I found a setting on my phone that I wish I had known about years ago. Apps had been tracking me in the background the whole time, running when I was not using them, sending data, draining battery, and I had no idea. The fix took thirty seconds.

Background App Refresh is a setting that lets apps check for updates and collect data when you are not using them. Turning it off for most apps saves battery and privacy.

How to turn it off

1. Open your phone settings.
2. Find Background App Refresh. On iPhone it is under General. On Android, look for Battery and then Background usage limits.
3. Turn it off for apps that do not need it. Messaging apps and email can keep it on, so messages still arrive. Everything else can wait until you open them.
4. Or turn it off completely. Apps will refresh when you open them instead.

What you lose

Almost nothing. News apps, shopping apps, and games do not need to run in the background. They will update when you open them. The only real change is that messages and email stop arriving the instant they are sent, and you will not notice that either.

What you gain

• Longer battery life. Background apps are one of the biggest battery drains you never see.
• Less tracking. Apps collect location and usage data while running in the background. Turning it off cuts most of that.
• Less data used. No more surprise updates happening while you sleep.

My results

I turned it off for everything except messaging and email. My phone gained about an hour of battery life per day, and nothing stopped working. The apps still update, they just do it when I open them.

Do this too

While you are in settings, check Location Services and turn it to While Using the app for apps that do not need always-on location. Most weather and shopping apps do not need your location at all times, and every app that stops tracking is a small win for your battery and your privacy.

Thirty seconds in settings, and my phone stopped working for everyone but me.