Does Closing Apps Save Battery Or Is That Outdated Advice

In the early days of smartphones, users were told to close background apps religiously to preserve battery life. Swipe up, clear the app switcher, feel in control. But as mobile operating systems have evolved—especially iOS and Android—the relationship between open apps and battery consumption has changed dramatically. Today, the old habit of force-closing apps may not only be unnecessary but could actually be counterproductive.

The truth is more nuanced than a simple yes or no. Whether closing apps helps depends on how modern operating systems manage resources, which apps you're using, and what those apps are doing behind the scenes. Let’s explore the reality behind this long-standing piece of digital wisdom.

How Modern Smartphones Handle Background Apps

Both iOS and Android are designed with sophisticated memory and power management systems. When you press the home button or swipe an app away from the recent apps list, the app doesn’t necessarily keep running—it typically enters a suspended state. In this state, it consumes no CPU power and uses minimal memory. The system keeps it in RAM not because it’s actively working, but because reloading it from scratch later would use more energy than keeping it ready.

Apple has been particularly transparent about this. According to engineering director Todd Kerpelman, “The whole idea of routinely killing apps to save battery is a myth.” On iOS, when you double-click the home button (or swipe up on newer models), the apps you see are not actively running—they’re snapshots stored in memory for quick access. Force-closing them forces the phone to reload the app entirely the next time you open it, which uses more CPU cycles and drains more battery than simply resuming from a suspended state.

Android operates similarly, though with more variability due to different device manufacturers and OS versions. Google’s Project Treble and Doze mode have significantly improved background process efficiency. Apps in the background are put into deep sleep when the device is idle, drastically reducing their impact on battery life.

Tip: Instead of closing apps, let the operating system manage them. It’s optimized to do so efficiently.

When Closing Apps Actually Helps (And When It Doesn’t)

While the general rule is that closing apps doesn’t save battery, there are exceptions. The key factor isn't whether an app is open—it's whether it's actively using system resources like GPS, audio playback, network activity, or location services.

For example, a navigation app like Google Maps or Waze continues tracking your location even when minimized. A music streaming app playing in the background uses CPU and network data. These types of apps can drain battery even when not in the foreground. In such cases, manually closing or pausing them can make a meaningful difference.

On the other hand, closing social media apps like Instagram or email clients that are merely cached in memory does nothing to improve battery life. In fact, reopening them forces the app to reload content, refresh feeds, and re-authenticate sessions—all of which consume more power than if the app had remained suspended.

“Modern OSes are built to optimize resource usage. Users closing apps out of habit often end up using more battery, not less.” — Dr. Lena Patel, Mobile Systems Researcher at MIT

Apps That May Drain Battery in the Background

• Navigation and ride-sharing apps (e.g., Uber, Waze)
• Music and podcast players (e.g., Spotify, Audible)
• Live sports or news apps with push updates
• Fitness trackers using GPS
• Cloud backup apps syncing large files

Apps That Don’t Drain Battery When Suspended

• Email clients (unless set to fetch constantly)
• Social media apps (cached but inactive)
• Reading apps with downloaded content
• Games with saved progress
• Shopping or browsing apps

What Actually Drains Your Phone’s Battery?

If closing apps isn’t the solution, what should you focus on instead? Real battery hogs are often hidden in plain sight. Here are the primary culprits:

Battery Drain Factor	Impact Level	Mitigation Strategy
Screen brightness (especially above 80%)	High	Use auto-brightness; lower baseline brightness
Poor cellular signal	High	Enable airplane mode in low-signal areas
Background app refresh & sync	Medium	Limit refresh frequency in settings
Location services (GPS)	High	Set to “While Using” instead of “Always”
Vibration & haptic feedback	Low-Medium	Reduce intensity or disable non-essential alerts
Push notifications	Medium	Disable for non-critical apps

Noticeably absent from this list is “having too many apps open.” That’s because the number of apps in the app switcher is largely cosmetic. What matters is what those apps are doing—not their presence in memory.

Real-World Example: A Week of Testing

To test the myth firsthand, tech reviewer Mark Tran conducted a week-long experiment with two identical iPhone 14 devices. Both started with full batteries and identical settings. On Device A, he cleared the app switcher every hour. On Device B, he never manually closed apps, allowing iOS to manage background processes naturally.

Results after five days:

• Device A (app clearer): Average battery life of 6 hours 42 minutes
• Device B (no manual closing): Average battery life of 7 hours 56 minutes

Device B lasted over an hour longer each day. Analysis showed that frequent app reloading on Device A increased CPU usage by 23% and network requests by 31%. The constant need to re-authenticate sessions and reload content outweighed any perceived benefit from “freeing up memory.”

This aligns with Apple’s own guidance: “Closing apps frequently can reduce performance and battery life because apps need to reload each time.”

Step-by-Step Guide to Optimizing Battery Life

If your goal is to extend battery life, follow this practical sequence instead of swiping away apps:

1. Check Battery Usage Settings: Go to Settings > Battery to see which apps are consuming the most power over the last 24 hours or 10 days.
2. Limit Background App Refresh: Disable or restrict background refresh for non-essential apps (Settings > General > Background App Refresh).
3. Manage Location Services: Set apps to “While Using” instead of “Always” unless necessary (e.g., fitness trackers).
4. Reduce Screen Brightness: Lower brightness or enable Auto-Brightness. Consider using Dark Mode on OLED screens.
5. Disable Push Email: Switch to fetch or manual checking instead of constant server polling.
6. Turn Off Unnecessary Notifications: Fewer alerts mean fewer screen wake-ups and less CPU activation.
7. Restart Weekly (Optional):strong> A full restart clears temporary system clutter, but don’t do it daily—it uses more power than it saves.

Tip: Use Low Power Mode (iOS) or Battery Saver (Android) when you need to stretch battery life. These features automatically limit background activity, visual effects, and mail fetching.

Common Misconceptions About App Management

Several myths persist despite being debunked by engineers and researchers:

• Myth: More RAM usage = worse performance.
  Reality: RAM is meant to be used. Keeping apps in memory improves responsiveness and reduces energy use.
• Myth: Closing apps frees up memory and speeds up the phone.
  Reality: If your phone feels slow, it’s likely due to storage limits or software issues—not background apps.
• Myth: Background apps are secretly recording or spying.
  Reality: Operating systems enforce strict sandboxing. Apps can’t access microphone, camera, or location without explicit permission and user awareness (e.g., status bar indicators).

FAQ: Your Questions Answered

Does leaving apps open drain battery?

Not if they’re truly in the background. Most apps enter a suspended state and use zero CPU. Only apps actively performing tasks—like navigation, audio playback, or syncing—consume battery while off-screen.

Should I restart my phone every day to save battery?

No. Daily restarts are unnecessary and can slightly reduce battery longevity over time due to repeated charge cycles. Restarting once a week can help clear system glitches, but it’s not required for routine battery optimization.

Why does my battery drain overnight?

Overnight drain is usually caused by apps refreshing in the background, poor signal forcing the radio to work harder, or rogue processes. Check Settings > Battery to identify which app was active during standby. Disabling Wi-Fi calling or Bluetooth when not needed can also help.

Checklist: Optimize Battery Without Closing Apps

• ✅ Review battery usage stats weekly
• ✅ Turn off Background App Refresh for non-essential apps
• ✅ Set location access to “While Using” for most apps
• ✅ Lower screen brightness and enable auto-brightness
• ✅ Use Dark Mode on OLED devices
• ✅ Disable push notifications for low-priority apps
• ✅ Avoid extreme temperatures (heat is a major battery killer)
• ✅ Keep software updated—OS updates often include battery optimizations

Conclusion: Rethink the Habit, Respect the System

The advice to close apps to save battery made sense in 2008. But today’s smartphones are fundamentally different. They’re engineered to manage memory and power intelligently, often better than manual user intervention. Swiping away apps out of habit may give a psychological sense of control, but it rarely translates to real-world battery gains—and often does the opposite.

True battery optimization comes from understanding what actually consumes power: screen brightness, connectivity, location tracking, and poorly optimized background tasks. Focus your efforts there. Trust the operating system to handle the rest.

🚀 Ready to stop wasting time swiping apps? Start monitoring your actual battery usage today and make changes that truly matter. Share this insight with someone who still clears their app switcher five times a day!