If you’ve ever missed an important notification, a message delay, or found apps restarting when you reopen them, you’re not alone. Many Android devices automatically put apps to “sleep” in the background to save battery life. While this helps extend battery performance, it can sometimes interrupt app functionality—especially for messaging, health, or navigation apps that need to stay active.
In this guide, we’ll explain why Android puts apps to sleep and how you can prevent it so your apps continue running smoothly in the background.
Why Do Android Apps Go to Sleep?
Modern Android phones come with aggressive battery optimization features. When the system detects an app isn’t being actively used, it may:
-
Restrict its background activity
-
Delay push notifications
-
Pause syncing or updates
This can cause problems with apps like WhatsApp, Gmail, Telegram, or fitness trackers that require constant background access.
How to Prevent Apps from Sleeping in the Background
1. Disable Battery Optimization for Specific Apps
-
Open Settings on your phone.
-
Go to Apps > Special Access > Battery Optimization.
-
Choose the app you want to keep active.
-
Select Don’t optimize.
This allows the app to run without Android automatically pausing it.
2. Turn Off Background Restrictions
-
Open Settings > Apps.
-
Select the app you want to modify.
-
Tap Battery or Battery Usage.
-
Make sure Background Restriction is turned off.
3. Add Apps to the “Never Sleeping Apps” List (Samsung & Others)
On Samsung and some other Android devices:
-
Open Settings > Battery and Device Care > Battery.
-
Tap Background Usage Limits.
-
Select Never Sleeping Apps.
-
Add the apps you want to keep running.
4. Lock Apps in Recent Apps (Optional)
Some Android phones allow you to lock apps in memory so they don’t get closed.
-
Open Recent Apps (the multitasking view).
-
Tap and hold the app icon.
-
Select Lock This App (wording may vary by device).
When Should You Let Apps Sleep?
While it’s convenient to keep certain apps always active, be mindful that disabling background restrictions can:
-
Increase battery drain
-
Use more mobile data
-
Keep your phone warmer if too many apps run at once
It’s best to only apply these settings to apps you truly need, like messaging, maps, or health monitoring.
Final Thoughts
Android’s app sleeping feature is designed to save battery, but it can sometimes get in the way of your daily usage. By tweaking battery optimization and background settings, you can make sure your most important apps stay active and responsive at all times.
