Introduced with iOS 7 and still strong in iOS 13, Background App Refresh is a feature that prepares apps before you use them. Turn it on to have your grocery apps collect current coupons before you reach the checkout line, or have recent social media posts ready for you when you open an app.

Background Refresh works great if you use certain apps regularly. However, it does use up battery life, as apps run in the background long enough to download the latest data. If you’re concerned about battery life, turn off Background App Refresh for some or all apps.

This feature is all about convenience, but you probably don’t need every app to refresh in the background. It might make sense for your Gmail app to have messages ready for you when you open it, and if you’re a news fan, you’ll want CNN up to date when you open your iPad.

But there’s not much point in background refreshing your Amazon shopping app, your smart appliance controller, or your Kindle app. This feature is all about personalization.