Android & iPhone

How to Stop Apps From Running in the Background on Android

Boost your Android phone's battery life and speed by stopping rogue background apps, restricting background data, and customizing battery optimization.

Written by Alex Morgan (Senior Editorial Director & Tech Lead) Published: July 2, 2026 Updated: August 19, 2026 6 min read

Quick Summary & Key Takeaways

Objective: Boost your Android phone's battery life and speed by stopping rogue background apps, restricting background data, and customizing battery optimization.
Estimated Time: Approximately 6 minutes following our step-by-step instructions.
Safety Recommendation: Ensure your device battery is above 30% and preserve any important files or passwords before modifying system settings.

Android smartphone displaying settings and battery optimization toggles — Configuring background process limits and battery optimization on Android.

Background apps that continuously fetch location data, poll advertising networks, and refresh social feeds drain battery life and cause phone sluggishness.

While Android handles RAM management automatically, poorly coded third-party apps can keep your CPU awake. Here is how to take complete control of background processes on Android.

Method 1: Put Apps into "Restricted" Battery Mode

Android allows you to customize battery usage permissions on a per-app basis.

Open Settings on your phone.
Tap Apps (or App Management).
Select the app that is draining battery (e.g., Facebook, TikTok, or shopping apps).
Tap App battery usage (or Battery).
Choose Restricted (or Optimized):

Restricted: The app is strictly forbidden from running in the background when not actively open on screen.
Unrestricted: Allows background activity (use only for critical alarms or fitness trackers).

Method 2: Put Apps to Deep Sleep (Samsung Galaxy)

Samsung One UI includes an industry-leading feature called Deep Sleeping Apps:

Open Settings and tap Device Care > Battery.
Tap Background usage limits.
Toggle Put unused apps to sleep to ON.
Tap Deep sleeping apps and tap the + (plus) icon.
Select all apps you only want active when you open them. Deep sleeping apps never run in background and won't send unprompted notifications.

Method 3: Restrict Background Mobile Data

If you want to stop background apps from consuming cellular data:

In Settings > Apps, select the target app.
Tap Mobile data & Wi-Fi.
Switch the Background data toggle to OFF.
The app will now only access the internet when you are actively using it.

Method 4: Limit Background Processes in Developer Options

For power users who want system-wide enforcement:

Go to Settings > About phone and tap Build number 7 times to unlock Developer Options.
Go to Settings > System > Developer options.
Scroll to the Apps section and tap Background process limit.
Select At most 2 processes or Standard limit.

Warning: Do not choose "No background processes" as this will prevent incoming messaging notifications and music playback while your screen is off.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I constantly swipe away apps from the Recent Apps screen?

No. Constantly force-closing apps from the recent screen causes Android to use more CPU and battery when reopening them from scratch. Using Android's built-in battery restriction settings is far more efficient.

Will restricting background apps stop my alarms?

No, system alarms and default clock apps run on prioritized system timers that are never hindered by user battery restrictions.

What is the difference between my Public IP address and my Private IP address?

Your Public IP is assigned by your ISP to your router and is visible to all websites you browse worldwide. Your Private IP (such as 192.168.1.15) is assigned locally by your router's DHCP server to identify individual devices inside your home network.

Will changing my DNS server increase my download speed?

Changing to a fast DNS resolver (like Cloudflare 1.1.1.1 or Google 8.8.8.8) reduces the lookup latency (time it takes to resolve a website name into an IP address) by 20-50 milliseconds, making web browsing feel substantially snappier. However, it does not increase raw file download bandwidth provided by your ISP.

Why does my 5GHz Wi-Fi have shorter range than 2.4GHz Wi-Fi?

Higher radio frequencies (5GHz and 6GHz) attenuate much faster when passing through solid matter like concrete, brick walls, and timber studs due to shorter electromagnetic wavelengths. 2.4GHz waves travel further and penetrate obstacles better, but offer lower peak throughput.

About the Author: Alex Morgan

Senior Editorial Director & Tech Lead

Alex is the Senior Technology Editor at AkTricky with over 10 years of experience diagnosing mobile operating systems, iOS features, and hardware issues. He specializes in practical everyday consumer technology.