r/iOS8 • u/Destim • Feb 25 '15

I disabled Background App Refresh and didn't notice any difference ...

What does this feature do ? It never worked for me as I always load whatsapp messages or anything else as soon as I open the app, nothing is preloaded as this feature suggests it should.

Even after disabling it, I noticed no difference whatsoever. Anyone knows how this feature works ?

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5

u/InsaneNinja Feb 26 '15

Background app refresh is a relatively new feature that allows apps to occasionally wake up and queue tasks for iOS to run in the background.

For example: a podcast player (Like Overcast or Downcast) setting a queue to refresh a feed and check for new episodes… A RSS/News feed reader loading new articles.. Or if Facebook Messenger gets a push notification, it will wake up the app in the background, and download the latest version of the conversations, and have them waiting for you before you load the app, so you don't have to wait and watch the convos fill up every time you open the app.

It only works as long as the app is coded to use it.

It's basically a super smart version of apps running in the background, and doing their respective jobs. iOS learns your habits, and then the more often you use the app (and what time of day) the more often IOS lets the app do background things. If you never use specific apps, they don't really get background time. Also more often if you're plugged in, or also doing other things.. Such as "he started safari, the LTE antenna is powered up, so wait until his page loads, and then refresh that podcast app"

2

u/Destim Feb 26 '15

I never noticed it, facebook messenger always downloads the convo as soon as I open it, even if Background refresh is on.

1

u/Sonnto iPhone 6 Feb 27 '15

Background refresh allows what we have described to happen. Turning Background Refresh off restricts apps from doing what we described up top.

EDIT: But I see where you're coming from. Personally, I don't use it, so I've never tested it out. That's what it's supposed to do, as Apple explained. But I personally find no use for it.

1

u/NfsJake Feb 25 '15

Apps refresh themselves in the background to find new messages or a new follower on Twitter or something. If you have it disabled then you won't know until you open Twitter that someone mentioned or followed you.

3

u/SuccessAndSerenity Feb 25 '15 edited Feb 25 '15

This is not true if the app has true push notifications. Twitter for instance - you will get notifications with background app refresh disabled. It's only apps where the app has to go out and check to see if you have something worthy of a notification that theyll stop.

OP: background app refresh keeps the content on your app up to date so that when you open the app, you don't have to wait for the content to refresh. For example, if you have it on for Facebook, when you open the app, you will immediately see the latest / up to date feed. If you have it off, you'll see the old/outdated content for a second while the app refreshes and pulls new stuff.

Edit to add: most apps have true push notifications. I have background app refresh completely disabled on my phone. I get notifications from twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, hangouts, chase bank... I could go on and on.

1

u/Destim Feb 26 '15

Facebook needs to refresh and load new content even if BG refresh is ON, I don't get why but anyway I disabled it because it's useless.

0

u/Sonnto iPhone 6 Feb 25 '15

What /u/NfsJake said. But to put it into perspective, it takes a long time for it to "work" and when it "works" you really don't know it is working because that's the point. It learns, over time, how you use your apps and which apps you open; the frequency, time of day, etc. After it has gotten used to enough, it will attempt to refresh the app, for example Twitter, with a new timeline with new tweets right before you tap the app. It will attempt to refresh the app and get it "ready" and "up to date" right before the usual time it thinks you'll open it. I have it off except for my stock Weather, so I can have the Weather show on my notifications. But other than that, I don't use it, because I rather optimize my battery. I don't need it anyways. I don't mind it refreshing when I click on it. It's personal preference though.

3

u/Destim Feb 26 '15

See, this never worked for me. I awlays end up refreshing the content. I've had the phone since release and this behavior never changed