Autostart is a feature on Android that allows apps to start automatically when the device is turned on or rebooted. While this can be convenient for some apps, it can also lead to slower performance and drain your battery. In this blog post, we will show you how to enable or disable autostart for Android apps.

What is Autostart on Android

Autostart on Android is a feature that allows certain apps to start automatically when you turn on or restart your device. This feature can be useful for apps that need to run in the background, such as messaging apps, email clients, or anti-virus software. Autostart allows these apps to start up quickly and be ready to use without requiring the user to manually launch them every time the device is restarted.

However, autostarting can also have a negative impact on your device’s performance and battery life. Some apps that start automatically can use up valuable system resources, causing your device to run slower or drain the battery more quickly.

To mitigate this issue, many Android devices have battery optimization features that allow you to manage which apps are allowed to start automatically. You can choose to enable or disable autostart for individual apps, depending on your preferences and usage patterns.

It’s important to note that not all Android devices have the same autostart features or settings, so it’s always a good idea to check your device’s documentation or online forums for specific instructions on how to manage to autostart on your particular device.

How to Autostart Applications on Android

Ideally, if an app needs to remain in the background to perform an important task, it will ask you to turn on autostart for it the very first time you use the app.

However, if an app is not performing an activity that is expected to take place in the background when you are not using it, you can manually turn on autostart for it. Here are two different ways to do it.

1. Enable Autostart for an Individual app

Step 1: Long-tap on the app icon in the launcher and tap on the app info icon.

Step 2: Tap on Battery usage.

Step 3: Enable the toggle for ‘Allow auto-launch’.

Autostart is now enabled for the app, and when necessary, it can launch a few background activities on its own.

2. Enable Autostart in the Settings App

If you want to enable autostart for multiple apps, it is time-consuming to open the settings page for each of them and turn on autostart. Thankfully, you can enable autostart for multiple apps at once using the Settings app. Here’s how.

Step 1: Open the Settings app.

Step 2: Tap on Apps.

Step 3: Select Auto launch.

Step 4: You will now find a list of apps that do not have to autostart enabled. Simply turn on the toggle for the apps you want.

These are the two ways in which you can enable autostart for apps on Android. However, if the app still doesn’t run in the background, you can try disabling the battery saver for the same.

How to Disable Autostart for Apps on Android

While all system apps need to run in the background, some installed applications don’t necessarily need to. They don’t perform any important activity that requires them to start themselves again in the background. In that case, you can identify these apps and turn off autostart for the same.

Besides, disabling autostart saves memory on your phone and can help improve performance and even save some battery. Here’s how to do it.

1. Turn off Autostart in Settings

Step 1: Open the Settings app.

Step 2: Tap on Apps.

Step 3: Tap on Auto Launch.

Step 4: You will see a list of apps that have to autostart turned on. You can turn off the toggle to disable autostart for the desired apps.

2. Force Stop Apps

When you force-stop an application, it will not launch itself in the background until you open the app again. Doing this for an app can prevent it from automatically starting.

This is especially helpful if you don’t want to disable the autostart for it but just prevent it from autostarting for a specific period.

Step 1: Long-tap on the app icon.

Step 2: Tap on the app info button.

Step 3: Tap on Force Stop. This will now close the application, free up the occupied memory, and will not start itself in the background.

But what if you don’t want to allow any background services for an application and do not let the apps autostart? Here’s how you can do it.

3. Use Developer Options to Limit Background Processes

There is an option to automatically shut down apps every time you exit them. For that, we first need to enable developer options. Here’s how to do it.

Note: These are experimental features meant for development. Proceed with caution and at your own risk.

Step 1: Open the Settings app and tap on About device.

Step 2: Tap on Version.

Step 3: Tap several times on the Build number until you get a message that says ‘You are now in Developer mode’.

Step 4: We now need to open developer options. Open the ‘Additional Settings’ menu in the settings app.

Step 5: Tap on Developer options.

Step 6: Scroll down to find the ‘Background process limit’ option.

Step 7: Check the box for ‘No background processes.

This will ensure that no third-party apps run in the background.

Alternatively, you can also turn off the toggle for ‘Don’t keep activities’ which destroys all background activities of the application as soon as you leave the app.

There you go. That is everything you need to know on how to enable or disable autostart for apps on your Android device. However, if you still have any more questions, look at the FAQ section below.

Conclusion

Enabling or disabling autostart for Android apps is a simple process that can help you improve the performance of your device and save battery life. By following the steps outlined in this blog post, you can easily control which apps start automatically and which ones don’t. So go ahead and take control of your device’s autostart settings today!