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Android Tips & Tricks: How to Ensure No More Running Applications Eat Up Resources

What to Know

• Go toSettings >Apps , select the app from the list, and tapApp battery usage .
• Then, tapForce stop to shut it down, or switch offAllow background usage to prevent background activity.
• To see apps running in the background, go toSettings >System >Developer options >Running services .

This article explains how to stop apps from running in the background on Android 9 and higher.

Stop Android Apps From Running in the Background

Here’s how to kill background apps on Android:

The Settings interface may differ depending on your phone’s manufacturer and your version of Android, but the same options should be available.

1. Go toSettings >Apps .
2. Select an app you want to stop, then tapForce stop .
   
   If you don’t use the app, this is a good time to just uninstall it. TapUninstall to remove the app from your device.
3. TapOK on the confirmation prompt.
   This will clear battery or memory issues only until you restart your phone. Any apps that launch on startup will restart and could cause the same problems.
   The app will relaunch when you restart your phone. To turn off all background activity for the app, selectApp battery usage and then tap theAllow background usage toggle to turn it off.

How Background Apps Affect Your Android Battery

Your Android device can run multiple apps in the background for several reasons. Most of the time, it won’t cause battery problems or constrain the phone’s memory. One factor causing your Android device’s battery to drain too quickly is when there are too many apps running.

You can see the apps running in the background by tapping the squareOverview navigation icon at the lower-right corner of your Android display.

Google Pixel phones use swipe navigation by default. Toset up 3-button navigation on a Google Pixel , go toSettings >System >Navigation mode .

Remember, multiple windows may open inside some apps, like multiple tabs inside the Google Chrome mobile browser. Each of these could potentially consume resources that use up the battery.

There are manypoorly written apps on Google Play , and when you install those on your phone, they may consume more battery power, CPU, or memory than they’re supposed to. Auditing your installed apps (mentioned above) is good phone hygiene.

What’s Draining Your Android Battery

How to See Which Apps Are Running in the Background

The best way to alleviate the burden on your Android’s system resources andextend battery life is to make sure the only apps running in the background are the ones you want running. There are a few ways to see these background apps.

1. Go toSettings >System >Developer options .
   
   This is something you have to enable to see. We have a straightforward guide onhow to turn on Android’s developer mode if you need help.

2. TapRunning services . It shows the apps that are currently running on your Android and the amount of RAM each is using. You can tap an item in the list to find theStop button, which forces it to close.
   

3. To see apps consuming battery power, go toSettings >Battery >Battery usage .
   
   As you perform these next steps, look for and consider closing any apps that:

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• Consume excessive memory or battery power and are not optimized.
• You forgot about or didn’t expect to see running in the background.

4. Toput your phone into battery-saving mode , go toSettings >Battery >Battery Saver and turn on theUse Battery Saver toggle.
   
   If you’re on a Samsung device, go toBattery and device care >Battery , and turn onPower saving .

How to Check RAM in Android

FAQ

• How do you switch between apps on Android?
  Swipe up from the bottom of your phone’s screen, keeping holding for a moment, and then let go. Swipe left or right to find the app you want. Once you see it, tap it to bring it to the front.
• How do I stop Android from optimizing apps?
  If you don’t use an app for a while, Android will sometimes remove an app’s permission which can be a headache later. If you don’t want Android to do that, go toApp Info and turn off thePause app activity if unused switch.

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