What happens if you kill all background services: the real system limit

¿What happens if you kill all background services: the real limit of the system? When their phone starts to slow down, many people open multitasking and start closing everything at random. The idea seems logicalIf I remove what's "running behind the scenes," the phone should run faster and consume less power. However, modern systems (Android and iOS) don't work like a computer from 20 years ago, and that's the crux of the matter.

In this article, we'll clearly review what happens if you load all background services, where the system's real limit lies, and what to do in each case. You will see advantages, disadvantages and key adjustments to master RAM, notifications, and data usage without breaking the bank or sacrificing battery or performance.

What really happens if you “kill” all background services

Android and iOS are designed to keep parts of the system and your apps ready to reopen in a snap. Clearing multitasking doesn't "free up" your phone forever., because the system will refill the RAM with low-priority processes and cache data to run faster when you need it.

On Android, when you launch a heavy app, the system automatically closes lower-priority apps. This balance regulates itself., and even if you can “force” closures, the system will eventually reopen essential services for notifications, synchronization or connectivity.

If you insist on closing everything, the consequence is that every time you return to those apps, you have to reload them from scratch. That means more CPU work., more storage reads and, in the long run, more energy consumption than if you had left them in memory.

Furthermore, as soon as a service is critical (messaging, push or system processes), the operating system itself will revive itThat is to say, “sweeping” without judgment is usually a case of bread for today and hunger for tomorrow.

How Android manages RAM and why you shouldn't obsess over emptying it

RAM isn't a storage unit that needs to be kept empty: its job is to store what you're going to use frequently. Android tries to use RAM to speed up the experienceLeaving it empty wastes resources. So, even after closing apps, you'll see the memory refilled with cached processes.

When you open something demanding (e.g., a heavy social network), Android kicks out the less important stuff. The memory scheduler decides automatically what stays, what pauses, and what closes, and the efficiency of that management also depends on the Android version and the manufacturer's layer.

An important nuance: the “running services” and “cached processes” screens do not show exactly the same thing. Cached processes are not ongoing activities consuming CPU like crazy, but saved states for quicker resumes. That's why you can see "more than 4" even if you set a limit in developer options (explained below).

Advantages of cutting the background (when it makes sense)

There are situations where closing or restricting is a good idea. If an app becomes greedy Due to a bug or poor design (games with aggressive notifications, heavy social media), closing it can give you a temporary respite in battery and data usage.

It's also useful when you detect uncontrolled data usage (e.g., music playlists downloaded using mobile data). Restrict your background activity Avoid surprises on your bill and help keep your system from becoming clogged with non-essential synchronizations.

If you have apps that you rarely open, closing them won't penalize your regular use. Apply selective closure what you don't need on a recurring basis does make practical sense.

Disadvantages of closing everything: more CPU, more battery and possible delays

If you close apps you use often (messaging, email, social media), each time you open them, it becomes a clean restart. That full reload requires more CPU, which in turn means more consumption and, sometimes, more heat if you do it constantly.

Additionally, you may notice lag or longer loading times when returning to the app, especially on heavy apps. RAM is there to save you just that time.If you empty it over and over again, you get the opposite effect.

In notifications, closing services can cause them to arrive late in some apps that rely on their own syncing system. Even if Google/Apple pushes keep coming, there may be content that takes a few seconds longer to update when opened.

What is background data and its equivalent in iOS?

Background data is the traffic that apps consume when you're not interacting with them. They serve to keep content up to date (feeds, emails, messages, maps) and that, when you open it, you have everything fresh.

On iOS this feature is called “Background Refresh” and serves the same purpose. The terms background sync, background refresh and background data are often used interchangeably, because they serve the same purpose.

If you don't mind waiting a few seconds to load new content, you can disable or restrict them. You will gain control over battery and megabytes, at the cost of having the content ready with a slight delay.

Which apps usually spend the most money behind the scenes?

Social networks tend to refresh frequently to show new features and send notifications. Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or X/Twitter are among the most active in the background.

When streaming (music and video), many apps preload tracks or sync libraries. Spotify and similar They may consume data and battery if you allow them to update using mobile data.

Maps and navigation also run a lot in the background for positioning and traffic. Google Maps or Waze They can pull data and GPS if you give them that freedom.

Messaging and email sync messages and notifications. WhatsApp, Telegram, Gmail or Outlook require some degree of background activity if you want instant notifications.

Restricting background data: meaning and effects

Restricting background data prevents apps from using your mobile connection when not in use (or limits their use to Wi-Fi). The app is not disabled: : when you open it, it will update and that's it.

What changes when you restrict? You'll usually have to wait a few seconds for new content to download if you were using mobile data. The advantage is the clear saving of data and batteryIn many cases, you'll still receive push notifications because they travel through low-load system services (like Google's on Android).

Total control on Android: limit by app and activate Data Saver

To view and restrict app usage on Android, you can follow similar paths (it varies slightly by manufacturer and version). The general idea is identical: Locate consumption by application and turn off the tap in the background.

1. Open Settings > Network & Internet > Mobile networks (or Connections).
2. Go to Data Usage or App Data Usage to see which apps are consuming the most data.
3. In the app's tab, turn off Background Data (or Allow background data usage).

If you want to enable scissor-switching globally, use Data Saver: Settings > Network & Internet > Data Saver. When activated, apps will no longer use mobile data in the background. except those you add as “unrestricted”.

On Samsung phones, the route changes slightly: Settings > Connections > Data usage > Mobile data usage to disable per-app usage; or Settings > Connections > Data usage > Data saver to enable general mode. The result is the same: : heavy-handed with background data.

iPhone Controls: Background Refresh Your Way

On iOS, the master switch is in Settings > General > Background Refresh. You can disable it completely, limit it to Wi‑Fi or allow Wi‑Fi and mobile data.

If you prefer fine-grained control, you'll see a list of apps in that same section. Activate or deactivate as needed, and that's it: you'll have a balance between savings and daily notifications.

Do RAM optimizers work? Important nuances

“RAM cleaners” that simply close apps don’t usually help: Android will reopen processes that it considers vital, creating a cycle of closing and reopening that consumes more CPU and battery than leaving them alone.

That said, there are maintenance tools that offer dashboards, suspend highly active apps, and clean up residual files. Suites like Avg Cleaner or Avast Cleanup They include features to detect which apps are hogging data, put non-essential apps on "sleep mode," and clear caches or duplicates. Use them wisely and avoid those that promise "miracles" by closing everything every minute.

The eternal developer question: “maximum 4 processes” vs. many cached processes

In Developer Options, you can set "Number of background processes: maximum 4." Then, go to "Running Services" and click "Show cached processes." You'll see many more. There is no contradiction: The limit affects active background processes with a certain priority, not all cached entries.

Cached processes are “sleeping” states that are not continuously using the CPU, saved for quick resumption. In addition, the system and essential services may not comply with this limit., because they would disrupt notifications, connectivity, or stability. That's why you'll see more items listed: not everything counts as a "live" process subject to the limit.

How to close apps on Android… without going overboard

There are three common forms, each with its own usefulness. Choose the one that corresponds to the problem (app crash, occasional gluttony or persistent behavior):

1) From the recent apps view

Tap the multitasking button, identify the app, and swipe it out. It is quick to cut off a specific consumption or an app that's gone stale. Don't do it on a loop with all of them if you use them often.

2) Force stop from Settings

Go to Settings > Apps, open the problematic app, and tap Force Stop. Useful when it fails hopelessly or you don't want it to stay in the background until the next manual start.

3) Battery optimization

In Settings > Apps > Battery Optimization, you can let Android manage how each app behaves in the background. Activate it for the less critical ones and turn it off in apps that should always notify (for example, your main messaging).

Specific tricks on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO (MIUI / HyperOS)

Xiaomi's layers are aggressive with saving and close apps easily. If you need to keep certain apps alive (bracelet, messenger, watch), you have several paths:

Lock in multitasking (lock)

1. Open multitasking.
2. Long press on the app you want to protect and tap the lock icon.
3. It will remain “anchored” to prevent automatic closures.

Keep in mind that keeping many blocked will increase consumption. Choose only the essentials.

Remove battery restrictions

1. Settings > Battery & performance.
2. Gear icon > Battery saver in apps.
3. Open the desired app and select No restrictions. So MIUI/HyperOS won't crop it, even with active savings.

Allow autostart

In Settings > Apps > Permissions > Autostart, enable apps that should start automatically. Prevent them from being left “halfway” after a reboot or after system cleaning.

Security > Speed ​​Boost > Lock Apps

From the Security app, go to Speed ​​Boost (gear icon) and block critical apps. Reinforces the lock's lock and avoids closures by aggressive savings.

Background operation by app

You can also go to Settings > Apps > Manage Apps > > Battery Saver > No Restrictions. It's fine-tuning, app by app., so that the system doesn't kill her when she wants to save.

How to reduce data usage on Android and iOS step by step (without missing key notifications)

On Android: Settings > Network & Internet > Data saver to turn off data saving globally and “Unrestricted data” for exceptions. To cut by app, go to App data usage and uncheck Background data.

On iPhone: Settings > General > Background App Refresh, then choose Off, Wi-Fi, or Wi-Fi & Cellular. You can also tune by app in that same list of applications.

Helpful tip: If you're overly restrictive, open the critical app occasionally while connected to the internet to allow it to sync. This way you won't miss anything important. although its activity behind the scenes is limited.

When to review processes and what signs to watch for

If you notice jerks, heating, or the battery melts without explanation, it is advisable to inspect it. Check the consumption by app in Settings and check if there is any that stands out in data or battery.

When intensive apps (games, photo/video editing) are open, it is normal for third-party apps to close due to lack of RAM. Reduce the number of simultaneous apps in those sessions and prevents everything from competing at the same time.

If you see unknown processes “in the cache,” don’t be alarmed: they are usually leftovers ready to be resumed. Only act if you detect real CPU or data usage anomaly associated with them.

Practical solutions when something doesn't add up

If an app won't stay alive or, on the contrary, never closes, the first step is to restart your phone. A reboot clears processes and memory and frequently fixes specific errors.

On Xiaomi, restoring the launcher (uninstalling “System Launcher” updates and clearing cache/data) can fix multitasking issues. Then, reconfigure locks and permissions.

Keep your system up to date: some patches fine-tune memory management and battery saving. A buggy version can close more than necessary or prevent something from staying in the background.

If your battery is already very degraded, the phone may cut back on processes to keep going. Consider an official battery replacement if the autonomy is erratic or the performance plummets.

On very old phones or those with little RAM, there are no miracles: the system prioritizes and shuts down to survive. Reduce the number of apps installed and in use, uninstall what you don't need and consider upgrading your device if your daily experience suffers.

When to shut down and when to let the system do its work?

Use it as a simple rule: close apps you don't use or that have crashed; restrict data to those that don't need to be online all the time; leave alone what you use daily and must notify you immediately.

The system is designed to fill RAM and adjust priorities: if you fight it at every turn, you'll waste more energy than you save. Fine-grained app control, data saving, and battery optimization They will give you just the middle ground you need.

If you're concerned about data usage, the system's own options are usually sufficient. If you want an overview and automatic adviceThere are maintenance suites that identify which apps are using up data, pause unused ones, and even clean up leftover files; just avoid the "RAM-killers" that close without any reason.

In the end, the key is to combine your head and your settings: understand that RAM is there to be used, that sometimes it's a good idea to turn off the tap on certain apps, and that not everything you see in the cache is actively consuming resources. With a couple of well-placed adjustments and selective closures, your phone will be more portable, you'll spend less and you won't lose important things along the way.