If your iPhone battery isn’t lasting as long as it used to, there’s one setting you should definitely check: Background App Refresh. This feature lets apps like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter update even when you’re not using them — draining your battery and using up your data behind the scenes.
Here’s how to disable it completely or for specific apps to help extend your battery life and cut down on data usage.
What Is Background App Refresh?
When Background App Refresh is enabled, apps can fetch new content in the background — like refreshing your Instagram feed or syncing emails — even when you’re not actively using them. This keeps things updated but eats up battery and mobile data fast.
How to Turn Off Background App Refresh for All Apps
- Open the Settings app.
- Scroll down and tap General.
- Tap Background App Refresh.
- Tap Background App Refresh again at the top.
- Select Off.
Now none of your apps will refresh in the background. You’ll need to open them manually to fetch new data, but your battery and data usage will thank you.
How to Turn Off Background App Refresh for Specific Apps
If you don’t want to turn it off completely, you can disable it for just the apps that use the most power.
- Go to Settings > Battery.
- Scroll down to see a list of apps and their battery usage.
- Identify apps that are using battery in the background.
- Go back to Settings > General > Background App Refresh.
- Toggle OFF next to the apps you don’t want refreshing in the background.
This is especially useful for apps like Facebook, TikTok, or Mail, which are notorious for draining battery.
Bonus Tip: Limit to Wi-Fi Only
If you still want some background refresh but don’t want to burn through your mobile data:
- Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh.
- Tap Background App Refresh at the top.
- Choose Wi-Fi instead of Wi-Fi & Cellular Data.
This ensures background tasks only happen when you’re connected to Wi-Fi.