How to Stop TikTok From Running in the Background?

If you’ve noticed your phone’s battery draining faster or your data usage spiking unexpectedly, TikTok could be one of the reasons. Like many other apps, TikTok tends to run in the background, consuming resources even when not actively in use.

This behaviour is, by design, aimed at providing a seamless and always-ready user experience. However, it can inadvertently lead to battery drain and increased data usage. To address this issue, you can take a two-pronged approach. First, adjust TikTok’s settings to limit its background activity.

Additionally, tweak your device’s system preferences to further optimize battery usage and data consumption. By implementing these strategies, you can effectively reduce TikTok’s impact on your device’s resources, thereby preserving battery life and minimizing data usage.

Also Read: Why Does My TikTok Say User With Numbers

Adjusting TikTok’s In-App Settings

Disabling Background Data Usage

Open TikTok and navigate to its settings.
Look for the ‘Data Saver’ option and enable it.
This will restrict TikTok’s access to background data, preventing it from using data when not actively on your screen.

Limiting Push Notifications

Again, go to TikTok’s settings.
Find the ‘Notifications’ section.
Customize which alerts you wish to receive or disable push notifications entirely.
You reduce the app’s background activity by receiving fewer notifications, thereby conserving battery and data usage.

Tweaking Your Device’s System Preferences

Using Battery Optimisation Features

For Android users, navigate to the ‘Battery’ section in the device settings.
Locate TikTok and select ‘Optimise Battery Use.’
This feature helps manage apps running in the background, improving overall battery life.
iPhone users can find similar options in the ‘Battery’ section of the settings app.

Restricting Background App Refresh

Disable Background App Refresh specifically for TikTok.
Access this setting through the ‘General’ section in the settings app on iPhones.
Android users can find it in their device settings ‘Apps’ section.
Disabling this feature prevents TikTok from refreshing its content in the background, conserving battery and data usage.

The Effects of Preventing TikTok Background Activity

Reducing TikTok’s background activity can yield several benefits for your device’s performance:

Extended Battery Life: By minimising TikTok’s background processes, your device consumes less power when the app is inactive, leading to longer battery life.
Efficient Data Management: Limiting TikTok’s background activity prevents it from consuming your data allowance unnecessarily. This helps you manage your data usage more effectively, avoiding unexpected spikes in data consumption.
Enhanced Device Performance: System resources are available with fewer background processes running. This results in smoother overall performance for your device, as unnecessary tasks do not bog it down.

Enhancing Device Performance and Security

After implementing the measures to prevent TikTok from running in the background, you’re likely to experience an enhancement in your device’s overall performance. This action not only conserves battery life and data but also bolsters the security and stability of your device.

Apps running in the background can pose security risks and lead to system instability. By managing TikTok’s background activity, you’re proactively safeguarding your device against potential vulnerabilities and ensuring its smooth operation.

Regularly Monitoring and Updating Your Settings

It’s crucial to acknowledge that app behaviours and smartphone functionalities evolve continuously. With regular updates to TikTok and your device’s operating system, the way apps run in the background can change.

Thus, it’s recommended that you review and adjust your settings periodically. Keeping TikTok and your operating system up-to-date ensures you have the latest features and security enhancements.

Furthermore, after each update, revisit the app and system settings to confirm that your preferences for background activity remain intact. This ensures that your device continues to operate according to your desired parameters.

Balancing Convenience with Resource Management

While preventing TikTok from running in the background aids resource management, it’s vital to weigh this against the convenience of app usage.

Disabling notifications or background refreshes could impede the app’s functionality or delay critical updates. Therefore, finding a balance is crucial.

Consider allowing background activity during specific times of the day or when connected to Wi-Fi. This approach ensures you enjoy optimal performance without sacrificing usability, striking a middle ground that aligns with your usage patterns.

Viewing Background Apps on Your Device

To optimise your Android device’s system resources and prolong battery life, ensuring that only necessary apps are running in the background is crucial.

Several methods can help you identify and manage background apps that consume resources on your Android:

Access Settings, then go to System, and tap on Developer Options.
Tap on “Running Services.” Here, you can view the apps currently running on your Android, along with their RAM consumption and duration of operation.

To check if apps are consuming battery power

Go to Settings, then tap on Battery, and select Battery Usage.
Here, you can identify apps that are consuming significant battery power.

While performing these steps, consider closing any apps that

Close apps that use too much memory or battery power and aren’t optimized.
You did not expect to see running in the background.

To activate the battery-saving mode

Access Settings, then navigate to Battery, and select Battery Saver.
Toggle on the “Use Battery Saver” option.

Frequently Asked Questions

To stop TikTok from running in the background, go to your device’s settings, find the TikTok app, and disable background activity or restrict its permissions.

TikTok may be playing in the background because it’s designed to provide a seamless user experience. However, this can drain battery and data. Customize the app’s preferences to reduce background usage.

You can turn off apps running in the background by accessing your device’s settings, navigating to the “Apps” or “Applications” section, selecting the desired app, and then choosing to force stop or disable background activity.

To reduce battery usage on TikTok, adjust the app’s settings to limit background activity, reduce video quality, and enable power-saving modes on your device.

Yes, TikTok runs in the background to provide continuous updates and notifications. However, you can adjust settings to minimize its background activity.

To stop Skype for Business from running in the background, access your device’s settings, find Skype for Business in the app settings, and disable background activity or restrict its permissions.

To stop Spotify from running in the background, access your device’s settings, find Spotify in the app settings, and disable background activity or restrict its permissions.

Conclusion

Managing TikTok’s background activity is a simple yet impactful process that can significantly improve your device’s performance and lifespan.

By adjusting TikTok’s in-app settings and fine-tuning your device’s system preferences, you gain control over when and how the app operates in the background.

Regularly reviewing and updating these settings ensures ongoing optimization for your device. Balancing the app’s functionality and your device’s resources is essential, aiming for a seamless yet efficient user experience.

How do I stop TikTok from running in the background?