How To Disable Samsung Galaxy Background Apps (2026)

If your Samsung Galaxy is losing battery fast or feeling sluggish, apps running quietly in the background are a common cause.

You can stop them at several levels, from closing one app right now to putting rarely used apps to sleep automatically.

This guide covers every method in order, from the quickest to the most aggressive, and takes about five minutes.

Which method stops which kind of background activity

Method	Where to find it	How long it lasts	Best for
Close from Recents	Recent apps screen	Until the app reopens itself	A quick memory clear
Force stop	Settings > Apps > app > Force stop	Until you or the system starts the app again	One misbehaving app
Sleeping apps	Settings > Battery and device care > Battery > Background usage limits	Until you open the app again	Apps you use now and then
Deep sleeping apps	Same screen	Stays restricted; works only when you open it	Apps you rarely open
Put unused apps to sleep	Same screen	Automatic, ongoing	Hands-off control
Per-app battery setting	Settings > Apps > app > Battery	Ongoing	Fine control of one app

Why Samsung apps keep running when you are not using them

Many apps run background work on purpose, such as syncing mail, checking for messages and refreshing widgets.

That work uses battery and memory even though the screen is off.

Samsung’s One UI already limits background activity by default, but its rules are not strict enough for everyone.

Method 1: Close apps from the Recents screen

This is the fastest option and needs no settings changes.

1. Open Recent apps with the gesture or button your phone uses.
2. Swipe an app card up to close it.
3. Tap Close all to clear every card at once.

Closing from Recents does not stop apps that restart on their own, so treat it as a temporary clean-up.

Method 2: Force stop a misbehaving app

Force stop is a stronger step for an app that uses too much battery or acts up.

1. Open Settings and tap Apps.
2. Select the app you want to stop.
3. Tap Force stop, then tap OK.

The app can start again the next time you open it or when the system wakes it.

Method 3: Use Background usage limits to put apps to sleep

This is Samsung’s built-in tool for controlling background apps.

1. Open Settings and tap Battery and device care, then Battery.
2. Tap Background usage limits.
3. Turn on Put unused apps to sleep to restrict apps you have not used in a while.

On some phones the Battery and device care menu is shortened to Battery, so look for Background usage limits under whichever name your phone shows.

Sleeping, deep sleeping and never sleeping lists

The same screen holds three manual lists, and each one treats apps differently.

List	What the app can do	Side effect
Sleeping apps	Stays asleep but can still run in the background when you open it again	Notifications may be delayed
Deep sleeping apps	Never runs in the background and works only when you open it	Notifications may stop entirely
Never sleeping apps	Stays active in the background all the time	Uses more battery

To add an app to any list, open the list, tap the plus icon, select the apps and tap Add.

To remove one, tap More options (three dots), choose Remove apps, select the app and tap Remove.

Method 4: Change the battery setting for one app

You can also set how freely a single app may run behind the scenes.

1. Open Settings and tap Apps.
2. Select the app.
3. Tap Battery and pick the setting you want.

On One UI 5 and later the page offers Optimized, which limits an app that drains battery in the background, and Unrestricted, which lets it run without interference but may use more battery.

Some phones also show a Restricted choice, and Samsung community users report that it moves the app into the Sleeping apps list.

Should you limit background processes in Developer options?

Android’s Developer options include a Background process limit that is set to Standard limit by default.

To reach Developer options, open Settings, tap About phone, tap Software information, then tap Build number seven times.

One tech outlet argues that capping background processes forces apps to reload from scratch, which can cost more battery and cause stutter.

For that reason, the safer choice is to leave the limit on Standard and rely on the Samsung tools above.

Notifications late or missing after restricting an app

Restricting background activity can break apps that must stay awake, such as messaging, alarm and health apps.

Samsung’s own help page notes that sleeping apps can run again when opened, while deep sleeping apps run only when you open them.

Symptom	Likely cause	What to try
Messages arrive late	App is in Sleeping apps	Remove it from the list or add it to Never sleeping apps
No notifications at all	App is in Deep sleeping apps	Remove it from the list
Alarm did not ring	Put unused apps to sleep is on	Add the app to Never sleeping apps or turn the toggle off
Health or fitness app stops tracking	Battery setting is Optimized	Set the app to Unrestricted

Settings that revert after updates

The Don’t Kill My App site reports that Samsung can re-restrict apps after a firmware update and that sleeping rules can put an app back to sleep even after you wake it.

Check your lists again after a major update or a restart if an app starts misbehaving.

Disable or remove apps you never use

An app that is not installed cannot run in the background at all.

1. Open Settings and tap Apps.
2. Select the app.
3. Tap Uninstall, or Disable if the app came with the phone.

Only disable apps you recognize, because some system apps are needed for core features.

Related Galaxy guides

• How To Extend Your Samsung Galaxy Battery Life
• How To Clear System Cache On Samsung Galaxy In 2026
• How To Fix Samsung Galaxy S23 Battery Drain Too Fast

Official reference: Samsung support: Sleeping apps on your Galaxy device.