How to remove Android apps from the battery optimization list

How to remove Android apps from the battery optimization list

Android 6.0's standby mode does wonders for battery life, but the feature may cause some of your apps to not function as you'd like. Learn how to remove those apps from standby mode.

Android Marshmallow came with a whole host of new features, including battery optimization via the app standby mode. This feature puts apps to sleep so they cannot use precious resources on your device. I can attest the app standby mode works very well; the increase in battery life from Lollipop to Marshmallow is significant.

Mobility must-reads Mobile DevOps Summit 2022: In the mood for full acceleration mode Android accessibility options for blind and hard of hearing users Getting the most out of Apple Maps in iOS 16 Hiring kit: Android developer (TechRepublic Premium) However, there may be times when you have a particular app (such as an email or a messaging app) that you don’t want Android to place into sleep mode. The reason why you don’t want the app put in standby mode will vary, but most likely it is so the app can continuously receive data and not have to wait until it is out of standby mode. Fortunately, for those apps you want to be “always on,” Android allows you to remove them easily from standby mode.

SEE: Android Marshmallow: The smart person’s guide

By default all apps but one (and in some cases, two) will be on the app standby mode list. The app that is certain to be on the list is Google Play services, because you cannot add it to the list. You may also see Carrier Provisioning Services, which cannot be added to standby mode (Figure A).

Figure A

To see all the apps on the list, go to Settings | Battery, tap the menu button (three vertical dots in the upper-right corner), tap Battery Optimization, tap the Not Optimized drop-down, and select All Apps. To remove an app from this list, follow these steps. (A big caveat: Depending upon the app you remove from the standby list, your battery could take a hit.)

Figure B

If you find a removed app is causing your battery to drain too fast, you can always add it back to the app standby mode list. Here’s how.

Your app is back on the list and will be placed on standby. You should see your battery return to its once-outstanding life.

The Android developers have done a great job of extending battery life with the standby mode feature. But not all apps are created equal, and you may have one or two that you don’t want to wind up on standby. For those apps, remember that you have options.

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