Background app refresh is a feature available on both iPhone and Android devices that allows apps to update their content even when they are not in use or actively running on the device. This feature periodically checks for new data and updates from various apps when the device is idle and the app is not active. It can be beneficial for users since it ensures that the apps remain up-to-date and ready to use at any time. However, enabling background app refresh can have an impact on the devices battery life since it consumes power to update the apps.

For iPhone users, they can adjust the settings for background app refresh to control which apps have permission to refresh in the background. This can be done by going to the Settings app, selecting General, and then selecting Background App Refresh. From there, users can choose which apps they want to allow to refresh in the background or turn off the feature altogether. Android users can also manage background app refresh settings. They can choose which apps can refresh in the background by heading to the Settings app, selecting Apps, then selecting the app they want to manage. From there, users can choose to allow or restrict the app from refreshing in the background.

It is important to note that background app refresh can drain the battery and use data at an alarming rate of 3-5MB per hour. Therefore, it is recommended to turn off background app refresh for apps that are not frequently used or not important. For important apps that are used every day, background app refresh can be a great feature that makes for a smoother experience.