What's disabling some of my apps in the background?

[TomazDrnovsek]

I noticed that some of my apps that should run in the background stop working after a while (usually after a couple of days if I don't open them). I'm talking about apps that I have no need to open them like wallpaper app that is set to change a wallpaper every 24 hours (Walli), an app that alerts me if rain is coming (Rain Alarm Pro) and some other apps. So, I assume it's not app related but it's a system problem. I allowed all those apps to use mobile data while running in the background, I excluded those apps from battery usage optimizations and allowed background activity, I granted them all permissions and allowed all notifications. I put them in the Apps that aren't checked in the Memory section of Device care and are not on the Sleeping apps list. Yet, after a day or two of not opening them, the wallpaper stops changing, no more rain alarms, etc. But if I then open the app, the wallpaper changes immediately, or I immediately receive a notification if the rain is coming. There are also other apps that stop sending notifications after a while like Curiosity, Bring! and some other less know apps. On the other hand, most of the other apps are optimized and all that and work just fine in the background even when I don't open them for weeks. I seriously lost here, I don't know what could be preventing those apps from running in the background after a few days? Where else can I look? Anybody else with this issue?

 

[fuzzylumpkin]

In settings>device health>battery there's an option to "put unused apps to sleep". You can turn it off, or change the amount of time it takes, which is 3 days by default.

Sounds like that's your problem.

 

[TomazDrnovsek]

In settings>device health>battery there's an option to "put unused apps to sleep". You can turn it off, or change the amount of time it takes, which is 3 days by default.

Sounds like that's your problem.

Thanks! I thought only apps on the Sleeping apps list will be put to sleep. I guess I was wrong and didn't read the small print... it says that those apps won't run in the background at all and all the other apps will be put to sleep after 3 days. I disabled this now. It really sounds that was the problem. Thank you again!

 

[fuzzylumpkin]

Hopefully it solves your issue and doesn't hurt battery life too much.

They should really add a white list of apps not to sleep.

 

[rohorubo]

Settings-->Apps-->click on the desired app-->Battery-->allow Background usage

Sorry, I have a german sq0+ so I don't know exactly the wording on an english phone

Hope, you understand what I want to tell you

 

[TomazDrnovsek]

Settings-->Apps-->click on the desired app-->Battery-->allow Background usage

Sorry, I have a german sq0+ so I don't know exactly the wording on an english phone

Hope, you understand what I want to tell you

I already did that.

 

[Maknora]

My Google photos doesn't backup automatically. I have to open it to do that. Anyone know why?

I didn't select the app to be put to sleep or anything

 

[mustang7757]

My Google photos doesn't backup automatically. I have to open it to do that. Anyone know why?

I didn't select the app to be put to sleep or anything

You have it set to sync?

 

[Maknora]

Yes I do. I think it has to do with s10 power management

 

[mustang7757]

Yes I do. I think it has to do with s10 power management

Unless your maxing out storage it probably won't syn newer ones

 

[Maknora]

It syncs and backs up when I open the app. But not when I don't have it open.

 

[mustang7757]

It syncs and backs up when I open the app. But not when I don't have it open.

Strange , then possible it's a battery save mode , double check Google photos by long press >info tap> look at anything restricted ?

 

[mustang7757]

See if yours is allowed background activity

 

[bbgpsuser]

It syncs and backs up when I open the app. But not when I don't have it open.

Same for me and my wife (S9+). Checked and it is allowed background activity.

Acted the same on my previous Note 8 also.

 

[Rukbat]

There's another consideration. Android normally kills a background app if it needs the RAM space. An app can indicate that it shouldn't be killed and apps like those should be written like that. If they're not, they'll eventually be killed and, until you run them again, they don't come back. So if nothing else works, email the developers. (See, developing an app isn't all that easy - you have to know some things for some apps that developers of other apps don't need to now.)

 

[Maknora]

I'll try to clear cache and see if it works