One UI 5.0 makes it easier to monitor and manage background apps

Samsung's new Android 13-based One UI 5.0 update is all about optimizing the user experience. Even though the design of the UI hasn't changed much from One UI 4.1, the new update has made everything snappier and added a handful of quality-of-life improvements. One such improvement makes it easier for users to view and manage apps running in the background.

Although the Recent Apps screen hasn't seen a lot of changes in One UI 5.0, the new update has added a new UI element to the Recent Apps screen that offers quick access to a list of apps and services running in the background, complete with a “Stop” button. Although this concept isn't entirely new, Samsung's One UI 5.0 has simplified the process and pushed this tool more to the forefront for easier access.

Why is this seemingly overlooked One UI 5.0 feature important?

This new addition to One UI 5.0 is worth mentioning because, simply put, apps running in the background and Recent Apps are not the same. A user can close an app from the Recent Apps screen, thinking it will kill the process entirely. However, there are situations when an app might be running in the background, even if it's not shown on the Recent Apps screen. As you can see in the screenshots below, the only app present on the Recent Apps screen is Spotify, yet YouTube is running as a background app.

Needless to say, One UI 5.0 has made it easier to monitor and close background apps and services straight from the Recent Apps screen. Users can tap the “x active in background” text (where “x” is the number of background apps/services) located in the upper-left corner of the Recent Apps screen. This will give them access to a list of apps and services running in the background. The items listed in the pop-up are conveniently accompanied by a “Stop” button. And once this button is pressed, the system kills the associated app or service, potentially allowing users to save a bit of battery charge.

For a closer look at other One UI 5.0 features on the Galaxy S22, you can check out our hands-on video below.

SamsungGalaxy S22

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SamsungGalaxy S22+

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SamsungGalaxy S22 Ultra

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