Android app for preventing apps starting up automatically in background?

[fuzzybabybunny]

I've got a large number of apps that seem to start up on their own and take up memory in the background. Amazon Shopping, GoogleMaps, Freshbooks (invoicing software), etc. all start up automatically and run in the background.

I don't want or need or even get push notifications from these apps, so I obviously don't want them to always be running.

If I want to run the app, I'll open it manually from the home screen. I want the app closed at all other times.

Short of uninstalling the app, is there something out there I can use to prevent apps from automatically starting and running in the background unless I explicitly open it from the home screen?

 

[zerogear]

If you have root, there is a bunch, PowerNap, Amplify, AppOpXposed, if you don't, I think Greenify does it to some extent.

 

[JeffMD]

That's how android works to. It doesn't hurt it. Android will unload it if it needs The memory.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Clean Master

 

[sweenish]

That's how android works to. It doesn't hurt it. Android will unload it if it needs The memory.

^^

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

That's how android works to. It doesn't hurt it. Android will unload it if it needs The memory.

Nope.

Unloading means running kswapd0 which slows down the phone tremendously.

When Marshmallow gets to around 300MB the process triggers and everything starts to lag. It only frees enough memory to hover around 300MB, so you're kind of in a constant state of lagginess.

I use a memory cleaner to close apps and when I have around 500MB+ free, *poof*, the phone is back to its normal snappiness.

 

[WelshBloke]

Isn't that what these options are for in privacy guard?

 

[Zahid Iqbal]

I think you should go to developer options and then block applications running in background. Simple way. No need of external application

 

[paperwastage]

I think you should go to developer options and then block applications running in background. Simple way. No need of external application

no. that won't work

(application can still start-up automatically due to intents/alarms/notifications)

@OP: look at disabling receivers for an app(when an app's receiver gets a message, the app wakes up).

eg: turn on wifi = app gets alerted = app goes and download/sync messages
eg: turn on device = app gets alerted "BOOT_COMPLETED", does stuff

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1902355

apps like greenify/amplify/... attempts to do the above in an automated way (app may still get woken up, but will get "closed"/hibernated by greenify earlier)

 

[core2slow]

Wouldn't that waste more battery to constantly load the application/close application whenever you access/exit the application? Not to mention, now you have that whatever app running in the background at all times to monitor your other apps...and you'll end up with this inception-like loop...

Best thing is either get a phone with a bigger memory or deploy something like privacy guard (i know that's not the solution you're looking for). I have something similar to privacy guard on my phone where i can assign which applications can run when the screen is off. It'll suppress background access, notifications, etc...everything short of kicking the app out of memory. Pretty nifty feature that improve battery life.

 

[pcslookout]

Thanks this will help a lot!

 

[sweenish]

Nope.

Unloading means running kswapd0 which slows down the phone tremendously.

When Marshmallow gets to around 300MB the process triggers and everything starts to lag. It only frees enough memory to hover around 300MB, so you're kind of in a constant state of lagginess.

I use a memory cleaner to close apps and when I have around 500MB+ free, *poof*, the phone is back to its normal snappiness.

Tries to correct information, closes with "I use a memory cleaner."

Love it.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Tries to correct information, closes with "I use a memory cleaner."

Love it.

Correct what information? The memory cleaner is a temporary bandaid. I want certain programs to just never run on their own.

 

[lopri]

If you have root access, I recommend ROM Toolbox Manager. It has a comprehensive app manager that can selectively freeze all the activities an app can possibly perform.

 

[lopri]

I did a query "Autostart Manager" at the Play store.

https://play.google.com/store/search?q=autostart manager