Although our phones now come with larger batteries and smarter power management systems, we remain obsessed with trying to squeeze out every bit of charge. On some days, keeping your phone running can feel like a full-time job, especially in the summer.

That’s why battery myths spread easily—they promise quick fixes and give users a sense of control. Among them is a myth that refuses to die: that closing all open apps saves battery life.

This idea is based on a simple belief: if all these apps are ‘open,’ they must be constantly draining the phone’s battery, according to a report by TechRadar, as seen by Al Arabiya Business.

Moreover, swiping to close all open apps gives a feeling of productivity and satisfaction, as if you’re tidying up your phone and reducing the number of tasks it has to handle.

What’s the truth?

It’s easy to see why this belief persists—apps on the phone’s interface look like they’re all running simultaneously, silently consuming a lot of power. So users feel that closing them is like performing maintenance. But the way modern phones work is very different from what most people imagine.

Stephen Athwal, CEO and founder of The Big Phone Store, a company specializing in refurbished tech devices, said: 'Force-closing apps doesn’t help the battery. It’s a common trick, but it’s used incorrectly.'

Athwal explained that when you force-close an app and later reopen it, the phone has to load it from scratch, adding: 'This requires energy from the processor and RAM, which the battery pays for.'

In other words, closing an app and then restarting it may consume more power than leaving it suspended in the background.

Athwal said the phone already knows what it’s doing, adding: 'Modern phones have technologies to freeze these apps in the background, so reopening them consumes more power than if you left them open.'

Ritesh Chugh, associate professor and social technology expert at Central Queensland University in Australia, explains what happens in the background: 'Both iOS and Android suspend idle apps in memory, meaning the apps stop using the processor and battery until you reopen them, so leaving them open typically doesn’t cause additional power consumption.'

He added: 'Both iOS and Android suspend inactive apps in memory, meaning they stop using the processor and battery until you open them again, so leaving them open typically doesn’t lead to additional power consumption.'

He continued that both systems have built-in mechanisms, such as Doze and App Standby on Android, and Low Power Mode, Adaptive Power, and automatic suspension mechanisms on Apple devices, which reduce background app activity without user intervention.

Why do many people believe closing apps saves battery?

This belief is partly due to older phones being less efficient at managing background apps, and partly because the idea is not entirely a myth—there are some exceptions.

Athwal said: 'This doesn’t apply to some apps. GPS apps, video calls, and apps that constantly check for data continue running in the background even if you minimize them. So it’s better to close these apps to stop battery drain.'

Chugh agreed, noting that closing apps is beneficial if one is not working properly.

He said: 'Closing apps is mainly useful in specific cases, such as when an app is frozen, draining the battery, or continuing to use data or location in the background.'

What should you do instead?

So, closing apps isn’t harmful, but it’s not the everyday trick many think it is for saving battery. There are more effective habits.

Athwal said: 'Look at screen brightness—it drains your battery,' adding: 'Enable auto-brightness, or lower the brightness as much as possible.'

He also recommended turning off background app refresh and limiting location access to apps that truly need it.

Chugh noted that small, consistent habits make the biggest difference.

He said: 'Using Wi-Fi instead of mobile data whenever possible, turning on battery saver mode, and disabling GPS, Bluetooth, and 5G when not needed are all steps that help extend battery life between charges.'

He added that temperature can be an unexpected enemy of the battery.

He said: 'Simple steps, like keeping the phone away from very high or very low temperatures—batteries degrade fastest at temperatures above 35°C or below 0°C—can also help extend battery life and maintain efficiency over time.' This is useful advice, especially as winter approaches for us in the Northern Hemisphere.

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