Is It Better To Close Unused Apps Or Let Them Run In Background

Every day, millions of smartphone users swipe away apps from their recent apps list, believing they’re improving performance or saving battery. But is force-closing unused apps actually helping—or hurting—your device? The answer isn’t as straightforward as app icons disappearing into thin air. Modern operating systems like iOS and Android are engineered to manage background activity intelligently. Understanding how these systems work can help you make informed decisions about when to close apps and when to simply let them be.

The myth that closing apps saves significant battery life persists despite repeated clarification from tech companies and experts. In reality, frequently swiping away apps may do more harm than good. This article explores the mechanics behind app suspension, evaluates real-world impacts on battery and performance, and provides actionable guidance based on current best practices.

How Modern Operating Systems Handle Background Apps

Both iOS and Android use sophisticated memory management systems designed to optimize user experience without draining resources unnecessarily. When you switch away from an app, it doesn’t continue running in full capacity. Instead, it enters a suspended state—essentially frozen in place, consuming minimal CPU power and no active battery.

In this suspended state:

• The app retains its last screen and data in RAM for quick reloading.
• It performs no active tasks unless granted specific background permissions (like playing music or tracking location).
• It does not drain battery under normal conditions.

RAM (Random Access Memory) is not a battery-consuming resource by itself. Keeping apps in RAM allows faster switching and smoother multitasking. Only when system resources become constrained does the OS automatically purge the least-used apps to free up memory—without any action required from the user.

“Force-quitting apps regularly can reduce performance and increase battery usage because the system has to reload the app from scratch each time.” — Craig Federighi, Senior Vice President of Software Engineering, Apple

Does Closing Apps Save Battery?

The short answer: generally, no. In fact, constantly closing apps often leads to higher battery consumption over time. Here’s why:

When an app is reopened after being force-closed, it must reload entirely—fetching data from storage, reinitializing services, and potentially reconnecting to servers. This process requires more energy than simply resuming a suspended app. Over the course of a day, repeatedly restarting apps multiplies this overhead, leading to unnecessary strain on both battery and processor.

Exceptions exist, however. Some poorly optimized third-party apps may continue using location services, background refresh, or push notifications even when minimized. These can indeed impact battery life. But rather than closing them manually every time, the smarter solution is to adjust their settings permanently.

Tip: If an app is draining battery in the background, disable its background refresh or location access instead of closing it repeatedly.

Performance: Does Leaving Apps Open Slow Down Your Phone?

Another common concern is that having too many apps open will slow down your phone. Again, this stems from a misunderstanding of how modern smartphones operate. Unlike older devices with limited RAM and primitive OS logic, today’s phones are built to handle dozens of suspended apps efficiently.

Your phone only slows down when:

• The CPU is overwhelmed by active processes (e.g., multiple games or video editors running).
• Storage is nearly full, reducing virtual memory efficiency.
• An app has a memory leak or bug causing it to consume increasing resources over time.

In most cases, leaving apps in the background contributes negligibly to slowdowns. The perceived lag after “too many apps” are open is usually due to other factors, such as low storage space or outdated software.

Real Example: A Day in the Life of Two Users

Consider two users: Alex and Jamie.

Alex closes every app after use—social media, maps, email, news—all swiped away religiously. By midday, Alex notices the phone feels sluggish and the battery is at 40%. Each time Alex opens Instagram, it takes 3–4 seconds to reload, and GPS in Maps needs to reacquire location from scratch.

Jamie uses apps normally, returning to the home screen when done but never force-closing. The phone remains responsive throughout the day. Opening apps feels instant, and battery lasts well into the evening. Jamie only intervenes when noticing unusual heat or rapid battery drop—then checks battery usage stats to identify problematic apps.

After one week, both phones have similar total screen-on time, but Jamie’s device shows 18% less CPU workload and 12% better battery efficiency according to diagnostic tools. The difference? Unnecessary reloading caused by constant app closures.

When You Should Close Apps

While routine app closing isn’t beneficial, there are legitimate scenarios where manually closing an app improves your experience:

1. An app is misbehaving: If an app continues playing audio, sending notifications, or using GPS when it shouldn't, closing it stops the behavior immediately.
2. After updating the OS: Occasionally, a system update causes compatibility issues. Restarting or closing certain apps resolves glitches.
3. You suspect a security risk: If you’ve used a public kiosk or temporarily installed a suspicious app, closing it ensures no background processes linger.
4. The app crashes frequently: Force-stopping can clear temporary corruption in the app’s runtime environment.
5. You're troubleshooting: As part of a diagnostic process, restarting apps helps isolate problems.

In these situations, closing the app is a targeted fix—not a daily hygiene habit.

Step-by-Step: How to Identify Problematic Background Apps

If you're concerned about battery or performance, follow this process to identify which apps truly need attention:

1. Go to Settings > Battery (iOS) or Battery > Battery Usage (Android).
2. Review the list of apps sorted by battery consumption over the last 24 hours or 7 days.
3. Look for apps with high background usage relative to foreground use.
4. Tap the app name or go to Settings > Apps to restrict its background activity.
5. Disable features like:
   • Background app refresh (iOS)
   • Background data / unrestricted data usage (Android)
   • Location access when not in use
   • Auto-sync and push notifications
6. Observe changes over the next 2–3 days.

This method addresses root causes instead of applying a blanket strategy that harms overall efficiency.

Comparison: Closing vs. Letting Apps Run

Factor	Closing Unused Apps	Letting Apps Run (Suspended)
Battery Impact	Higher long-term drain due to reload costs	Minimal—only active when resumed
App Launch Speed	Slower—full reload required	Faster—resumes instantly
System Resource Use	Increases CPU load over time	Optimized by OS; self-managed
User Effort	High—requires constant monitoring	Low—hands-off approach
Effect on Longevity	Potential wear from repeated loading	Reduces stress on storage and processor
Best For	Fixing specific bugs or rogue apps	Daily use and optimal performance

Common Misconceptions Debunked

Several myths persist about background apps, often passed along through social media or outdated advice:

• Myth: “Apps running in the background are like leaving lights on in empty rooms.”
  Reality: Suspended apps are more like lights turned off but with switches ready—they don’t consume power until activated.
• Myth: “More RAM means I should keep fewer apps open.”
  Reality: RAM is meant to be used. Empty RAM is wasted potential. The OS uses available memory to cache apps and data for faster access.
• Myth: “Closing apps makes my phone cooler.”
  Reality: Heat comes from active processing, not passive memory storage. Constantly reloading apps generates more heat than leaving them suspended.

Checklist: Smart App Management Habits

Instead of reflexively closing apps, adopt these sustainable habits:

• ✅ Check battery usage weekly to spot outliers.
• ✅ Disable background refresh for non-essential apps.
• ✅ Turn off location services for apps that don’t need them.
• ✅ Update apps regularly—bugs affecting background behavior are often fixed in updates.
• ✅ Restart your phone once a week if it feels sluggish (clears deep caches and resets connections).
• ✅ Use built-in digital wellbeing tools (Digital Wellbeing on Android, Screen Time on iOS) to monitor actual usage patterns.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I restart my phone every day to keep it fast?

No, daily restarts aren’t necessary for modern smartphones. While rebooting clears temporary files and resets network connections, doing it daily offers no measurable benefit and interrupts background syncing. Once a week is sufficient for most users.

Do background apps steal my data?

Not typically. Most apps only use data when actively opened or when performing permitted background tasks (like downloading emails). However, some apps may sync frequently or preload content. To control this, go to data usage settings and limit background data per app.

Why does my battery drain overnight even when I’m not using my phone?

Nighttime drain is usually caused by apps with background permissions—email clients checking for new messages, cloud backups, or location-based services. Check your battery breakdown for “background” usage. Disabling non-essential background activity for those apps typically resolves the issue.

Conclusion: Work With Your Phone, Not Against It

The instinct to close unused apps comes from a place of wanting to maintain control and efficiency. But modern smartphones are designed to manage themselves effectively. Trusting the system—while staying informed about actual performance metrics—leads to better battery life, faster response times, and less daily friction.

Rather than treating your phone like a desktop computer from 20 years ago, embrace the intelligence built into today’s mobile operating systems. Let apps stay in the background where they belong, intervene only when needed, and focus your efforts on meaningful optimizations like adjusting permissions and monitoring real battery hogs.

💬 Have you noticed a difference after changing your app-closing habits? Share your experience below and help others find the right balance between control and convenience.