Stop Android from Aggressively Killing Background Apps

Problem overview

Apps running in the background are constantly force-closed by the operating system. Background music stops playing, fitness trackers lose connection, and you frequently have to reload apps from scratch.

Common causes

• Manufacturer-specific aggressive battery management (MIUI, One UI, ColorOS)
• RAM limits being reached
• Apps lacking the proper ‘foreground service’ permissions

Solution 1: Use ‘Unrestricted’ battery profiles

1. Open Settings > Apps > See all apps.
2. Find the app being killed prematurely.
3. Tap Battery.
4. Change the profile to Unrestricted.

Solution 2: Lock the app in memory (OEM specific)

1. Open the app you want to keep alive.
2. Swipe up and hold to enter the Recent Apps overview screen.
3. Tap the app icon at the top of the card.
4. Select Keep open or Lock this app. A lock icon will appear, preventing the OS from sweeping it away during memory cleanups.

Solution 3: Check RAM expansion settings

1. Go to Settings and search for RAM Plus or Memory Extension.
2. If enabled, the system might be aggressively shuffling apps between fast RAM and slow flash storage.
3. Try toggling this feature off, as it can sometimes introduce stuttering and app reloads on devices with plenty of physical RAM.

Solution: Roll back app or system updates

System glitches or app crashes following an update can be fixed by uninstalling app updates or rolling back system software.

1. Open Settings on your Android device and tap Apps (or App Management).
2. Select the malfunctioning app (e.g., Google Play Services, Camera, or System WebView).
3. Tap the three dots menu in the top-right corner and select Uninstall updates.
4. Confirm by tapping OK to restore the app to its factory version.
5. If the issue is system-wide after an OTA update, clear the System Cache Partition via Recovery Mode (power off device, then hold Power + Volume Up to enter Recovery).