What is iOS Background App Refresh?

What is iOS Background App Refresh?

Have you ever seen a prompt on your iPhone asking if you'd like to allow background app refresh? If you're curious about what it actually does, let me explain. When you enable background app refresh for certain apps, they continue running in the background, even when you're not actively using them. This means that when you open the app next time, it will load faster and be ready to use.

Let me give you some examples. If you enable background app refresh for Apple News, the app will regularly check for new stories and updates, so that when you open it, you're instantly presented with the latest news. Similarly, cloud storage apps like Dropbox can sync your file changes in the background, ensuring that your data is always up to date.

Social media apps also benefit from background app refresh. Enabling it ensures that fresh posts load when you open the app, so you don't have to wait for new content to appear. On the other hand, if you disable background app refresh, you may experience longer loading times when you open these apps.

One important thing to note is that background app refresh does not affect notifications. So, if you decide to disable this feature, you won't miss out on timely alerts. In fact, disabling background app refresh can actually improve your battery life. When apps are not allowed to refresh in the background, they consume fewer resources, helping to preserve your device's battery. Additionally, disabling background app refresh reduces data usage and network activity.

However, there are some downsides to disabling background app refresh. If you turn it off for social media apps, you may not receive real-time notifications about new posts or messages until you manually open the app. So, it's important to weigh the trade-offs and consider your own priorities.

If you're using an older iPhone and notice that it's starting to lag or become slower, enabling background app refresh on multiple apps could be the culprit. In such cases, it's advisable to disable background app refresh to free up device resources.

On newer iPhones, you can easily manage background app refresh settings in the iOS settings menu. This allows you to enable or disable background app refresh for all the apps on your device. Give it a try and see if it makes a difference for you. Remember that you can also choose to disable notifications for certain apps to further streamline your experience.

In conclusion, iOS background app refresh can enhance the speed and performance of your apps, but it's also important to consider its impact on battery life and overall device performance. Whether you choose to enable or disable this feature, be sure to evaluate the trade-offs based on your own needs and preferences.