Background programs or applications are programs or applications that run in the background, even if the user has forgotten about them and is not currently using them. System programs, instant messengers, social networks, movie and music streaming services, games – all of these can and do run in the background. If you ask what the background mode is for, the answer is simple – to make some of the programs you need for work and entertainment open faster, and standard programs keep your device running smoothly and constantly. In addition, if applications are running in the background, they are able to maintain continuous communication with servers, and thus receive informational messages for the user. However, not only does running apps in the background bring benefits to your device, but it can also cause significant harm, especially when it comes to budget options.
How do I check the background activity of programs and applications on my device?
To find out which apps are running in the background and preventing your device from optimizing, follow these steps:
- first you need to open Settings on your gadget;
- and then go to the Battery or Battery section, depending on the model and brand of the device;
- Next, you need to find the Battery Usage or Usage Details button and click on it;
- there you can see a list of programs and applications, among which you need to identify those that consume the most energy. They are the ones that run in the background.
When you’ve decided on background programs and apps before you start uninstalling them, you need to realize that they can be both useful and harmful to your device.
What problems does the background use of programs and applications create for your gadgets?
- Problem one: increased workload
If you have an application running in the background on your phone, it consumes a significant portion of your device’s resources. However, there can be several such programs, so outdated gadget models start to work much slower, they may freeze from time to time, or even give an error when trying to open a particular application. If the user forgets to control the number of programs and applications running in the background, it becomes uncomfortable to use the gadget. Often, smartphone users notice that their device has started to slow down and is also very slow to download data. This is due to an excess of background processes. It should be remembered that applications that are minimized rather than closed by the user will also run in the background and consume the gadget’s energy resources. To optimize the performance of your mobile device, you should disable any unnecessary applications.
- The second problem is the decrease in battery power.
If some applications and programs run in the background, they contribute to a rapid decrease in the battery life of your device, as it has to process several dozen unnecessary processes. Therefore, when a user constantly turns off unnecessary background programs, their smartphone battery lasts longer.
- Problem number three: mobile traffic consumption
Keep in mind that mobile traffic is limited in most cases, so it’s not a good idea to waste it on running unnecessary background programs and applications. Support for social networking or gaming servers will only waste your mobile traffic and leave it for really important things.
After assessing the situation, you can use the following algorithms to disable and uninstall background programs and applications:
- Use the built-in Android settings
- first you need to find and enter the Settings menu;
- in the list of this menu, find the Apps and Notifications button and click on it;
- from the list of programs and applications, select those whose operation you want to restrict;
- then click on the Battery button;
- there, look for and activate the option Restrict background activity or Background restriction.
- Using the power saving mode
To activate this mode, which automatically limits background activity, you need to go to the Battery section in Settings and select the Power Saving mode.
- Use of third-party applications
- There are third-party applications for this purpose, such as Greenify and Servicely. To get started, you need to download and install them on your gadget and follow the instructions in them.
So, to significantly improve the performance of your device, you can disable all background programs and apps. However, you should keep in mind that some of these programs are necessary for the correct operation of your gadget.