{"id":607325,"date":"2025-12-02T12:01:34","date_gmt":"2025-12-02T12:01:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/607325\/"},"modified":"2025-12-02T12:01:34","modified_gmt":"2025-12-02T12:01:34","slug":"control-background-app-activity-on-iphone-and-android-mobile-devices","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/607325\/","title":{"rendered":"Control background app activity on iPhone and Android mobile devices"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!\n  <\/p>\n<p class=\"speakable\">Background activity can drain your battery and use your mobile data without you seeing it happen. Apps refresh in the background to keep content updated, which helps you pick up where you left off. The downside is that this constant activity can strain your battery and burn through your data plan. The good news is that you can limit when apps refresh and choose to let them update <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/tech\/technologies\/wifi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">only on Wi-Fi.<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"speakable\">We&#8217;ll walk you through how to switch <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/apps-products\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Background App Refresh<\/a> on iPhone to Wi-Fi only. You also get the Android steps so you can keep background activity in check on any device.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy Report<\/strong><br \/>Get my best tech tips, urgent security alerts, and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you\u2019ll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide &#8211; free when you join my\u00a0<strong>CYBERGUY.COM<\/strong> newsletter\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/tech\/adaptive-power-ios-26-boosts-iphone-battery-life\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>ADAPTIVE POWER IN IOS 26 BOOSTS IPHONE BATTERY LIFE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1-save-data-by-setting-your-background-app-refresh-to-wi-fi-only.jpg\" alt=\"Screenshot of the &quot;Background App Refresh&quot; screen on iOS.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/> <\/p>\n<p>Background App Refresh can drain battery and data by allowing apps to update when you\u2019re not using them. (Kurt &#8220;CyberGuy&#8221; Knutsson)<\/p>\n<p><strong>Why this setting matters<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Apps that update behind the scenes use data and power even when you are not opening them. When you switch the feature to Wi-Fi only, you slow down that background drain. It helps save mobile data. It can also help extend battery life because apps refresh less often.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What Background App Refresh does<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Background App Refresh lets apps update content while you use other apps or leave <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/tech\/technologies\/smartphones\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">your phone<\/a> locked. When you return to an app, it is already refreshed and ready. That convenience comes with a cost. Each refresh uses data and battery power. By limiting this feature to Wi-Fi, you keep apps updated without using your mobile plan.<\/p>\n<p><strong>How to set Background App Refresh to Wi-Fi only on iPhone<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Follow these steps:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Open\u00a0<strong>Settings<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Tap\u00a0<strong>General<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Tap\u00a0<strong>Background App Refresh<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Tap\u00a0<strong>Background App Refresh<\/strong> again<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Select\u00a0<strong>Wi-Fi<\/strong> to limit updates to Wi-Fi connections<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/tech\/stop-foreign-owned-apps-from-harvesting-your-personal-data\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>STOP FOREIGN-OWNED APPS FROM HARVESTING YOUR PERSONAL DATA<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/2-save-data-by-setting-your-background-app-refresh-to-wi-fi-only.jpg\" alt=\"Multiple screenshots of the iOS settings app.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/> <\/p>\n<p>Switching Background App Refresh to Wi-Fi only helps iPhone users cut unnecessary data use. (Kurt &#8220;CyberGuy&#8221; Knutsson)<\/p>\n<p>If you want to block background updates completely, choose\u00a0<strong>Off<\/strong> in step 4. This stops apps from refreshing when you are not using them. It helps save battery, but it can delay updates when you open an app that needs new content before you can use it.<\/p>\n<p><strong>How to limit background activity on Android<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Android does not use the exact name Background App Refresh, but it offers similar controls. You can restrict background data and background activity, which helps reduce data use and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/tech\/technologies\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">extend battery life.<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Limit background data per app on Android\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Settings may vary depending on your Android phone\u2019s manufacturer<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Open\u00a0<strong>Settings<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Tap\u00a0<strong>Network and Internet\u00a0<\/strong>or<strong> Connections\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Tap\u00a0<strong>Data usage<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Tap\u00a0<strong>Mobile data usage<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Select\u00a0<strong>an app<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Turn\u00a0<strong>Background data<\/strong> off so the app updates only on Wi-Fi<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Limit background activity for battery on Android\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Settings may vary depending on your Android phone\u2019s manufacturer<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Open\u00a0<strong>Settings<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Tap\u00a0<strong>Battery<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Tap\u00a0<strong>Battery usage<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Choose\u00a0<strong>an app<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Tap\u00a0<strong>Manage background activity<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Turn\u00a0<strong>Allow background activity<\/strong> off<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Use Data Saver for extra control on Android<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Settings may vary depending on your Android phone\u2019s manufacturer<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Open\u00a0<strong>Settings<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Tap\u00a0<strong>Network and Internet\u00a0<\/strong>or<strong> Connections\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Tap\u00a0<strong>Data Saver,\u00a0<\/strong>or you might have to first tap\u00a0<strong>Data usage\u00a0<\/strong>and then\u00a0<strong>Data saver<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Turn\u00a0<strong>the switch on<\/strong> to turn on\u00a0<strong>Data Saver\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Data Saver blocks most apps from using background data unless you choose to allow them.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/tech\/5-hidden-battery-drainers-you-can-fix-right-now\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>5 HIDDEN BATTERY DRAINERS YOU CAN FIX RIGHT NOW<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/3-save-data-by-setting-your-background-app-refresh-to-wi-fi-only.jpg\" alt=\"Screenshot instructions on an iPhone.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/> <\/p>\n<p>Android users can restrict background data and activity to save battery and reduce mobile data consumption. (Kurt &#8220;CyberGuy&#8221; Knutsson)<\/p>\n<p><strong>Take my quiz: How safe is your online security?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Think your devices and data are truly protected? Take this quick quiz to see where your digital habits stand. From passwords to Wi-Fi settings, you\u2019ll get a personalized breakdown of what you\u2019re doing right and what needs improvement. Take my Quiz here:\u00a0<strong>Cyberguy.com<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/foxnews.onelink.me\/xLDS?pid=AppArticleLink&amp;af_dp=foxnewsaf%3A%2F%2F&amp;af_web_dp=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.foxnews.com%2Fapps-products\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Kurt&#8217;s key takeaways<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Changing background refresh settings is one of the fastest ways to protect your battery and data. With a few quick steps, your phone runs more efficiently, and your apps use fewer resources. Whether you <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/tech\/technologies\/iphone\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">use an iPhone<\/a> or an Android device, these settings help put you back in control.<\/p>\n<p>What phone tips or frustrations should we look into for a future story? Let us know by writing to us at\u00a0<strong>Cyberguy.com<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy Report<\/strong><br \/>Get my best tech tips, urgent security alerts, and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you\u2019ll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide &#8211; free when you join my\u00a0<strong>CYBERGUY.COM<\/strong> newsletter\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Copyright 2025 CyberGuy.com.\u00a0 All rights reserved.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Kurt &#8220;CyberGuy&#8221; Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News &amp; FOX Business beginning mornings on &#8220;FOX &amp; Friends.&#8221; Got a tech question? Get Kurt\u2019s free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at <a href=\"https:\/\/cyberguy.com\/Newsletter\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CyberGuy.com.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! Background activity can drain your battery and use your mobile&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":607326,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3159],"tags":[2062,547,46870,53,16,15,36226],"class_list":{"0":"post-607325","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-mobile","8":"tag-apps","9":"tag-mobile","10":"tag-technologies","11":"tag-technology","12":"tag-uk","13":"tag-united-kingdom","14":"tag-wifi"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/115649872692722403","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/607325","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=607325"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/607325\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/607326"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=607325"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=607325"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=607325"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}