Background app refresh is an iPhone feature that allows apps to update their content in the background. This means that when you open an app on your device, it will already have the latest content.
If you find that background app refresh is greyed out on your iPhone, it could be because:
- You have Low Power Mode turned on. Background app refresh is disabled while Low Power Mode is active.
- You have Background App Refresh disabled for all apps. To check this, go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh and ensure the toggle is turned on.
- You have recently “force quit” an app.
It is also possible that Background App Refresh is disabled for a specific app that you are using. You can check the dedicated Background App Refresh setting and see if the toggle next to the app is turned on.
Some apps, such as News and Weather, rely on having this setting enabled in order to function properly.
Other apps, such as Instagram and Facebook, can work without it, but from a user experience standpoint, it may not be enjoyable as you may have to refresh the content manually.
