How to Turn Off Background App Refresh on iPhone 13 (iOS 15.4.1)

Tired of your battery draining too fast or apps quietly using up your data in the background? That might be Background App Refresh at work. Here’s how you can turn it off completely — or limit it to specific apps — on your iPhone 13 running iOS 15.4.1.

What Is Background App Refresh?

Background App Refresh lets apps update their content in the background, even when you’re not actively using them. It’s useful for keeping apps current — like loading the latest news or emails — but it can also use up battery and data.

If you’re looking to save power or reduce data usage, turning this feature off can make a noticeable difference.

How to Disable Background App Refresh on iPhone 13

Open Settings from your Home screen.
Scroll down and tap General.
Tap Background App Refresh.
Tap Background App Refresh at the top again.
Choose one of the following:
- Off – Completely disables the feature for all apps.
- Wi-Fi – Allows refresh only when connected to Wi-Fi.
- Wi-Fi & Cellular Data – Allows refresh on any connection.

To completely stop all background activity, select Off.

How to Disable It for Specific Apps Only

Want to keep the feature on but limit it to just a few apps?

Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh.
Scroll through the list of apps.
Toggle OFF any app you don’t want refreshing in the background.

This way, only apps you trust or rely on will stay active behind the scenes.

Why Turn Off Background App Refresh?

Battery Life – Less background activity means less power used.
Data Savings – Especially helpful if you’re on a limited data plan.
Privacy – Some apps use background access to track behavior or location.

Need to Turn It Back On?

You can re-enable Background App Refresh any time:

Go back to Settings > General > Background App Refresh.
Tap Background App Refresh at the top.
Choose Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi & Cellular Data depending on your preference.

Just keep an eye on your battery and data usage if you turn it back on.

Pro Tip: Use Low Power Mode

If you’re in a pinch and need to save battery fast, Low Power Mode will automatically pause background refresh and other non-essential functions.

To enable Low Power Mode:

Go to Settings > Battery and toggle Low Power Mode ON,
or
Swipe down to open Control Center and tap the battery icon (if added).