iPhone Tips: How to fix background app refresh not working on iPhone?

When using the app, it is said that it is active in the foreground. When you press the home button or open a new app, the first app goes into the background. You can still access it from the multitasking or app switcher recently used apps screen, and within a short time, the iOS system will send it to suspend mode.

Now, this is where the background app refreshes the picture. After enabling background app refresh, apps in pause mode can check for new content periodically. Therefore, if you switch to a suspended application that exists in the application switcher screen, you will be welcomed without waiting or refreshing with new data.

ENABLE BACKGROUND APP REFRESH FROM THE APP SETTINGS

If you have accidentally disabled the Background App Refresh toggle from the app settings menu, you will face issues with pulling new information from the app. Follow the steps below to revert the decision.

Step 1: Open the Settings app on the iPhone.

Step 2: Scroll down to the affected app and tap on it.

Step 3: From the following menu, you will find all the relevant setting options for the app.

Step 4: Enable Background App Refresh toggle.

2. UPDATE THE APP

Background app refresh might not be working on iPhone due to a buggy app build. Though this sounds like a far-fetched possibility, using a beta build of the app could not properly work with iPhone’s native settings.

3. LEAVE BETA PROGRAM

Similar to Android, Apple allows developers to beta test their apps with users via the Testflight app. If you are a part of such a program and have issues with the Background app refresh, consider leaving the beta app and going back to the App Store’s stable version.

4. RESET ALL SETTINGS

A wrong setting tweak might affect the background app refresh on the iPhone. Thankfully, Apple has included a universal reset settings option that resets all the toggles as before.

Step 1: Open the Settings app on the iPhone.

Step 2: Navigate to General > Reset.

Step 3: Select Reset All Settings from the following menu.

5. KEEP THE APP OPEN IN THE FOREGROUND

This is just a temporary solution for apps that have an upload in progress like the Google Photos app. Keeping them in the background might pause the uploads. So if you’re using any such app that requires active data connectivity to upload or download data, keep it running.

6. UPDATE IOS

If you’re using an older iOS version, then the incompatible or older versions of apps might be causing the issue. Millions of iPhone users update their devices on the day the latest iOS update lands. However, a large number of people avoid updating their iPhones for different reasons.

7. CONTACT APP DEVELOPER

If you’re facing the background app refresh not working with a specific app, you can remove it or report it. If the app is critical for your work, then it’s a good idea to contact the developer directly.