Are you tired of your Android phone closing background apps just when you need them most? This situation is more common than it seems and can be truly frustrating, especially if you rely on specific apps for important notifications, alarms, device control, or simply to keep track of important information. The Android operating system has sophisticated mechanisms for managing RAM and optimizing battery life, but sometimes these systems become overly aggressive and end up closing apps you want to keep running.
Understanding how background app management works is essential if you want to get the most out of your smartphone and avoid those annoying crashes. Although Android strives to extend battery life and maintain optimal performance, it doesn't always get it right when it comes to which apps can be closed without harming the user. Fortunately, there are several methods and tricks to take control and decide which apps should remain active and which ones shouldn't. We'll explain everything, step by step, including the different options available, so you can adapt your phone to your needs like a true expert.
Why does Android close apps in the background?
Closing of apps in the background is mainly due to two reasons: RAM management and battery optimizationThe system continuously analyzes which apps are actively used and which have been inactive for a while. Depending on the amount of available memory and power-saving policies, Android may choose to close apps it deems unnecessary at the time.
This can be helpful in preventing your phone from slowing down and consuming unnecessary power, but it can also impact the user experience. Applications that depend on background processes (such as messaging, health, alarms, monitoring, etc.) may stop working properly if the system stops them, resulting in the loss of notifications or functionality.
Which apps typically run in the background and why are they important?
Many services rely on running in the background to provide a complete user experience. Applications such as WhatsApp, Telegram, email apps, location services, alarms, smartwatches, physical activity monitoring and others like them need to be active even when you are not directly interacting with them.
However, keeping many apps open in the background also consumes resources. The balance is in controlling which applications should remain active and which ones you can allow the system to close without affecting your daily life.That's why it's key to know how to identify and manage these applications, prioritizing those that are essential for your needs.
How to know which apps are running in the background
Before making decisions about what close applications or maintain, it is important to know which ones are actually active in the background and how much they consume. You have several ways to find out:
- Developer options: Enable Developer Options on your device (go to Settings > About phone > tap 'Build number' repeatedly until it's enabled). Then, go to Settings > System > Developer options > Running services. There you'll see a list of background apps and their memory usage.
- From App Settings: Go to Settings > Apps and check the usage of each one. On many devices, you can check whether they're open, their battery usage, or how much memory they're using.
Identifying these apps is the first step in deciding what steps to take and ensuring essential apps don't close unexpectedly.
Disable battery optimization for specific apps
Android includes a feature called battery optimization, designed to stop infrequently used apps and thus save energy. By default, this optimization is enabled for most apps, which can cause them to automatically close if the system deems it necessary.
To prevent a specific app from being stopped automatically:
- Accede to Settings on your mobile.
- Sign in Applications (may also be called 'Apps & notifications').
- Select the app you want to protect from closing in the background.
- Go to Battery o Battery usage in the settings of that app.
- Find the battery optimization section and select
"No restrictions" (on some phones it may appear as “Do not optimize” or “Allow background activity”).
This setting will prevent the system from closing the app to save battery life., but you should keep in mind that it may slightly increase energy consumption. It's advisable to only apply it to truly essential apps.
Block apps in multitasking (especially useful on Samsung and other manufacturers' phones)
Some manufacturers like Samsung, Xiaomi or Google Pixel offer the possibility of pin or lock apps on the multitasking screen, ensuring that they won't close even if you delete all the others or the system tries to free memory.
- Open the app you want to keep active at all times.
- Access multitasking (by swiping up or pressing the corresponding button).
- Click on the app icon and choose "Keep open" or the similar option depending on your mobile brand (on Samsung, a lock icon appears when it is set).
This method is recommended for essential apps such as smartwatch controls, home automation, or any service that needs to be running all the time. Each manufacturer may use a different method, so if your phone isn't a Samsung, check to see if your model offers this feature and how to access it.
Limit background processes globally using Developer Options
If, on the other hand, you want to improve performance and save battery by preventing too many apps from running in the background, you can limit the number of processes allowed in the background globally in the system:
- Activate the Developer Options as explained above.
- Sign in System > Developer Options.
- Look for the option “Limit background processes”.
- Select the desired limit: you can choose to allow only 1, 2, 3 or 4 processes, or opt for "No background processes" to maximize savings (a very radical option and not recommended except in specific cases).
Remember that this feature is global and will affect all apps, so some notifications or features may stop arriving if you choose a low limit. You can always revert the change by selecting the "Standard Limit" option to return the system to managing processes as usual.
Adaptive Battery Function: The system learns from your habits
In many versions of Android, especially starting with Android 9, there is a feature called adaptable battery. This system Learn which apps you use regularly and restrict the activity of those you rarely open., thus achieving a balance between performance and autonomy.
- To activate it, go to Settings > Battery.
- Find and activate the adaptive battery option or “Smart Battery Manager”.
- Within the same menu, you can see which apps have active restrictions and adjust them according to your preferences.
This system is very useful because it works automatically, but if you notice that an app stops working properly or you're not receiving notifications, you should remove the restriction for that specific app, as we explained before.
How to force close a specific application
If you wish to Immediately stop an application that is consuming a lot of resources or malfunctioning, you can choose to force close it manually:
- Sign in Settings > Applications.
- Find the app you want to close and access its settings.
- Click on the option "Force stop" and confirm.
This way, the app will stop running in the background until you manually reopen it.
Third-party apps to control background apps
If you are looking for even more precise management, there are applications in the Google Play Store that allow you to Hibernate apps, restrict their background activity, and control resource usage. Some of the best known are:
- Greenify: It allows you to automatically hibernate apps when you're not using them, preventing them from consuming battery or memory. It's very popular because it works without root and is easy to configure.
- Titanium Backup: This app requires root, but it allows you to hibernate apps and perform advanced backups. It's more complex and designed for users who want to fully customize their system.
These apps can be an interesting solution if you don't trust the control that Android provides out of the box or if you want to automate background process management.
Step-by-step guide to adjusting background app closing
If you prefer a structured guide to easily modify these options, follow these general steps (there may be slight differences depending on your device brand and Android version):
- Slide down the notification bar and access the icon "Settings".
- Enter the section "Applications" o «Applications and notifications».
- Select the application you want to keep active.
- Look for the option of "Application information" or “Manage applications”.
- Accede to "Advanced Options" or the app's battery settings.
- Turn off battery optimization by selecting "No restrictions" or the corresponding option.
- Repeat the process with other apps you want to secure in the background.
- If necessary, restart your device to ensure the changes have been applied correctly.
Remember that you can apply these settings only to apps that really need them.It's not advisable to disable battery optimization for all apps, as this could cause your phone to consume significantly more power and reduce battery life.
Additional Considerations and Tips
Using background app management options wisely will help you achieve the perfect balance between autonomy and functionality. Always keep an eye on the apps that consume the most battery and periodically review settings to ensure that only necessary apps are unrestricted.
Also, keep in mind that Each manufacturer may slightly change the path or name of the menus, so if you can't find any of the options described, try searching for keywords like "battery optimization," "no restrictions," or "background processes" in your device's settings search engine.
Taking control over background app management on Android will allow you to customize your phone's behavior to your liking. Whether it's adjusting battery optimization app by app, using multitasking locks, limiting processes from developer options, or using specialized third-party apps, you have all the tools you need to prevent unwanted shutdowns and ensure your experience is always the best possible.
Don't forget to check your apps' battery and resource usage from time to time to maintain the ideal balance between performance and battery life. Share the information so that other users know about the topic.
