WhatsApp uses a feature called “Background App Refresh” on iOS to silently connect to the internet while the app is closed. This allows the application to constantly download incoming text messages, voice notes, photos, and videos in the background so that they are instantly available the moment you open your chat list. While this ensures a seamless messaging experience, if you receive hundreds of media files daily in busy group chats, this background activity can rapidly drain your iPhone’s battery. If you want to conserve power, you can disable this background syncing.
How to Turn Off Background Refresh for WhatsApp
You can easily restrict background activity for WhatsApp within your system settings.
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Scroll down the main menu until you reach the alphabetical list of all your third-party apps (usually near the bottom).
- Locate and tap on WhatsApp.
- Look for the toggle switch labelled Background App Refresh.
- Tap the green switch to move it to the Off position (the toggle will turn grey).
With this setting disabled, WhatsApp will no longer download large videos or photos while your phone is sitting idle in your pocket. Note: You will still receive immediate push notifications when someone sends you a message, but the actual content of the message (especially heavy media files) will not physically download to your device until you tap the notification and open the WhatsApp application.