DOES CLOSING YOUR PHONE'S OPEN APPS REALLY HELP?

News Flash

Many of us close our phone's open apps to save battery, improve performance or keep companies from tracking us. But does it work?

Evangel

Thanks for posting this bit of news!

On my iPhone, it's older, the text beneath the Background App Refresh option says, "Turning off apps may help preserve battery life." This may be another reason we all bought into that notion.

Also on the upside, Youtropolis never tracks anything you do on your phone, either in other apps or across the web.

TMac

Actually, it's true that turning off the background app refresh toggle does save battery life because it keeps the apps from refreshing and gathering information when you're not using them. I mentioned that in report as the best way to save battery life and improve performance. But just closing the apps by swiping them away does absolutely nothing. But be aware, if you turn off background app refresh, your apps (especially email) may take a little longer to load the latest info when you open them again.

Evangel

Right, you did and you were very clear about that. I think when people read "Turning off apps may help preserve battery life" as my phone says beneath "Background App Refresh Wi-Fi>" they assume it means turning apps off any which way, including swiping. Because of your post, I now know swiping does nothing. So thanks for clarifying and enlightening me on this. I also appreciated the info on the low battery--mine is at 70%, so time for a new one without resorting to buying a new phone!