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Background App Refresh - sometimes all apps are turned on
- Thread starter johannnn
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I'm a bit confused to what exactly background app refresh does.
I have always had it enabled to get messages from whatsapp and new bills from my banking app, but after reading some other thread now it seems that all these apps can still send a notification to me as well as show icon badges, however they can't actually download data in the background (e.g. download the new whatsapp message/image).
Is this true? Then I'm totally fine with disabling it for everything.
I have always had it enabled to get messages from whatsapp and new bills from my banking app, but after reading some other thread now it seems that all these apps can still send a notification to me as well as show icon badges, however they can't actually download data in the background (e.g. download the new whatsapp message/image).
Is this true? Then I'm totally fine with disabling it for everything.
BAR is supposed to update apps' data while in the background. The frequency of that is based on your usage pattern of the corresponding app.
For example some weather app.
You check the weather usually at 8am in the morning. If you got BAR enabled then iOS learns that you usually check the weather at 8am and then updates the weather app's data so that when you check the weather it's already updated.
If you've disabled an app from updating in the background, that setting will change back to on and updating if the app has been updated. Background refresh is useless and a battery waster for about 99% of apps but for some apps like gmail, it's essential.
This is how I understands it now:
iOS settings for BAR is not consistent. If you have BAR enabled, but only turned it on for some apps, you're screwed. The next time you go into Settings, it might be turned on for all apps. And if an app has been updated that previously was turned off, it can be turned on now.
But as long as you have notifications on, BAR is not really needed. You will still be notified about everything. Gmail, WhatsApp etc. The only problem is that when you open the app you have to wait to actually download the email. But I take that half second waiting over a potential battery hog.
iOS settings for BAR is not consistent. If you have BAR enabled, but only turned it on for some apps, you're screwed. The next time you go into Settings, it might be turned on for all apps. And if an app has been updated that previously was turned off, it can be turned on now.
But as long as you have notifications on, BAR is not really needed. You will still be notified about everything. Gmail, WhatsApp etc. The only problem is that when you open the app you have to wait to actually download the email. But I take that half second waiting over a potential battery hog.
What iOS version are you running? According to the 10.2.1 beta thread, this is a bug related to 10.2.1. It might be present in earlier versions as well but it went unnoticed.
Yes, I noticed this behavior the other day on my iPhone 6s running iOS 10.2.2, which makes me want to check it more often.
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It is just my opinion, but that should not be allowed to happen.
Definitely, and if I figure out exactly when it happens I will file a bug report immediately.
I have now had BAR disabled a day and I'm very happy. I still get all my notifications at the same time as previously, but I assume I get better battery now.
If you happen to determine the cause, let me know (PM me if needed) and I'll file a bug report too - power in numbers.
Found an old thread discussing this bug back in the 10.0.2 days
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/backround-app-refresh.2006192/#post-23708162
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/backround-app-refresh.2006192/#post-23708162
I personally leave BAR enabled for everything and have never had any issues with my battery - I get to the end of the day with 20-30% battery left
TBH as long as you don't have either a software or hardware fault there isn't really that much difference having background app refresh on or off generally.
The only difference I've observed is with background app refresh off completely and all apps closed in the app switcher my iPhone 7 drains 1 or 2% over night on standby, but with background app refresh on for all apps and apps left open in app switcher it drains about 3 or 4% over night max.. hardly the end of the world.
That doesn't really change what BAR is or knowing about it if one was to enable or disable it.
