On the topic of conserving iPhone battery use, many technicians will jump at the chance to suggest you turn off Background App Refresh. This is the function that permits applications to check for updates in the background when you’re not actively using them.

I, however, recommend a more flexible approach: Instead of turning it off entirely, take some time to consider how you benefit from specific apps refreshing in the background.

In Mac Mondays: Maximize Battery Life in 2020 and Mac Mondays: Application Switcher in 2019, I briefly mentioned that configuring Background App Refresh is one way to conserve battery on an iPhone. However, I didn’t provide much insight into how to choose which apps to enable or disable.

At TEACH: Maximizing Battery Life, an attendee shared a valuable insight about using the battery activity list to inform her about these choices.

What is Background App Refresh?

Background App Refresh is, quite literally, the opportunity for apps to refresh in the background. Apple describes it at the bottom of its support article on switching apps.

With the exception of a handful of stock apps, like Mail and Messages, you have the ability to decide which apps have permission to check for updates when you’re not using them.

For example, apps that track your location or give directions need background permission so they can do so when your phone is locked. Or, you may want an invoicing app to check for updates periodically so it can notify you when you receive a payment.

Background App Refresh is in Settings > General and goes hand in hand with Battery settings, as described below.

Background Battery Activity

In Settings > Battery, scroll down to find out how much of your battery (by percentage) your apps have used in the last 24 hours or 10 days. Tap Show Activity to learn how much time each app has used, split between on screen and in the background.

Knowing that an app is using battery when in the background is half the battle.

Use Activity to Inform Decision

What insight can you draw from knowing about apps using battery in the background? Based on the apps you use over the course of 10 days, I think you can make a more informed decision about which apps to permit for Background App Refresh.

As you peruse the background battery usage of your apps, make note of the apps whose background refreshing benefits you. For those that don’t, consider returning to Background App Refresh settings and disabling them.

What might be the result of making this decision? I think you could achieve a balance between higher productivity and appropriate battery usage compared to leaving Background App Refresh on or off for all apps.