To turn off Background App Refresh on an iPhone 14, open Settings, tap General, tap Background App Refresh, tap Background App Refresh again at the top, and choose Off. Apps then stop checking for new content while you are not using them.
Applies to: iPhone 14 models running a current version of iOS. Checked against Apple Support on October 6, 2026.
What Background App Refresh does
When you leave an app, your iPhone puts it into a suspended state. Apple describes suspended apps as not actively in use, not open, and not taking up system resources. Background App Refresh is the exception to that rest period: when it is on, suspended apps can still check for updates and new content, so a news feed or inbox is already current when you return to it.
The trade-off is that this checking uses some battery power and, depending on your setting, cellular data. Turning it off does not remove any apps or data, and it does not stop an app from going online once you open it. The app simply loads its new content at that point, which can take a moment longer.
Turn off Background App Refresh for all apps
- Open the Settings app from the Home Screen.
- Tap General. A list of system settings opens.
- Tap Background App Refresh. You see the main setting at the top of the screen with your apps listed below it.
- Tap Background App Refresh once more at the top. Three choices appear: Off, Wi-Fi, and Wi-Fi & Cellular Data.
- Tap Off. Background App Refresh is now off for every app.
Apple lists the same route in its support article on switching apps and Background App Refresh.
Limit it to Wi-Fi instead of turning it off
If your main concern is your cellular data allowance rather than battery life, you do not have to switch the feature off completely. Follow the steps above and choose Wi-Fi in the last step instead of Off. Apps can then refresh in the background only while the iPhone is connected to a Wi-Fi network. Wi-Fi & Cellular Data allows refreshing on either type of connection.
Turn it off for individual apps
You can also leave the main setting on and block only the apps you do not need updated. Go to Settings, tap General, then tap Background App Refresh, find the app in the list on that screen, and turn off its setting. This suits most people better than a blanket change: keep the feature for apps where fresh content matters to you, such as mail or maps, and turn it off for games, shopping apps, and anything you open only occasionally.
Two modes that turn it off for you
Apple documents two iPhone features that turn off Background App Refresh automatically while they are active.
- Low Power Mode. On an iPhone 14, open Settings, tap Battery, and turn on Low Power Mode. Apple’s Low Power Mode article says this turns off Background App Refresh, automatic downloads, and email fetch, and sets Auto-Lock to 30 seconds. You can also switch it on with the battery icon in Control Center; our guide to adding a Low Power Mode button to Control Center shows how.
- Low Data Mode. For a 5G cellular connection, go to Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Options > Data Mode and choose Low Data Mode. For a Wi-Fi network, go to Settings > Wi-Fi, tap the Info button next to the Wi-Fi network that you are connected to, and turn on Low Data Mode. Apple’s Low Data Mode article lists turning off Background App Refresh among its effects, along with pausing automatic downloads and backups.
Use these when you want a temporary reduction, for example on a long day away from a charger or near the end of a billing cycle, without changing your permanent setting.
How to confirm the change or undo it
Go back to Settings > General > Background App Refresh. The main setting at the top should now show the choice you made. To reverse it, tap Background App Refresh at the top again and select Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi & Cellular Data.
To see whether the change helps your battery on iOS 26, open Settings, tap Battery, and tap View All Battery Usage. Apple explains that a Background Activity note under an app means the app used battery power while you were using something else. Check the same screen again after a few days of normal use.
Troubleshooting
Background App Refresh is off and you did not turn it off
Check Low Power Mode and Low Data Mode first, because both turn the feature off while they are active. Turn off Low Power Mode under Settings > Battery, and check Low Data Mode for both your cellular plan and your current Wi-Fi network, then look at the setting again.
You cannot change the setting on a work, school, or child’s iPhone
An iPhone managed by an employer or school, or one with parental restrictions, can have settings locked by whoever manages it. Ask your IT administrator or the family organizer rather than trying to get around the restriction.
An app still shows old content after you turn the feature back on
Apple notes that if you quit an app from the App Switcher, it might not be able to run or check for new content until you open it again. Open the app once, and avoid swiping it away afterward.
Battery life has not improved
Background App Refresh is only one source of background battery use. Apple gives playing music and tracking location as examples of battery use that happens while an app is active in the background. Use View All Battery Usage to find which app is responsible before changing more settings.
Frequently asked questions
Will I still get notifications with Background App Refresh off?
Notifications have their own controls. Apple directs you to Settings > Notifications, where you tap an app and use Allow Notifications. Turning off Background App Refresh does not change that setting, although the content inside an app may not be up to date until you open it.
Does closing apps in the App Switcher do the same thing?
No. Apple states that recently used apps only use resources and power when they are active or performing specific background tasks or services, so swiping them away is not a substitute for this setting. To limit background updating, change the Background App Refresh setting instead.
Is it safe to turn off Background App Refresh?
Yes. It is a standard iPhone setting that you can change back at any time, and your apps and their data are not affected.
Should I choose Off or Wi-Fi?
Choose Off if you want to cut background activity as far as this setting allows. Choose Wi-Fi if you mainly want to protect a limited cellular data plan but still like apps to be current when you are at home or work.
Next, check View All Battery Usage after a few days, and switch the feature back on for any single app whose content you miss having ready.
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Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.
His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.