Stop Apps Closing In Background Troubleshooting Guide

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Is your phone constantly killing apps running in the background? This can be incredibly frustrating, especially when you're trying to multitask or quickly switch between different applications. You might be listening to music on Spotify, switch to check a message, and find that Spotify has been closed when you return. This issue, where apps not staying in the background, is a common problem on both Android and iOS devices, and it can stem from a variety of causes. This comprehensive guide will delve into the reasons behind this behavior and provide you with a range of troubleshooting steps to resolve the issue and improve your multitasking experience.

Understanding Why Apps Are Killed in the Background

Before diving into solutions, it's important to understand why your phone might be closing apps in the background in the first place. Modern smartphones are designed to be efficient with their resources, particularly battery life and RAM (Random Access Memory). To achieve this, the operating system employs several mechanisms that can lead to apps being terminated when they're not actively in use.

One of the primary reasons is limited RAM. RAM is your phone's short-term memory, used to store data for apps that are currently running. When RAM is full, the system needs to free up space for new apps or processes. To do this, it may aggressively close apps running in the background, especially those that are consuming a significant amount of memory. This is a common occurrence on devices with lower RAM capacity.

Another factor is battery optimization. Both Android and iOS have built-in battery-saving features that aim to extend your phone's battery life. These features can restrict background activity for apps, including network access and the ability to run in the background. While this can be beneficial for battery life, it can also lead to apps being closed prematurely.

Aggressive battery management is implemented by some manufacturers. Certain smartphone manufacturers, in their quest to optimize battery performance, employ more aggressive background app management strategies than others. These strategies might terminate apps more frequently, even if they're not consuming excessive resources. This can be particularly noticeable on devices from brands known for their battery optimization features.

Furthermore, app-specific settings can also play a role. Some apps have settings that control their background behavior. For example, an app might have an option to disable background activity to conserve battery life. If this setting is enabled, the app will be closed when you switch away from it.

Finally, software bugs or conflicts can sometimes cause apps to crash or be terminated unexpectedly. This is less common but can still occur, especially after a software update or when multiple apps are interacting with the system in unusual ways.

Troubleshooting Steps to Keep Apps Running in the Background

Now that you have a better understanding of the potential causes, let's explore the troubleshooting steps you can take to prevent apps from being closed in the background. These steps are organized from the simplest to the more advanced, so it's recommended to try them in order.

1. Check Battery Optimization Settings

The first and most crucial step is to check your phone's battery optimization settings. As mentioned earlier, these settings can restrict background activity and lead to apps being closed. Here's how to check and adjust these settings on both Android and iOS:

On Android:

  1. Open your phone's Settings app.
  2. Go to Battery or Battery and device care (the exact wording may vary depending on your Android version and device manufacturer).
  3. Tap on Battery optimization.
  4. You'll see a list of apps. Apps labeled as "Optimizing" are subject to battery restrictions. Tap on an app you want to keep running in the background and select "Don't optimize".
  5. Repeat this process for all the apps you want to exclude from battery optimization.

By selecting "Don't optimize" for specific apps, you're telling the system to allow them to run in the background without restrictions. However, keep in mind that this may slightly impact your battery life.

On iOS:

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Scroll down and tap on Battery.
  3. Tap on Battery Health.
  4. Disable Low Power Mode if it's enabled.

While iOS doesn't offer the same granular control over battery optimization as Android, disabling Low Power Mode will prevent the system from aggressively restricting background activity. Additionally, ensure that Background App Refresh is enabled for the apps you want to keep running in the background. You can find this setting under Settings > General > Background App Refresh.

2. Adjust App-Specific Settings

Some apps have their own settings that control background activity. It's worth checking these settings to ensure that the app is allowed to run in the background. The location of these settings will vary depending on the app, but they are usually found within the app's settings menu.

For example, some music streaming apps have an option to disable background playback to conserve battery life. If this option is enabled, the app will stop playing music when you switch to another app. Similarly, some messaging apps might have a setting that controls whether they can receive notifications in the background. Review your app settings and look for any options that might be restricting background activity.

3. Check Data Saver Settings

Both Android and iOS have data saver features that can restrict background data usage. While these features are primarily designed to conserve mobile data, they can also impact background app activity. If you have data saver enabled, it's possible that it's interfering with apps running in the background.

On Android:

  1. Open your phone's Settings app.
  2. Go to Network & internet or Connections (the exact wording may vary).
  3. Tap on Data Saver.
  4. If Data Saver is turned on, you can either turn it off completely or allow specific apps to use data in the background by tapping on "Unrestricted data" and toggling the switch next to the app.

On iOS:

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Tap on Cellular or Mobile Data.
  3. Tap on Data Mode.
  4. If Low Data Mode is enabled, try switching to Standard or Allow More Data on 5G.

By adjusting your data saver settings, you can ensure that apps have the necessary access to data in the background to function properly.

4. Clear Cache and Data for Problematic Apps

Sometimes, cached data or corrupted files can cause apps to misbehave and be closed by the system. Clearing the cache and data for a problematic app can often resolve these issues. However, keep in mind that clearing data will reset the app to its default state, and you may need to log in again and reconfigure your settings.

On Android:

  1. Open your phone's Settings app.
  2. Go to Apps or Apps & notifications (the exact wording may vary).
  3. Find and tap on the app you're having trouble with.
  4. Tap on Storage.
  5. Tap on Clear cache and then Clear data.

On iOS:

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Go to General.
  3. Tap on iPhone Storage.
  4. Find and tap on the app you're having trouble with.
  5. Tap on Offload App. This will clear the app's cache and temporary files, but it will preserve your documents and data. If the issue persists, you can try tapping on Delete App and then reinstalling it from the App Store.

After clearing the cache and data, launch the app and see if the issue is resolved. If the app was crashing or being closed due to corrupted data, this should fix the problem.

5. Free Up RAM

As mentioned earlier, limited RAM can be a major cause of apps being closed in the background. If your phone has a limited amount of RAM, the system may aggressively terminate apps to free up memory for new tasks. Here are some ways to free up RAM on your device:

  • Close unused apps: The simplest way to free up RAM is to close apps that you're not currently using. On Android, you can do this by opening the recent apps screen and swiping away the apps you want to close. On iOS, you can double-press the Home button (or swipe up from the bottom of the screen on devices without a Home button) to access the app switcher and then swipe up on the app previews to close them.
  • Restart your phone: Restarting your phone can clear the RAM and close any background processes that are consuming memory. This is a quick and easy way to refresh your system.
  • Uninstall unused apps: Apps that you don't use regularly can still consume RAM in the background. Uninstalling these apps can free up memory and improve your phone's overall performance.
  • Disable animations and transitions: Animations and transitions can consume RAM. Disabling them can free up memory and make your phone feel snappier. On Android, you can do this by enabling Developer Options (by tapping on the Build number in Settings > About phone multiple times) and then turning off the animation scale settings. On iOS, you can reduce motion by going to Settings > Accessibility > Motion and enabling "Reduce Motion".

By freeing up RAM, you can reduce the likelihood of your phone closing apps in the background.

6. Update Your Apps and Operating System

Outdated apps and operating systems can sometimes have bugs or compatibility issues that cause apps to crash or be terminated unexpectedly. Updating your apps and operating system to the latest versions can often resolve these issues.

  • Update your apps: Check the Google Play Store (on Android) or the App Store (on iOS) for app updates. Install any available updates for the apps you're having trouble with.
  • Update your operating system: Go to your phone's Settings app and check for system updates. Install any available updates to ensure that you have the latest bug fixes and performance improvements.

Updating your apps and operating system is a crucial step in troubleshooting many software-related issues, including apps not staying in the background.

7. Reset App Preferences (Android Only)

On Android, you can reset app preferences to their default settings. This can resolve issues caused by incorrect app settings or permissions. Resetting app preferences will not delete any app data, but it will reset the following:

  • Default apps for certain actions
  • Background data restrictions for apps
  • App permissions
  • Notification settings

To reset app preferences on Android:

  1. Open your phone's Settings app.
  2. Go to Apps or Apps & notifications (the exact wording may vary).
  3. Tap on the three dots in the top-right corner and select "Reset app preferences".
  4. Confirm the action by tapping on "Reset apps".

After resetting app preferences, you may need to re-grant permissions to certain apps and reconfigure your notification settings. However, this can often resolve issues with apps not staying in the background.

8. Check for Conflicting Apps

In rare cases, certain apps may conflict with each other and cause issues such as apps being closed in the background. If you've recently installed a new app and started experiencing this problem, it's possible that the new app is conflicting with an existing one.

To check for conflicting apps, try uninstalling recently installed apps one by one and see if the issue is resolved. If you identify a conflicting app, you can either uninstall it permanently or try to find an alternative app that doesn't cause the same problem.

9. Factory Reset (Last Resort)

If you've tried all the above steps and your apps are still being closed in the background, a factory reset may be necessary. A factory reset will erase all data on your phone and restore it to its original factory settings. This should only be done as a last resort, as it will delete all your personal data, including photos, videos, and contacts. Back up your important data before performing a factory reset.

To perform a factory reset:

  1. Open your phone's Settings app.
  2. Go to General management or System (the exact wording may vary).
  3. Tap on Reset.
  4. Tap on Factory data reset.
  5. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the reset.

After the factory reset, you'll need to set up your phone from scratch and reinstall your apps. If the issue was caused by a software problem, a factory reset should resolve it.

Conclusion

Apps being closed in the background can be a frustrating issue, but it's often caused by a combination of factors, including battery optimization, limited RAM, and app-specific settings. By following the troubleshooting steps outlined in this guide, you should be able to identify the cause of the problem and resolve it. Remember to start with the simplest solutions, such as checking battery optimization settings, and gradually move on to more advanced steps if necessary. In most cases, you'll be able to fix the issue without resorting to a factory reset. By optimizing your phone's settings and managing your apps effectively, you can ensure that your apps stay running in the background when you need them, improving your multitasking experience and overall productivity.