Background App Refresh makes sure that your favorite apps are ready to go when you are. This is the feature that makes sure that when you open Facebook or Twitter, your feed is already refreshed. It’s the feature that lets applications run and download data in the background.

But depending on the app, this could end up causing problems.

For the last couple of years, disabling background refresh has been a sure shot way of improving battery life, reducing data usage and for some apps like Facebook and Uber, helping you be secure.

Up till now, Background App Refresh used to be a simple switch. On or off. In iOS 11, you can now decide if you want to enable the feature only when you’re on Wi-Fi or when you’re on Cellular as well.

This means that you can end up saving cellular data and battery life when you’re out and about.

How to Disable Background App Refresh on Cellular

Step 1: Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad running iOS 11 or higher.

Step 2: From General, select Background App Refresh.

Step 3: Here, tap on Background App Refresh once more.

Step 4: You’ll now find three options. Off, Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi & Cellular. As we want to stop background app refresh when on cellular, switch to the Wi-Fi option. You can choose to disable this feature altogether. If you’re using a British English language, it will say Wi-Fi & Mobile Data.

Or Just Disable Background App Refresh for Individual Apps

The only method of disabling background app refresh for specific apps still works. This is the best option or serious offenders like Facebook.

From the Background App Refresh section in General, find the app inquisition and tap on the toggle next to it to disable Background App Refresh.

How Do You Control Background App Refresh?

Do you disable Background App Refresh individually for a couple of apps? Or you’ve switched to the Wi-Fi only option? Share with us in the comments below.