Ever notice your phone acting a little sluggish or your battery draining faster than usual? It can feel like a mystery, but oftentimes, the culprit might be apps running in the background. These apps stay open (even when you’re not actively using them) to refresh content, send notifications or pick up where you left off the next time you hop on. But sometimes, they end up using more power and data than you’d like and leave you with that mystery phone lag or battery drain.
Whether you’re using an Android or iPhone, managing background apps is easy and straightforward. Here’s how to check what’s running in the background, close what you don’t need and keep your phone operating smooth and fast.
Why Apps Run in the Background
Apps don’t really “turn off” when you leave them. Instead, they move into a background state, where they can:
- Check for updates (like new emails or messages)
- Sync data or notifications
- Stay ready for a quick reopen
This setup helps your phone run apps faster overall. But too many background apps can drain your battery and use mobile data unnecessarily—especially if you’re low on power or have limited data.
How to Check What’s Running on Your Phone
How to Check What’s Running on Android (Version 13 and up)
- Use Quick Settings: Settings > Apps
- Or go to Settings
- Tap Developer Options (you may need to enable it first by going to About phone > Build number and tapping it 7 times)
- Select Running services to see active apps and memory use
How to Check What’s Running on iPhone (iOS 17 and up)
- Swipe up from the bottom of the screen and pause in the middle (on Face ID models)
- Swipe left or right to see open apps
- Double-click the Home button on older models to view the same
How to Close Apps on Android
Here’s how to shut down apps manually on Android phones:
- Swipe up from the bottom of your screen and hold
- Scroll side to side to see all open apps
- Swipe up on any app to close it
- Tap Clear all or Close all if you want to shut down everything at once
Pro Tip: Closing apps that cause issues or drain battery is fine, but you don’t need to close every app all the time. Android automatically manages memory for best performance.
How to Close Apps on iPhone
How to Close Apps on iPhones With Face ID (iPhone X and newer):
- Swipe up from the bottom and pause mid-screen
- Swipe side to side through open apps
- Swipe up on an app card to close it
How to Close Apps on iPhones With a Home Button (iPhone 8 and older):
- Double-press the Home button
- Swipe through the open apps
- Swipe up to close any you’re done using
How to Turn Off Background App Refresh or Data Usage
Sometimes, you don’t need to close an app completely—you just want it to stop using power or data when you’re not in it.
How to Turn Off Background App Refresh on iPhone:
- Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh
- Toggle off globally or per app
How to Turn Off Background App Refresh on Android:
- Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Data Saver
- Turn Data Saver on
- Or to manage individual apps, go to Settings > Apps > [App name] > Battery or Mobile data & Wi-Fi and turn off or restrict Background data
Pro Tip: Turning off Background App Refresh for social media or streaming apps can extend your battery life up to 20%.
Does Closing Apps Help Battery Life?
Not always. Here’s the reality:
- Android automatically pauses unused apps to save power
- iPhone suspends apps in a low-power state when idle
So closing apps constantly can actually make your phone work harder when reopening them. Only close apps that you notice make your phone freeze, drain battery or otherwise misbehave.
Tips to Keep Your Phone Running Smoothly
- Restart your phone at least once a week
- Update apps and software regularly
- Turn off Background App Refresh for apps you don’t always need
- Avoid third-party “task killer” apps—they can slow your phone instead of speeding it up
FAQs: Managing Background Apps on iPhone and Android
Should I close apps running in the background?
Usually, no. Both Android and iPhone manage memory automatically. Close apps only if they freeze or use too much battery.
How do I see what apps are running on my phone?
On Android, go to Settings > Developer Options > Running services. On iPhone, swipe up (or double-click the Home button) to see running apps.
Does closing apps save battery life?
Typically not much. Your phone handles most of that automatically. Turning off Background App Refresh helps more.
How do I turn off background app refresh?
iPhone: Settings > General > Background App Refresh. Android: Settings > Apps > [App name] > Mobile data & Wi-Fi or Battery.
What’s the difference between closing and force stopping an app?
Closing hides it from view. Force stop shuts down all background activity until you reopen it.
Keep Your Apps in Check with Consumer Cellular
Keeping your phone running at its best doesn’t take much—just a little housekeeping now and then, plus making the most of helpful tips from your wireless provider. Because knowing how to close background apps and manage data and battery use can make a big difference in how long your phone performs and lasts through the day.
We’re here to help with all of it. If you’re looking for simple, affordable wireless service and award-winning support to keep your phone running great, check out our plans and devices. Or stop into one of our retail stores to chat and grab a fresh cup of coffee while browsing.
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Good advice
I always forget to close the app, then I’m surprised and how many of them are still open at the end of the day. Thanks for the reminder to turn them off
Is there a larger XR phone?
Hi Gwen, out of the phones we offer the Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max is the only one that would be larger in physical size than the Apple iPhone XR.
What phone are on special now?
Hi Sarah, any phones that are currently on sale will have an indicator on the listing here.
Great advice
I don’t think my bill for September is accurate.
Hi Nancy, we’d be happy to answer any questions and clarify your billing if you give us a call at 888-345-5509 or chat with us here.
On Motorola Android, tap square on lower right and on extreme left click Clear All, or swipe up all individually that you want to close.
what if you can’t get in your phone to the sim card can i still switch it over to consumer cellular?
Hi Joself, thanks for your question. In order for the phone to work with our network, it would need to be able to take and use our SIM card. Otherwise, we would need to have you order one of our phones to use.
where can I pay my bill?
Hi Patricia, thanks for your question. You can give us a call at 800-686-4460 or go online to your account here. Otherwise, you can mail in payments but keep in mind a mailed in payment can take 7-10 business days to process.
My wife’s phone(7s) has suffered lately. It won’t load apps like google or facebook and now mine(11) is showing the same symptoms. We’ve been on Apple assist with no solution. Has something changed in the network that would explain this?
Hi William, thanks for your post. I’m sorry to hear about the trouble you’re having with your service. We’d be happy to look into this and help with that. Give us a call at 800-686-4460 or you can also chat with one of our agents here for further assistance with this.
I am weary trying to get to speak with an agent. I signed up with Consumer Cellular in 2006. Up until now, I have been happy with Consumer Cellular’s customer service. Not so much anymore. I do not have the time to sit at my phone for more than an hour trying to reach an agent. If I hear that piano playing one more time I’m going to seriously consider going with another company. Over the course of October, I have tried contacting a Consumer Cellular agent at least 8 times, and I cannot get through. The situation is getting worse and worse. No matter what time of the day I call, I keep on hearing that the company has ‘unusual high volume.’ You can play that card just so long, and then you give up. If I cannot speak with an agent in the next week, even waiting for more than an hour, then it’s time to walk away and go with a company that is more responsive to my needs.
Hi Lorraine, thanks for taking the time to post your experience. We understand that the wait times are frustrating for our customers, and we are diligently hiring and training new agents to get this resolved for our customers. This process can take time because we want to make sure our agents are properly trained to provide the best customer service possible, and we appreciate your patience during this time.
Don’t know how to shut down apps on my Samsung Tablet
Hi Alice, thanks for your quesiton. If you’re using the tablet with our service, we’d be happy to help with your questions about this. Give us a call at 800-686-4460 or chat with one of our agents here. Otherwise, I would reocmmend reaching out to the manufacturer’s customer service for further assistance.