Ever had an Android app freeze or go unresponsive? You’re not alone. Understanding how to unsleep an app on Android can save you time and frustration. When apps go into sleep mode, they often stop background activity, notifications, and crucial functionalities.
Navigating the Settings Menu or Developer Options can be intimidating, but it’s essential for managing background processes and battery optimization.
Often, Battery Saver or App Permissions you’ll find in the Android system settings are culprits for app dormancy. A precise tweak here or there can make inactive apps spring back to life, ensuring seamless usability.
By the end of this article, you’ll learn to manage the power settings, handle app permissions, and even optimize the Android OS to keep your apps running smoothly.
We’ll cover steps to prevent app hibernation and keep applications active, from modifying wakelock settings to adjusting system preferences. You’ll gain practical insights that turn your Android into a well-oiled machine.
How To Unsleep An App On Android: Quick Workflow
To unsleep an app on Android, particularly on Samsung devices, you can follow these steps to manage the background activity settings effectively:
Steps to Unsleep an App on Samsung Android Devices
- Open Settings: Start by accessing the Settings app on your Samsung device.
- Navigate to Battery Settings:
- Scroll down and tap on Battery and device care.
- Then select Battery.
- Access Background Usage Limits:
- Tap on Background usage limits. Here, you’ll see options for managing apps that are allowed to run in the background.
- Manage Sleeping Apps:
- Look for the sections labeled Sleeping apps or Deep sleeping apps.
- If the app you want to keep awake is listed here, tap on it and choose to remove it from this list. You can do this by tapping the three-dot menu icon and selecting Remove or unchecking it from the list.
- Set App to Never Sleep:
- To ensure that an app does not go to sleep automatically, locate the Never sleeping apps section.
- Tap the plus (+) icon in the upper right corner to add apps to this list. Select the app you want to keep active and tap Add.
- Lock the App (Optional):
- For additional assurance that the app remains active, you can lock it in the multitasking overview. Open the app switcher, tap and hold the app’s preview, then select the lock icon. This keeps it running in the background.
Understanding Why Apps Sleep on Android
The Role of Battery Optimization
Battery saving strategies implemented by Android are fundamental to keeping your device running efficiently. Battery optimization manages resources by putting less critical apps to sleep.
This method conserves power by limiting background activity and enabling only essential processes to consume battery life.
How Android prioritizes resources for active apps
Android utilizes a tiered approach to prioritize active apps. The system allocates resources based on usage statistics and app classifications.
Foreground applications—those you interact with directly—get top priority, ensuring seamless functionality. Meanwhile, background processes and inactive apps find their resource use minimized to save energy.
Types of App States
Difference between “sleeping” and “deep sleeping” apps
“Sleeping” apps are those that have minimal background processes but can still function to some extent. Notifications may still come through, but real-time response may be delayed. “Deep sleeping” apps, meanwhile, are almost entirely inactive.
They consume minimal to zero resources, effectively pausing all functionalities such as auto-syncing and data updates.
Examples of impacted functionalities
When apps enter sleep mode, functionalities like real-time syncing and notifications can be significantly affected. For instance:
- Notifications: Delays in receiving alerts from messaging apps.
- Real-time Syncing: Issues with apps like email clients or social media platforms where updates lag behind.
Methods to Prevent Apps from Sleeping
Universal Android Settings
Accessing the app info screen
First things first, you need to access the app info screen. This is where you’ll find detailed settings for any installed app.
Go to Settings > Apps & notifications > See all apps. Tap on the desired app to enter its info screen.
Configuring battery optimization settings for individual apps
Battery optimization can be both friend and foe. To configure this setting, follow these steps:
- In the app info screen, select Battery.
- Tap Battery optimization. Here, you’ll see a list of all apps.
- Find the app you want to adjust and set it to “Unrestricted.” This ensures the app won’t be put to sleep by the Android OS for battery saving.
Adjusting screen timeout settings
Although this doesn’t directly relate to apps sleeping, adjusting screen timeout settings can improve background process performance. Navigate to Settings > Display > Screen timeout, and set an appropriate timeout to keep the screen on longer when needed.
Manufacturer-Specific Approaches
Samsung Devices
Navigating to “Battery & Device Care”
Samsung devices have unique settings for battery and app management. Head to Settings > Battery & Device Care > Battery.
Using the “Background Usage Limits” feature
Within the battery settings, you’ll find a section for Background Usage Limits. Here, you can manage which apps are allowed to run unrestricted.
- Options include Sleeping apps, Deep sleeping apps, and Never sleeping apps.
Choose wisely to prevent crucial applications from hibernating.
Adding apps to the “Never Sleeping Apps” list
An easy way to keep apps from sleeping is by adding them to the Never Sleeping Apps list. In Background Usage Limits, select Never Sleeping Apps. Tap Add apps and pick the ones you want always running.
Xiaomi Devices
Locking apps in the multitasking overview
Xiaomi provides a straightforward method for locking apps. Open the multitasking overview by tapping the recent apps button. Swipe down on the app you want to lock until you see a lock icon.
Setting battery management settings to prioritize specific apps
For more detailed control, navigate to Settings > Battery & performance > Manage apps’ battery usage. Select Choose apps and then pick the app you want to prioritize. Set this app to “No restrictions” to ensure it remains active.
Fine-Tuning Battery and App Management
Enabling Unrestricted Mode for Essential Apps
Identifying critical apps for unrestricted access
To keep essential apps active, you need to identify which ones require unrestricted access. Think about your messaging apps, email clients, or anything that relies on real-time notifications. These apps are critical for seamless operation.
Benefits of using unrestricted mode selectively
Using unrestricted mode only for critical apps keeps your device efficient. It prevents all apps from draining your battery while ensuring essential services stay online. This selective approach offers a balance between performance and battery optimization.
Resetting Apps to Default Optimization
Scenarios where resetting optimization is useful
Sometimes, reverting to default settings helps troubleshoot performance issues. If an app misbehaves or drains too much battery, it might be a good idea to reset its battery optimization settings. This can resolve unexpected crashes or erratic behaviors.
Steps to re-enable default battery-saving restrictions
To reset an app, navigate to Settings > Apps & notifications > See all apps. Select the desired app, go to Battery, and choose Battery optimization. Set it back to Optimized. This restores the default restrictions and can enhance battery life.
Additional Tools and Settings
Third-party apps for app management (e.g., Aurora Store)
Third-party apps can be handy for managing your apps more effectively. For instance, Aurora Store offers advanced app management tools. It allows more granular control over background processes, providing additional flexibility.
Using system settings to monitor battery usage and app activity
Your device’s built-in system settings can also be a powerful tool. Head over to Settings > Battery > Battery usage. Here, you can monitor which apps consume the most power. Adjust background activity or restrict apps directly from this screen.
Real-World Benefits of Preventing App Sleeping
Improved Notifications and Connectivity
Eliminating delays in notifications
When apps stay active, delays in notifications vanish. Ever missed an urgent message because an app was in sleep mode? Keeping apps alive fixes this. Real-time syncing becomes consistent, ensuring you receive messages and alerts promptly.
Enhancing functionality for messaging and syncing apps
Messaging apps like WhatsApp and Slack thrive without sleep interruptions. Syncing apps, whether it’s email clients or cloud services, perform better. They continuously update, making sure your data is always current and accessible.
Enhanced User Experience
Continuous playback for media apps
Nothing kills the vibe like a paused media app because it went to sleep. Spotify, YouTube, Netflix—keep them running smoothly with uninterrupted playback. Ensuring they remain active makes for a seamless entertainment experience.
Reliable background performance for tracking and fitness apps
Imagine your fitness app not tracking half your run. Frustrating, right? Keeping tracking apps like Strava or Google Fit awake ensures reliable background performance. Tracks steps, monitors heart rate, logs activities—all without hiccups.
Streamlined Device Management
Customizing settings for individual apps
Tailor your device to suit your needs. Customizing settings for individual apps lets you control which ones stay awake and which don’t. Fine-tuning these settings results in an optimized user experience that caters to your specific requirements.
Reducing the need for manual updates or troubleshooting
Preventing app sleep means fewer bugs and glitches. Apps running continuously often result in reduced need for constant troubleshooting. This approach minimizes manual updates and keeps your Android OS operating seamlessly.
FAQ on How To Unsleep An App On Android
Why do apps go to sleep on Android?
Apps sleep to save battery life and free up resources. It’s part of Android’s battery optimization. When in sleep mode, apps pause background processes to conserve power. The Android OS manages this automatically, but it can be adjusted to keep vital apps active.
How can I prevent an app from sleeping on Android?
Go to Settings Menu > Battery > Battery Optimization. Select the app, and choose “Don’t optimize.” This keeps the app running and prevents it from entering sleep mode. It’s useful for crucial apps that need to stay active.
Is it safe to keep an app from sleeping?
Keeping an app from sleeping can drain your battery faster. It’s safe if you know the app is essential and you monitor battery usage. Be mindful of apps that use a lot of background activity to avoid excessive battery drain.
Do all Android versions support changes to app sleep settings?
Most recent Android versions support these changes. Android OS 6.0 and above have Battery Saver and App Standby features. To be sure, check your System Settings under battery or power management options.
What is Android’s Doze Mode?
Doze Mode improves battery optimization by restricting background processes when the device is idle. Apps can still function, but with reduced activity. You can manage which apps are affected through the Settings Menu.
Can background apps affect my device’s performance?
Yes, background apps can slow down your device. They consume resources like CPU and memory. Disabling unnecessary processes through the Application Manager in system settings can speed up performance and conserve battery life.
How do I check which apps are asleep on my Android device?
Navigate to Settings > Battery > Battery Usage. Here, you can see apps that are active and those put into sleep mode. This information helps in managing which apps need to stay awake and which can be optimized.
Does disabling app sleep mode require root access?
No, disabling sleep mode for apps doesn’t require root access. Most adjustments can be made through the Settings Menu under battery or app optimization settings. Root access might provide deeper control but is generally unnecessary for average users.
How do notifications affect app sleep mode?
Notifications can wake up sleeping apps. Ensuring app permissions and notification settings are correctly configured will allow important messages to break through sleep. Go to System Settings > Notifications and adjust each app’s settings individually.
What’s the impact of unsleeping an app on battery life?
Unsleeping an app increases battery consumption. Apps running continuously in the background use more power. Always monitor battery usage and system preferences to manage the balance between performance and battery life.
Conclusion
Understanding how to unsleep an app on Android can significantly improve your smartphone experience. Adjusting settings like Battery Optimization and Developer Options ensures that vital apps run smoothly without interruptions. Managing background processes, configuring power settings, and tweaking app permissions all contribute to seamless mobile performance.
By actively monitoring battery usage and tweaking your Android OS, you ensure that important applications remain functional without frequent interruptions caused by sleep mode. Using the Settings Menu to modify Battery Saver configurations provides control over which apps stay running. Whether it’s avoiding unnecessary hibernation or ensuring key notifications appear, these steps are pivotal.
Consistently applying these adjustments will keep your Android device operating at peak efficiency. Your awareness of android app behaviors, background management, and power settings is crucial. Now, you’re equipped to handle and maintain apps efficiently, mitigating disruptions and optimizing your Android experience efficiently. Your device, tuned and responsive, is ready to handle your daily tasks without unnecessary pauses or slowdowns.
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With over a decade in the tech field, Bogdan blends technical expertise with insights on business innovation in technology.
A regular contributor to TMS Outsource's blog, where you'll find sharp analyses on software development, tech business strategies, and global tech dynamics.
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