background consume data?
Turning Background App Refresh On or Off
Launch the Settings app. It’s the grey gear icon on your screen.
Tap General. You’ll find this option below Screen Time in the list.
Tap Background App Refresh. This option is listed below iPhone Storage.
Tap Background App Refresh. This option is located at the top of the screen.
Choose Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi & Cellular Data. If you have a limited data plan, it’s best to choose Wi-Fi instead.
- If you prefer to disable Background App Refresh, select Off.
Activate Background App Refresh for specific apps (optional). If you'd like to enable this feature for just certain apps, go back to the Background App Refresh screen. A list of your apps will appear.
- Tap the switch next to the app you want to enable it for. The switch should turn green, activating Background App Refresh for that app.
