We all use our phones every day, and most people have developed a habit of doing this. As soon as we finish any work on our smartphone, we immediately press the 'Recent Apps' button and click 'Clear All' to remove all apps from the background. This frees up RAM, saves battery, and the phone runs faster.
Should I close recent apps? Is this necessary? If closing apps is so important, why don't Google and Apple provide an "Auto-Clear" option in their settings? But the truth is something else. We consider ourselves "smart" by clearing background apps, but this often proves detrimental to our phones. Should we clear background apps? In this article, we will discuss Smartphone performance tips for 2026.
How does RAM work in a smartphone?
We all know that RAM in mobile phones is random access memory, which is high-speed, short-term, volatile memory. Its function is to store data for active applications and the operating system. RAM makes multitasking easier and allows you to switch between apps faster. There's a popular saying in the smartphone world: empty RAM is useless RAM.
Whenever we leave an app running in th.e background, Android or iOS freezes it instead of closing it. After this, the app remains in RAM, but it stops using the battery or processor. When we reopen the app, it resumes where we left off. On the other hand, when we clear all apps, RAM is freed up. After this, if you open any app again, the phone's processor will have to load it from "zero", which consumes more power and energy.
Background apps: pros and cons
Pros of keeping background apps running
A. Longer battery life
It may be surprising that repeatedly closing and reopening apps drains the battery more. This is because leaving an app in the background and then reopening it takes less time to load, thus increasing battery life. However, opening the app from scratch puts a strain on the phone's processor and also drains the battery.
B. Lightning-fast performance
If we have left WhatsApp open in the background, it will open again in seconds. If we've cleared it and opened it a second time, it will load its files and then connect to the server, which takes a little longer.
C. Better Multitasking
Today's phones are being improved for multitasking. Keeping apps running in the background makes multitasking easier. You can switch between apps without lag.
Cons of leaving background apps open
Leaving apps running in the background has its drawbacks. While it's good to keep apps open in the background, everything has two sides. The disadvantages of keeping apps open in the background are:
Data Consumption:
Some apps, like Facebook, Instagram, and News Apps, run in the background and refresh, keeping you updated with the latest news and notifications. However, this can secretly drain your mobile data.
Privacy and Location:
Some mobile apps track your location in the background. This is because an app has been granted "always allow" permission. Thereby, it can access your privacy data while in the background.
Phones with Less RAM:
Some people have phones with less RAM. Running apps in the background can cause the phone to hang. If your phone only has 2GB or 3GB of RAM, apps running in the background can slow down the phone.
Which apps should be left on in the background and which should be turned off immediately?
The important thing is which apps should be allowed to run in the background. This is where most people make a mistake, because not every app needs to be closed.
Android performance tips: Don't close these apps:
WhatsApp & Messaging Apps: These apps shouldn't be cleared. If they remain running in the background, you'll receive messages immediately.
Settings and system apps: These apps should not be turned off. Closing them causes the phone to load the configuration repeatedly.
Keyboard Apps: If you use Gboard or another keyboard app on your phone, leave those apps open to ensure smooth typing.
Music Apps: You can also keep these apps open if you're listening to music.
Must close these apps immediately:
Heavy Games: If you use BGMI, Free Fire, or other games, they're very heavy. It's best to clear all after playing them.
Video Editors: Video editing apps like CapCut, VN, or Kinemaster consume a lot of RAM and battery. It's best to close them after use.
GPS and Navigation: Google Maps should also be closed after use. It drains the battery quickly in the background.
The Real Solution: 'Restrict Background Data,' Not 'Clear All.'
If you want to save your phone's data and battery, instead of removing apps from the background, try the following:
1. Go to your phone's Settings.
2. Click on Data Usage or App Management in Settings.
3. Then, select the app that's consuming the most data.
4. Now, turn off the "Background Data" option.
5. Doing this will keep the app in RAM, but it won't be able to use your internet, saving battery.
Conclusion
I hope the above article will be useful. In 2026, you won't need to press the 'Clear All' button for apps every time. This reduces your productivity and puts an unnecessary burden on your phone. The simple thing to keep in mind is to close only those apps that you use occasionally during the day. Additionally, let apps you open every 10-15 minutes rest in the background. This will reduce the load on your phone and make it run more smoothly.
(FAQs)
Question 1. Is it good to keep RAM 100% empty?
Answer: No. Having empty RAM means the phone is not using full power. The Android system decides when and which apps to close.
Question 2. Does closing background apps save internet?
Answer: Yes, it can save a little, but if you really want to save data, the best way is to use the 'Restrict Background Data' setting, not clear apps.
Question 3. Should you clear apps when your phone hangs?
Answer: Yes, if your phone freezes while you're using it, 'Clear All' is a good option. Doing so can refresh the RAM.
Question 4. Does the same rule apply to iPhones?
Answer: Absolutely. Apple also advises users not to close apps until they stop working.
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