How to Turn Off Background App Refresh on Apple Watch

Background App Refresh lets your Apple Watch update apps in the background so they’re ready when you open them. Turning it off can improve battery life and reduce data usage. This guide shows you how to disable it entirely or per app, directly on the watch or from your iPhone.

What You’ll Need

An Apple Watch (any model with watchOS 6 or later)
An iPhone paired with the watch (for the Settings app method)
The watch charged to at least 20% (recommended before changing settings)

Step-by-Step

Method 1: Turn Off Background App Refresh on the Apple Watch

Press the Digital Crown on your Apple Watch to open the app grid or list.
Tap the Settings app (gear icon).
Scroll down and tap General.
Tap Background App Refresh.
To disable it entirely, toggle off Background App Refresh at the top.
To disable for specific apps only, leave the master toggle on and toggle off the apps you want to restrict. The list shows all apps that support background refresh.

Method 2: Turn Off Background App Refresh from the iPhone

Open the Watch app on your iPhone.
Tap the My Watch tab at the bottom.
Scroll down and tap General.
Tap Background App Refresh.
Toggle off the master switch to disable for all apps, or toggle off individual apps.

Note: When you turn off Background App Refresh entirely, apps will no longer update in the background. You’ll need to open an app to fetch new data. This can affect features like weather updates, complications, and notifications from apps that rely on background refresh.

Common Mistakes

Confusing Background App Refresh with Notifications: Turning off background refresh does not disable notifications. You may still receive alerts, but the content might be outdated until you open the app.
Expecting immediate battery improvement: The effect on battery life varies. If you have many apps refreshing frequently, you’ll see a bigger difference than if you only have a few.
Forgetting that some apps still refresh: Certain system apps (like Messages or Phone) may still update in the background for critical functionality. You can’t disable those.
Toggling off the wrong switch: Make sure you’re in the Background App Refresh section, not the App Refresh section of the iPhone’s own Settings (which is separate).

Tips

Use Wi-Fi instead of cellular: If you have a cellular Apple Watch, background refresh over Wi-Fi uses less battery than over cellular. You can adjust this in the watch’s Settings > General > Background App Refresh (choose Wi-Fi only).
Disable for apps you rarely use: Keep background refresh on for apps you check frequently (like Weather or Messages) and turn it off for apps you open occasionally.
Check battery usage: On your iPhone, go to the Watch app > My Watch > Battery to see which apps use the most battery. Use that to decide which apps to restrict.
Re-enable when needed: If you notice an app is not updating, re-enable background refresh for that app. You can always turn it back on.

Troubleshooting

Background App Refresh option is missing or grayed out: This usually happens when the watch is in Low Power Mode. Low Power Mode automatically disables background refresh. Turn off Low Power Mode (Settings > Battery > Low Power Mode) to access the option.

Changes not taking effect: If you toggle off an app but it still seems to refresh, force-quit the app and reopen it. Also, ensure your watch is running the latest watchOS. Go to the Watch app on your iPhone > General > Software Update.

Battery still drains quickly after disabling: Background refresh is only one factor. Check if you have other battery-draining features enabled, such as always-on display, excessive notifications, or frequent workouts. Restart your watch by holding the side button and swiping to power off.

Can’t find the setting on older watchOS: If you’re on watchOS 5 or earlier, the path is the same: Settings > General > Background App Refresh. If you can’t find it, update your watch.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will turning off Background App Refresh stop all app updates?

Yes, for most apps. Apps will only update when you open them. Some system apps (like Messages) may still update for critical functionality, but you won’t see background data from third-party apps.

Does Background App Refresh affect notifications?

No. Notifications are separate. You’ll still receive notifications, but the content might be stale until you open the app to refresh it.

Can I set Background App Refresh to only work on Wi-Fi?

Yes. On the Apple Watch, go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh and choose “Wi-Fi” instead of “Wi-Fi & Cellular”. This saves battery and cellular data.

Will turning it off save battery life?

It can, especially if you have many apps refreshing frequently. The impact varies, but it’s one of the recommended battery-saving measures.

How do I turn it back on?

Follow the same steps and toggle the switch back on. You can enable it for all apps or individually.

Does this affect complications on my watch face?

Yes. Complications that rely on background refresh may not update as frequently. They’ll update when you open the corresponding app or when the watch decides to refresh them (which may be less often).

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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