Recently, I found myself watching a tech influencer share “Ten things I didn’t know about my Android phone.” One particular claim caught my attention: the assertion that there’s no need to close background apps on Android devices. The reasoning? Android is optimized to handle multiple apps efficiently, and keeping them open could even conserve battery life by reducing the workload when reopening them. Intrigued yet skeptical, I reflected on my own experiences as a long-time Android user, where I’ve always favored a tidy app drawer. If I don’t need an app, I close it. My experience has been largely positive, leading me to question the validity of this claim.
Back in the days of Android 8, the introduction of a “real-time resource management system” promised to intelligently manage app usage based on user habits. However, I quickly found that it often misjudged which apps I needed open, prompting me to disable the feature entirely. Fast forward to today, with Android 15 on the horizon, it seems only fair to revisit this debate: can Android truly optimize background app performance, or should users continue the practice of closing unnecessary apps?
The super-scientific testing methods to my madness
For this experiment, I chose the Pixel 6a as my testing device. This midrange smartphone, while not cutting-edge, represents what many users have in their pockets. Being a Google product, it should ideally be well-optimized for the Android operating system. My plan was to monitor my phone usage over a week, resisting the urge to close background apps unless absolutely necessary.
Throughout the week, I meticulously documented:
- Overall performance of the phone
- Battery percentage at various times
- Any unusual behavior compared to my usual experience
As a daily user of the Pixel 6a, I was familiar with its quirks. My typical usage pattern includes:
- Charging overnight, starting the day at 100% battery at 8 AM
- Keeping the always-on display active with brightness set to 35%
- Having Wi-Fi, data, Bluetooth, and location services toggled on
- Keeping apps like Chrome, Messenger, WhatsApp, and Google Keep open at all times
- Ending my day between 11 PM and 1 AM with about 25-35% battery remaining
My goal was to determine if leaving apps open would hinder my phone’s performance in daily use. Interestingly, I realized that I spend about four minutes each day manually closing apps, which adds up to nearly two hours a month. If Android could prove me wrong, I’d gladly reclaim that time for more leisurely pursuits.
The experiment
Day 1: things are heating up
The first day unfolded without major incidents, aside from accidentally closing a game and Reddit. Battery drain appeared normal, but I did notice my phone running hotter than usual, particularly after a busy day of usage. It seemed that the device needed time to recalibrate before it could efficiently manage the open apps, which was surprising given the relatively mild weather.
Day 2: revelations
On the second day, I noticed something unexpected: my phone had closed some apps overnight without my intervention. While it retained my photo gallery open, it also closed some frequently used apps. Sticking to my rules, I refrained from reopening anything unless necessary, but I encountered a hiccup with a game that required me to manually close it to save my progress. Overall, the day passed without significant issues.
Day 3: the one where my phone almost caught fire
By day three, my phone had once again closed some apps overnight, but it left open the most resource-intensive game I had installed. Around midday, while on a video call, I received a warning about overheating—an alarming first for me. To cool it down, I removed the case and propped it up for airflow. Despite the warning, my phone continued to lose battery rapidly, prompting me to reconsider the number of open apps.
Day 4: am I being spied on?
On the fourth day, Android closed the game but left all social media apps open, which felt peculiar since I rarely keep those active. The day proceeded without major disruptions, although I found it odd that Chrome was closed while other less frequently used apps remained open.
Day 5: I actually need my phone today
Day five presented a challenge as I had a photography gig. I quickly realized that keeping resource-heavy apps open was not conducive to performance. After struggling with lag and heat for about half an hour, I decided to abandon the experiment for the day. By the end of my work, I had managed to maintain a decent battery level, but only after closing background apps.
Day 6: skip
After a late night, I found myself sleeping through much of Saturday, using my phone only for light messaging and casual photography.
Day 7: details, details
On the final day, I returned to my usual habits of closing apps. I recorded my phone’s performance throughout the day, noting battery usage during various activities:
- 8 AM, 100%: Browsed vacation ideas while enjoying coffee.
- 9 AM, 100%: Still at full charge after an hour of light browsing.
- 11 AM, 95%: Kept Messenger, WhatsApp, Chrome, and Keep open.
- 2 PM, 90%: Minimal usage led to a 5% battery drain over three hours.
- 3 PM, 75%: Closed games after completing daily tasks.
- 6 PM, 54%: Used Google Maps and took numerous photos.
- 8 PM, 35%: Edited photos and transferred files wirelessly.
- 11 PM, 27%: Retired for the night with essential apps open.
So, should we close our background apps on Android?
Reflecting on my week, it seems clear that while Android has made strides in managing background apps, it still falls short in certain scenarios. For smaller apps like messaging services, leaving them open is generally fine, as they consume minimal resources. However, for resource-intensive applications, it’s advisable to close them to maintain optimal performance.
Ultimately, trusting Android to manage your apps perfectly may not be wise. The option to manually close apps remains for a reason. Android is a robust operating system, but like any technology, it has its imperfections. As AI continues to evolve, perhaps future versions of Android will offer improved management capabilities. Until then, I’m curious to hear your thoughts on my experiment. Should I try a similar test on another device, or wait for Android 15 to reassess the situation?
