How to Check Which Apps Are Running in the Background on Android?
Apps running in the background on an Android device can impact its performance, consume RAM, and quickly drain the battery. It’s worth checking which apps are running in the background from time to time to optimize phone performance.
In this article, we will explain how to check which apps are running in the background on an Android device and how to manage these processes to improve device performance.
1. Checking Apps Running in the Background in Phone Settings
Android makes it easy to check which apps are running in the background and what resources they consume.
Step 1: Go to phone settings
Open the Settings on your Android device.
Step 2: Find the “Apps” section
Find and tap the Apps (in some versions of Android it may be also called “App management” or “Applications and notifications”) option.
Step 3: Select “Running apps” or “App management”
Depending on the version of Android and your device, this option may differ in name. It’s usually either Running apps or App management.
Step 4: Check running apps
In this section, you’ll find a list of apps that are currently running in the background. You can see how many resources (such as CPU and RAM) each app consumes.
Step 5: Close apps
If you want to close an app running in the background, tap the “Stop” or “Close” button to turn off the process. However, be aware that some apps may start up again in the background after a certain time.
2. Checking Apps Running in the Background in Task Manager
Most Android devices have a built-in task manager that allows you to check which apps are active in the background.
Step 1: Open task manager
To open the task manager, usually tap the “Recent apps” or “App switcher” (usually it’s a button on the left side of the Home button, depending on your device model).
Step 2: Review open apps
The task manager will show you all apps currently running on the device. You can scroll through the list to check which apps are running in the background.
Step 3: Close apps
If you notice an app that’s not needed, tap its card and then select “Close” or drag it to the left or right to close it. This will stop the app from consuming resources in the background.
3. Checking Battery Consumption by Apps Running in Background
If you want to see which apps consume the most energy, you can check the battery settings.
Step 1: Open battery settings
Go to Settings > Battery.
Step 2: Check battery consumption
In this section, you’ll find a list of apps consuming the most energy. Apps running in the background may have a greater impact on battery life.
Step 3: Manage apps
If you notice an app consuming too much power, you can disable notifications or limit its background activity in app settings.
4. Managing Background Apps Using Power-Saving Options
Android also offers power-saving features that help manage apps running in the background. You can enable “Power saving” or “Battery saver” to have the system automatically restrict background activity.
Step 1: Enable power saving mode
Go to Settings > Battery and turn on the “Power saving” or “Battery saver”.
Step 2: Restrict app background activity
In power-saving mode, Android may automatically limit apps running in the background to save battery life. You can also manually set which apps should run in the background and which should be restricted.
5. Managing Background Apps Using Third-Party Apps
If you want more precise control over which apps are allowed to run in the background, consider installing third-party apps like Greenify or Battery Doctor. These apps allow for more detailed management of background activity.
Summary
Checking apps running in the background on Android is essential for maintaining device performance and saving battery life. Regularly monitoring background processes can help avoid excessive memory consumption and energy waste. You can use built-in Android features or third-party apps to efficiently manage background apps.
