For the best balance, limit background activity only in apps that your battery usage points to, and leave notification permission and background access enabled for apps whose alerts need to arrive promptly. Whole-phone saver modes can reduce background work and may delay apps or notifications, so check important alerts after changing settings.
Start by finding which apps are using battery in the background
On iPhone
Open Settings > Battery and review battery usage and app details before changing settings. Apple describes “Background Activity” as battery used for work such as music playback or location tracking while an app is in the background. Notifications can also wake the device; if an app is waking it often, Apple recommends adjusting that app’s notifications. See Apple’s battery usage guidance.
On Android
Start with the phone’s battery settings to identify which apps are using power. Android menu labels and controls can differ by manufacturer, so use the maker’s current instructions if the names below do not match your device.
Which iPhone settings reduce background activity?
Background App Refresh
Background App Refresh lets apps update content while they are not open. iPhone Low Power Mode turns it off, which can mean apps do not refresh content in the background as usual. Apple’s guidance does not say that disabling Background App Refresh universally suppresses push notifications, so do not assume it will stop every alert—or that every app will behave identically. See Apple’s Low Power Mode guidance.
Recommended Free Tools
#1 Best Overall
- YOUR CONTENT, SUPER SMOOTH: The ultra-clear 6.7" FHD+ Super AMOLED display of Galaxy A17 5G helps bring your content to life, whether you're scrolling through recipes or video chatting with loved ones.¹
- LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
Low Power Mode
Low Power Mode is a broad, temporary battery measure rather than a per-app control. It also turns off email fetch and automatic downloads, temporarily pauses iCloud Photos, and reduces brightness and visual effects, among other changes.
- iPhone 15 and later: Settings > Battery > Power Mode > Low Power Mode.
- iPhone 14 and earlier: Settings > Battery > Low Power Mode.
Apple says Low Power Mode turns off automatically after the iPhone is charged to 80% or higher. Because it changes several kinds of activity, check that alerts you rely on still arrive when it is enabled. See Apple’s Low Power Mode guidance and the iOS power settings guide.
Rank #2
- Carrier: This phone is locked to Tracfone, which means this device can only be used on the Tracfone wireless network. Tracfone plan required, activating is easy, just 3 steps.
- DISPLAY: Immersive viewing on a 6.7-inch super-bright 120Hz display with powerful stereo speakers and Bass Boost for cinematic entertainment.
- CAMERA SYSTEM: Advanced 50MP Quad Pixel camera captures sharp, detailed photos and videos in any lighting condition
- PERFORMANCE: Lightning-fast 5G connectivity paired with a powerful processor and RAM Boost for smooth multitasking.
- BATTERY LIFE: Long-lasting 5000mAh battery with TurboPower charging technology delivers hours of power in minutes.
Adaptive Power
On supported iPhones, Adaptive Power can limit background activity, adjust performance, and turn on Low Power Mode when the battery reaches 20%. Availability and default state depend on the model: Apple lists iPhone 17 models and iPhone Air as on by default, while certain iPhone 16 models and iPhone 15 Pro models have it off by default. Check your own device at Settings > Battery > Power Mode; do not assume another iPhone has the same controls or defaults. See Apple’s Adaptive Power guidance.
Which Android settings reduce background activity?
Battery Saver
Android Battery Saver limits or turns off background activity. Google warns that some features, network connections, and apps may experience delays. The exact controls vary across manufacturers, so treat Battery Saver as a whole-device mode and verify that important alerts remain timely after enabling it. See Android Help’s Battery Saver guidance.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsRank #3
- YOUR CONTENT, SUPER SMOOTH: The ultra-clear 6.7" FHD+ Super AMOLED display of Galaxy A17 5G helps bring your content to life, whether you're scrolling through recipes or video chatting with loved ones.¹
- LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
Adaptive Battery and per-app optimization on Pixel
Google says Pixel Adaptive Battery learns how you use your phone and may reduce performance and delay notifications. For a specific app, the current Pixel help path is Settings > Apps > See all apps > [app] > App battery usage > Allow background usage. Google recommends leaving the setting at “Optimized” for most apps. Allowing more background use can help an app run while unused, but it can consume more battery. Some steps require Android 14 or later, and optimization is unavailable for some essential services. See Google Pixel Phone Help.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to balance battery savings with timely alerts
- Identify the problem app. Check battery usage first rather than restricting apps across the board.
- Keep notification permission enabled for apps whose alerts matter. Notification permission and permission to run in the background are separate considerations.
- Keep background use or optimization at its recommended setting for most apps. On Pixel, that means “Optimized.”
- Relax a restriction only for an app with late alerts. On Pixel, review that app’s “Allow background usage” setting; on other Android phones, consult the manufacturer’s instructions. On iPhone, remember that Low Power Mode turns off Background App Refresh and changes other activity.
- Test the change. Trigger or wait for an alert you rely on, and confirm it arrives when expected. If it does not, review both the app’s notification permission and its battery or background allowance.
This targeted approach follows the documented tradeoff between background activity and battery use; it is not a guarantee that every app or phone will deliver alerts identically. Apple and Google do not provide a universal battery-life percentage for these settings, so the savings depend on the device and how its apps are used.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Carrier: This phone is locked to Tracfone, which means this device can only be used on the Tracfone wireless network. Activating is easy, just 3 steps.
- ACTIVATION Promotion: Includes 1500 min, 1500 texts & 1500 MB Data + add more as you need it
- CAMERA SYSTEM: 50MP Quad Pixel camera. Capture sharper, more vibrant photos day or night with 4x the light sensitivity.
- PERFORMANCE: Blazing-fast Qualcomm performance. Get the speed you need for great entertainment with a Snapdragon 680 processor and 4GB of RAM.
- 64GB built-in storage. Get plenty of room for photos, movies, songs, and apps. Made for US
Rank #4
- PRIVACY DISPLAY: Automatically hide your screen from those beside you. The built-in privacy display can be preset¹ to turn on when receiving notifications, typing passwords, or using specific apps
- TYPE IT IN. TRANSFORM IT FAST: Enhance any shot in seconds on your smartphone by using Photo Assist² with Galaxy AI.³ Add objects, restore details, or apply new styles by simply typing or tapping
- NIGHTS, CAPTURED CLEARLY: From gigs to city lights, record and capture moments after dark with clarity using Nightography so your photos and videos stay crisp and clear on your Samsung Galaxy
- MAKE IT. EDIT IT. SHARE IT: Turn everyday moments into something personal with creative tools built right into your mobile phone, whether it’s a special contact photo, custom wallpaper, an invitation or more⁴
- HELP THAT KEEPS UP: Stay in the moment while Now Nudge with Galaxy AI helps you respond faster and stay organized with smart suggestions⁵ that appear exactly when you need them on your phone
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
