How To Find Background Apps On Android

tips

What is background data and how to restrict groundwork data in Android

Jesse Simms • December 11, 2020

Reduce mobile information in Android and save money

Understanding and taking control of the way your phone uses mobile information is the best mode to salve a few bucks on our phone bills. When we're using our phones abroad from Wi-Fi, scrolling through our various media feeds, getting directions, streaming music etc, we understand that we're using mobile information. How our phones use mobile data when we're not actively looking at the screen, though, can be a flake of a mystery. Taking command and restricting groundwork data in Android is a great way to take the power back and take control of how much mobile data your phone uses.

Information technology's worth knowing that despite your best efforts, some apps continue to utilise data in the background even while you lot don't have them open. There are many Android apps that, without your knowledge, volition get ahead and connect to your cellular network fifty-fifty when the app is closed.

Background data usage can burn through a fair bit of mobile data. The good news is, you lot can reduce data usage. All you have to do is turn off groundwork data. We'll evidence y'all how to restrict groundwork data on your Android phone and cut any lingering data usage.

When you command your information usage, you're free to stop overpaying and choose a plan that gives y'all the data you demand. If that's your goal, Ting Mobile is the perfect carrier.

What is background information?

Basically, background data means that an app is using information even when you're non actively using the app. Sometimes called background syncing, background data can proceed your apps updated with the latest notifications like condition updates, Snapchat stories and Tweets.

What uses information on my phone?

Hither's the deal: pretty much any time y'all're online and you're non using Wi-Fi, you're using mobile data.

Mobile data is different from Wi-Fi. While Wi-Fi is a limited range network and data you use while continued to it won't count towards your phone pecker, mobile data uses the aforementioned network as the cell towers that permit you make calls. Yous can use mobile data every bit long equally yous have cellular coverage and it counts towards your telephone program's data use.

Mobile information is reserved for the stuff of the Internet: surfing, social media, e-mail, watching video and more than. Check out our complete guide on mobile data to learn more than.

What about foreground data?

There are two primary types of data usage. Background information and foreground data. Foreground information ways y'all're actively using information in an app, you lot're sending a tweet, y'all're watching a Snapchat or yous're streaming a video.

Groundwork data, on the other mitt, refers to data that the app uses when yous're not actively doing annihilation with the app.

Does background app refresh use data?

Apps refresh in the groundwork to regularly check for notifications. This means, when you lot get an email, message or Tweet, it's delivered right to your device, whether you're on Wi-Fi or mobile data. And then yep, if you're non on Wi-Fi, information technology will use mobile data.

What does restrict background information mean?

It's pretty unproblematic. Restricting background data means reducing your background data to a bare minimum. When you turn off an app'due south ability to run in the background, you get one step closer to cutting your information utilise birthday and controlling your phone bill.

How to stop apps from running in the background

Now that nosotros've answered the question "what is groundwork information," permit'southward learn how to employ less of it. The Data usage department in Android Settings lets you lot view the amount of data used by each specific app. If you lot observe an app using more background mobile data than you'd like information technology to (Snapchat comes to mind), you can restrict it from accessing the Internet till you're dorsum in a Wi-Fi covered expanse. If you lot're looking to conserve your bandwidth and lower that monthly phone bill, this characteristic is definitely worth checking out. Remember, since this will foreclose background refreshes, you'll need to open the app to receive notifications.

Step 1

OpenSettings, tap Network and net,Data usage so App data usage. In Android 11, openSettings, tap Network and internet, Mobile network,Data usage (on some phones) and then App data usage.

Stride ii

Scroll downward to view a list of your Android apps sorted by data usage. Keep an eye out for the heaviest data users.

Pace iii

When you come across an app whose groundwork data you want to restrict, tap on information technology and then plough the Background data toggle to the off position.

The usual suspects

Most pop apps will default to running in the groundwork. Groundwork data can be used even when your device is in standby mode (with the screen turned off), every bit these apps are constantly checking their servers through the Internet for all sorts of updates and notifications.

Make sure to take a wait at Spotify, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Snapchat. All these apps can run in the background if you lot don't disable their ability to do then.

For more info, check out Google'southward Optimize information usage assist commodity and our own article on how to reduce mobile data usage. Looking to save information on your iPhone? Here's how to control which apps use your cellular information.

Notice this tip useful? Have annihilation to add? Share what you remember in the comments beneath.