Quick answer
To restrict background apps on a Pixel, open the app's info page, tap App battery usage, and turn off Allow background usage (or choose Restricted on older Android versions).
Some apps keep working long after you close them, syncing data, checking locations, or refreshing feeds while your screen is off. That quiet activity adds up, and on a Pixel it often shows up as battery drain you can’t explain from your usage alone.
This guide walks through blocking that background activity for specific apps, covers the menu differences between older and newer Android builds, and flags the apps you probably shouldn’t restrict.
Before you start
- Difficulty Easy
- Time needed 5 minutes
- Works on Pixel phones running Android 9 and later
What you'll need
- A Google Pixel phone
- A few minutes to check each app
Important
- Restricting a messaging or email app can delay notifications until you reopen it.
- Restricting a fitness or medical tracking app can break syncing with a connected wearable.
- Core system apps like Google Play services cannot be restricted or force-stopped, and you shouldn't need to.
Restrict a Specific App from Its App Info Page
This is the fastest route on Android 14 QPR2, Android 15, and newer builds.
Step 1: Open the app's info page
Touch and hold the app’s icon on your Home screen or in the app drawer, then tap the App info icon (it looks like a lowercase i).
If that’s not available, go to Settings > Apps > See all apps and tap the app’s name instead.
Step 3: Turn off Allow background usage
Under Manage battery usage, flip off the Allow background usage toggle. This stops the app from running processes or using power once you leave it.
Tap the text to the left of the toggle if you want to see the Optimized and Unrestricted options instead of a hard block.
Tip: Optimized is a middle ground that still lets the system manage the app intelligently instead of cutting it off entirely.
Restrict Background Usage from Battery Settings
Use this path when you want to see which apps are draining the most power first.
Step 1: Open Settings and go to Battery
Open Settings, then tap Battery > Battery usage.
Step 2: Switch to view by apps
Make sure the list is set to View by apps, then tap the app that’s using the most battery.
Step 3: Toggle off Allow background usage
Under Manage battery usage, turn off Allow background usage for that app.
On Pixels running Android 12 through Android 14 QPR1, this screen instead shows three radio buttons: Unrestricted, Optimized, and Restricted. Pick Restricted for the same effect.
Tip: If you're also chasing general drain rather than one specific app, pairing this with Adaptive Battery on Pixel usually helps more than restricting apps one by one.
Pro tips
- Check Battery usage weekly for a few weeks after a software update, since behavior sometimes changes; see our notes on Pixel battery drain after a recent update.
- Leave messaging, navigation, two-factor authentication, and health-monitoring apps unrestricted.
- Force stop an app from its App info page if restricting it doesn't reduce its battery use.
Troubleshooting
| Problem | What to do |
|---|---|
| Messages, emails, or alerts now arrive late | Go back to the app's App battery usage screen, turn Allow background usage back on, and choose Optimized instead of fully restricting it. |
| A connected wearable or fitness tracker stops syncing | Set that specific app to Unrestricted under App battery usage so it can keep its background connection alive. |
| An app still drains battery after you restrict it | Open Battery usage and check whether the drain happened during Screen time rather than Background time; if it persists, force stop or uninstall the app. |
Frequently asked questions
Does restricting background usage delete app data?
No. It only limits what the app can do while you’re not using it, and carries no risk to your data or your warranty.
Which Pixel apps should I avoid restricting?
Leave messaging apps, navigation apps, authentication apps, and health or fitness trackers unrestricted so they keep working as expected.
What's the difference between Restricted and Optimized?
Restricted (or the Allow background usage toggle turned off) blocks background activity entirely, while Optimized lets Android manage the app’s background behavior based on how you actually use it.
Can I restrict a system app like Google Play services?
No. Core system apps and essential dependencies can’t be restricted or force-stopped because the phone relies on them to function.
Once you’ve restricted the worst offenders, keep an eye on Battery usage every so often to catch any new app that starts behaving badly, and pair this with Adaptive Battery for a more complete fix.
Sources and further reading
- 9to5Google — Android 14 QPR2 on Pixel redesigns App battery usage settings
- Support Google
- Gridinsoft Blogs — Phone Battery Draining Fast? Fix Battery Life & Malware Signs
