[hawaianhamster]

Hello everyone! I just bought a new M8 because my old phone (Droid Razr Maxx) made snails look fast after 2 years (plus, it closes apps when I open them - so I couldn't text). Stinks, cause I'd love to have gotten the M9 instead too.

Anyways, I've been experimenting with the new phone and am focused on keeping battery life to a maximum. One of the things I have been confused on is the syncing options. I always thought auto-syncing means "constant updating", yet when I turn auto-syncing off, I was able to receive FB messages through my FB messenger and FB notifications through my FB app. I was not able to receive new emails from my Gmail app however. How is there such a discrepancy?

My main goal is to get FB messenger, Viber, and any other "instant communication" applications to be auto-synced but Gmail, FB app, and other "secondary communication" applications to be manually synced. That way I can extend battery life, not be bothered by constant notifications of one or two things while working or studying, and stay productive...at least that's my train of thought anyways. Is there a way to have it so that I can have some apps auto sync and other manual sync by pressing the "Sync all" widget?

Also, what is the difference between the Sync All widget and Auto Sync widget? Wouldn't turning Auto Sync on, then off be the same as Sync All?

Thank you guys for reading this! I'm just trying to prolong my battery life and keep my phone from lagging and any help is appreciated!

[B. Diddy]

Welcome to Android Central! The Auto-Sync setting is primarily for Google services, I think. You can adjust other apps' sync/refresh intervals within their respective settings. For example, in Facebook, you can go to its App Settings and change Refresh to Never (i.e., manual syncing).

The Sync widget is the same as Auto-Sync. If you toggle Sync off, you'll notice that the Auto-Sync setting also turns off in the system settings menu.