Does Closing Background Apps On Iphone Actually Save Battery Life

Many iPhone users believe that swiping away apps from the App Switcher helps conserve battery life. It’s a habit so widespread that it’s become part of routine digital hygiene—like turning off lights when leaving a room. But does this practice actually help, or is it a myth perpetuated by misunderstanding how iOS works? The truth may surprise you. Apple’s operating system manages background processes differently than most people assume, and in many cases, force-closing apps can do more harm than good.

This article dives deep into the mechanics of iOS app management, debunks common misconceptions, and provides science-backed strategies to genuinely improve your iPhone’s battery performance. Whether you're a long-time iPhone user or new to the ecosystem, understanding how your device really uses power will empower you to make smarter choices.

How iOS Manages Background Apps

Unlike Android or desktop operating systems, iOS uses a tightly controlled multitasking model designed for efficiency and battery preservation. When you press the Home button or swipe up to return to the home screen, most apps don’t continue running—they enter a suspended state almost immediately.

In this suspended state, an app is still loaded in RAM but consumes virtually no CPU power or battery. It’s akin to pausing a movie: the frame is held in memory, ready to resume instantly, but no processing is happening in the background. This design allows for fast app switching while minimizing energy use.

Only specific types of apps are permitted to run limited background tasks, such as:

• Music streaming apps (e.g., Spotify)
• Navigation apps (e.g., Google Maps, Waze)
• Background fetch for email or news updates
• Location tracking for fitness apps
• VoIP calls (e.g., WhatsApp, FaceTime)

Even these exceptions operate under strict limitations imposed by iOS. For instance, background location updates are throttled, and background audio must be actively playing to justify continued operation.

“iOS is designed to optimize app states automatically. Users don’t need to manage background apps manually.” — Craig Federighi, Senior Vice President of Software Engineering, Apple Inc.

The Myth of Battery Drain from Background Apps

The belief that background apps drain battery stems from confusion between “open” and “active.” On an iPhone, seeing an app in the App Switcher doesn’t mean it’s using power. In fact, the majority of those apps are frozen in a standby state.

Force-closing an app removes it from RAM. When you reopen it, the app must reload entirely—from scratch. This process requires more CPU usage, disk access, and energy than simply resuming a suspended app. Over time, frequently swiping away apps can lead to increased battery consumption due to repeated reloading.

A real-world example illustrates this clearly:

Tip: Avoid routinely swiping away apps in the App Switcher. Let iOS manage memory and app states automatically.

Mini Case Study: Daily Usage Patterns

Consider Sarah, a frequent iPhone user who closes all her background apps every morning. Her typical day includes checking email, social media, maps, and music. Each time she reopens an app after force-closing it, the app performs a full startup: loading assets, reconnecting to servers, and rebuilding the interface. Over the course of a day, this adds up to dozens of unnecessary reloads.

After disabling the habit for one week, Sarah noticed her phone felt faster and her battery lasted longer—especially during midday. She wasn’t doing anything different except letting apps remain suspended. The improvement came from reduced processing overhead and smoother transitions between tasks.

When Closing Apps Makes Sense

While routinely closing apps isn't beneficial, there are legitimate scenarios where force-quitting an app is appropriate:

1. The app is unresponsive or frozen. If an app stops responding, force-closing it can resolve the issue.
2. You suspect a bug or glitch. Some apps may fail to suspend properly due to poor coding or temporary errors.
3. An app is actively using resources in the background. For example, a navigation app left running unintentionally could drain battery.
4. After installing major updates. Occasionally, restarting an app post-update ensures compatibility and stability.

To force-close an app:

1. Swipe up from the bottom (or double-click the Home button on older models).
2. Swipe right or left to find the app.
3. Swipe the app preview upward to close it.

Again, this should be done selectively—not as a daily ritual.

What Actually Drains iPhone Battery

If background apps aren’t the culprit, what is? Real battery hogs are often invisible or misunderstood. Here’s a breakdown of the primary factors affecting iPhone battery life:

Battery Drain Factor	Impact Level	How to Reduce
Screen brightness & timeout	High	Lower brightness; reduce auto-lock time to 30 seconds
Background App Refresh	Medium	Disable for non-essential apps in Settings > General
Location Services	High	Set to “While Using” or disable for apps that don’t need it
Push Email & Fetch	Medium	Use manual fetch instead of push notifications
Poor cellular signal	High	Enable Wi-Fi or Airplane mode in low-signal areas
Background audio/video playback	High	Ensure media apps pause when not in use

Apple’s built-in Battery section (Settings > Battery) provides a detailed breakdown of which apps are consuming the most power—and crucially, whether they’re active in the foreground or background. This data is far more useful than guessing based on the App Switcher.

Checklist: Optimize iPhone Battery Life

Instead of closing apps, focus on these proven battery-saving actions:

• ✅ Reduce screen brightness or enable Auto-Brightness
• ✅ Set Auto-Lock to 30 seconds
• ✅ Disable Background App Refresh for non-essential apps
• ✅ Review Location Services permissions weekly
• ✅ Turn off Push Mail; use Fetch manually
• ✅ Enable Low Power Mode when battery drops below 20%
• ✅ Keep iOS updated for battery efficiency improvements
• ✅ Restart your iPhone occasionally to clear system cache

Expert Insights on iOS Efficiency

Apple engineers have consistently emphasized that iOS is engineered to minimize unnecessary resource usage. Unlike traditional operating systems, iOS prioritizes app suspension and efficient memory management.

“The best way to manage your iPhone’s battery is to let the system do its job. Swiping away apps doesn’t save battery—it often wastes it.” — John Gruber, Tech Journalist and Host of The Talk Show

Moreover, iOS includes advanced features like App Nap (on iPadOS and influenced by macOS), which further reduces CPU and energy use for inactive background processes. Even apps with background capabilities are subject to time limits and system priorities.

For example, if your iPhone detects low battery or high temperature, it will aggressively suspend background activity—even for permitted services. This dynamic adjustment ensures longevity and safety without requiring user intervention.

FAQ: Common Questions About iPhone Battery and Apps

Does having too many apps in the App Switcher slow down my iPhone?

No. Apps in the App Switcher are either suspended or inactive. They consume RAM but not CPU or battery. Only when RAM becomes critically low will iOS begin purging suspended apps automatically—this is seamless and requires no action from you.

If I don’t close apps, will my iPhone run out of memory?

Not under normal circumstances. iOS manages memory dynamically. When a new app needs resources, the system frees up memory by removing suspended apps that haven’t been used recently. This process is fast and invisible to the user.

Why does some apps show high battery usage even when I don’t use them?

This usually indicates background activity such as location tracking, push notifications, or background refresh. Check Settings > Battery to see if the usage occurred in the background. If so, adjust permissions in Settings > Privacy > Location Services or Settings > General > Background App Refresh.

Conclusion: Work With iOS, Not Against It

Closing background apps on your iPhone does not save battery life—and in most cases, it does the opposite. By disrupting iOS’s intelligent app management system, you trigger unnecessary reloads that consume more energy than simply resuming a suspended app. The operating system is designed to handle multitasking efficiently, and decades of optimization have made manual intervention obsolete.

True battery savings come from adjusting settings that directly impact power consumption: screen brightness, background refresh, location services, and connectivity options. These changes, supported by data from the Battery usage screen, offer measurable improvements. Relying on myths about app switching only distracts from real solutions.

Instead of swiping away apps each day, trust the system. Let iOS do what it was built to do. Focus your efforts where they matter—on settings, habits, and awareness. Your battery will last longer, your phone will perform better, and you’ll spend less time managing something that should work seamlessly in the background.

🚀 Ready to maximize your iPhone’s battery life? Start today by reviewing your Background App Refresh and Location Services settings. Share this guide with friends who still swipe away apps—help them stop the myth and start saving power the right way.