General and system

Background App Refresh

Most people call this apps updating themselves when you are not looking.

Background App Refresh lets apps fetch new content while they are closed, which keeps them current at the cost of battery and data.

Available

This setting is present on your iPhone.

We have this path on file but have not yet confirmed it against an official source.

Where to find it - iOS 11 and later

Settings
General
Background App Refresh

What it does

The master control offers Off, Wi-Fi only, or Wi-Fi and Cellular. Below it, every app has its own switch, so you can be generous with a few and strict with the rest.

Push notifications are a separate mechanism and still arrive when this is off.

What changes

When it is on

Apps refresh in the background, so content is ready when you open them.

When it is off

Apps load their content when you open them, which takes a few seconds longer.

Should you turn it on?

Good reasons to turn it on

Content is ready the moment you open an app.
Some apps need it to sync reliably.

Good reasons to turn it off

Noticeably better battery life on a phone with many apps.
Stops background cellular data use entirely.
Push notifications still arrive, so you miss very little.

Battery

Helps

Privacy

No real change

Performance

Depends how you use it

Cellular data

Helps

Storage

No real change

Out of the box: On for Wi-Fi and Cellular, with every app allowed.

Questions people actually ask

Where is Background App Refresh?: Settings, then General, then Background App Refresh.
Does turning it off stop notifications?: No. Push notifications use a separate mechanism and still arrive.
Why is my iPhone using data in the background?: Background App Refresh set to Wi-Fi and Cellular is the usual cause. Set it to Wi-Fi only.

If it is not working

Set the master to Wi-Fi only rather than Off if you want a middle ground.
Low Power Mode pauses it automatically.
Turning it off for messaging apps can delay sync until you open them.

Choose your iPhone