RAYMOND OGLESBY @RaymondOglesby2
February 3 , 2026 – 4 minutes read time
Overview
Background App Refresh can siphon off your data and battery without you noticing. But you can choose to turn Background App Refresh on only when your device is connected to Wi-Fi. That way, you can enjoy the perks of the feature without worrying about how much data it’s using.
What Is Background Refresh
For years, it has been recommended to turn off Background App Refresh on your device to save battery life and cellular data. Background App Refresh automatically refreshes apps you have open in the background, so when you go back to them, the page is already up to date and loaded. This can consume data and battery life. Here’s how to set background app refresh to Wi-Fi only on iPhone.
Note! All iPhone users should setup this tip. Why Apple does not make this the default is beyond us.
Key Takeaways
- Save battery life by preventing apps from constantly refreshing.
- Ensure you do not use up extra cellular data by allowing apps to refresh only over Wi-Fi.
System Requirements
This tip was performed on an iPhone 17 Pro running iOS 26.2.
Click here to learn how to update your iPhone to the latest iOS version.
Set Background App Refresh
First, open Settings, and select General. Refer to the image :
Next, tap Background App Refresh. See the image below:
Now, select Background App Refresh again. See the following image:
Next, select Wi-Fi to turn on Background App Refresh only when your device is connected to Wi-Fi. Refer to the image below:
Now, you can enable/disable background refresh per app by tapping its toggle. see the image below:
That’s how to adjust the settings for background app refresh on iPhone. If you want to know how to turn off background app refresh completely, just select Off in the last step. This is a good option if you do not want your apps updating without you knowing. This can stop updates you actually do not want from being installed on your phone (which can be a huge advantage), but it will be annoying when you open an app you need to use now, only to get a notification that you will have to update before you can use it.
Disclaimer
Technology is constantly evolving, and smartphone and desktop tech rarely remains static. Therefore, the information in this post is only accurate as of the date it was written. Blog posts that are older than six months may contain instructions that are no longer compatible with your device or operating system. We hope that the content from previous posts continues to function as intended. Thank you for reading TechSavvy.Life, where technology works for you.
Quote For the Day
Our technological powers increase, but the side effects and potential hazards also escalate.
. – Alvin Toffler
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