Closing background apps on Android: good or bad?

Often, when we notice our phone starting to slow down or the battery draining faster than usual, we rush to close all the apps running in the background. This action, which seems logical at first, has sparked an interesting debate among users and experts about whether it's actually beneficial or not.

In this article, we'll analyze everything you need to know about closing background apps on Android: from how RAM works on these devices to the advantages, disadvantages, and recommendations on when to close or leave your apps open. Should you close them all? Or just some? What if you leave them open? Let's take a look at them step by step.

What happens when an app is in the background?

When you open an app on your phone and then switch to another without closing it completely, that app continues running in the background. That is, It does not disappear or turn off, but remains in a “dormant” state., ready to be reactivated when you need it again.

This allows you to continue receiving notifications, have faster access, and keep certain data updated without having to open it from scratch. Common examples of this behavior are WhatsApp, Facebook o Instagram, where constant content updates and notifications are an essential part of its functionality.

But there are also apps that abuse background usage. Some games or services like Spotify They can continue to transfer data or send unnecessary push notifications that, in many cases, are of no interest to us at all.

How does Android manage RAM?

RAM (Random Access Memory) is a very fast type of memory that is responsible for temporarily storing information used by the applications you are using (or that you may use soon). When the mobile phone is turned off, this memory is completely erased..

The interesting thing is that Android doesn't manage RAM the way you would on a computer. In fact, Android is designed to keep RAM as full as possible, with background processes and applications it considers important. This not only doesn't slow down the system, but actually helps it run better.

When the system needs more memory to run a heavy application, Android itself automatically closes lower priority processes. Therefore, manually closing apps does not always improve performance and can be counterproductive.

Advantages of closing background applications

• Temporary battery savingClosing apps that are consuming unnecessary resources—such as constantly updating games or poorly optimized social media apps—can reduce CPU usage and therefore save battery life.
• Reducing mobile data usageSome apps continue to use data in the background without you even realizing it. Disabling them can help you conserve data if you're on a limited plan.
• Prevention of errors or bugs: In cases where an app experiences unexpected errors or freezes, closing it completely helps restart it and prevent crashes.
• Avoid irrelevant notificationsSome background apps are just there to send you unnecessary notifications. Closing them can help reduce those distractions.

Disadvantages of closing all applications

On the opposite side, Constantly closing all background apps can have negative effects. in performance and battery life. The main disadvantages include:

• Higher CPU usage when reopening themWhen you close an app like Instagram, WhatsApp, or Gmail and reopen it later, your phone has to reload it from scratch, which puts more strain on the processor and consumes more power.
• Loss of functionality in important appsIf you close apps that you need to keep running, like messaging or email, you may stop receiving notifications or having real-time syncing.
• More battery consumption in the long term: Although it may seem contradictory, repeatedly closing and opening the same app can end up using more battery than if it were left in the background.
• Worst user experience: When you open a recently closed app, you may have to wait a few extra seconds or lose some unsaved information.

When should you close background apps?

The key is in balance. It's not about closing everything or leaving everything open.You should close apps that:

• You don't use it frequently.
• They are consuming too much data or battery.
• They are giving errors, errors or strange behaviors.

But keeping apps that you use frequently open (such as YouTube, Gmail, Telegram, or your browser) is not only not a bad thing, but actually advisable in many cases.

How to optimize app usage without closing them manually

In addition to closing apps individually, Android offers several tools to control its background operation.:

1. Battery optimization

Accede to Settings > Apps > Battery Optimization and select the apps you want to control. This way, Android will limit their background activity when you're not using them.

2. Restrict background data

Go to Settings > Apps > Data usage and disable the background data For apps that tend to consume more data. Very useful if you have limited mobile data usage.

3. Force stop specific apps

You can enter Settings> Applications> and use the option Force stop if you want to completely close an app that is causing problems or is using excessive resources.

4. Uninstall or disable unnecessary apps

If you have apps you never use, it's best to uninstall them. And if they can't be uninstalled because they're system apps, you can disable them so that they do not run or consume resources.

5. Use developer options

If you are an advanced user, you can activate the Developer Options and access Running services to see which apps are active and close them from there.

Knowing how to manage background apps will help you keep your device running smoothly without sacrificing functionality or performance. Remember that Android already manages memory and processes efficiently, so closing apps only under specific circumstances can be more beneficial than doing so constantly.