Tired of Apps Refreshing Constantly on Your iPhone? Here's What the Sources Suggest.

 It's a frustrating experience many iPhone users encounter: switching away from an app, even just for a moment, only to find it has completely refreshed when you switch back. This can be particularly annoying when you're trying to copy text or navigate sensitive applications like banking apps, forcing you to start over. This issue isn't limited to older devices; one user reported experiencing it on both an iPhone 11 Pro Max and a brand new iPhone 15 Pro, even with only two apps actively running. This suggests the problem might not always be about having a less powerful device.



Initial thoughts might point to Background App Refresh settings. These settings, found under Settings > General > Background App Refresh, control whether apps can download new content in the background even when you're not actively using them. While checking these settings and toggling individual apps or changing the overall setting (like to Wi-Fi only or Off) is a common troubleshooting step, one user experiencing the frequent refreshing issue noted that their settings were enabled, and they believed the problem was more related to memory management.

According to one perspective shared in the sources, when a device's "max threshold is reached," the iPhone may force an app's memory cache to clear to make room for current processes. This could explain why apps are refreshing rather than simply resuming from where you left off. The question then becomes why this memory management behavior would be so aggressive, even on a "super fast device" with seemingly ample memory and only a couple of apps running.

One potential culprit discussed is the impact of restoring from an iCloud backup. If the previous phone had an underlying issue causing excessive memory usage, restoring that backup onto a new device might transfer the problem. One user in the Reddit thread speculated that "whatever was using the memory on the old phone might still be doing it on the new one" after restoring from backup.

Certain types of apps might also contribute to memory pressure or unexpected behavior. It was suggested that apps that handle notifications might have "delegates that run in the background," potentially consuming a significant amount of memory. Social media apps were specifically mentioned as worth offloading as an experiment. Additionally, some bank apps are designed to intentionally force a re-login when you switch away for security purposes, which might be perceived as a refresh.

Beyond the specific app refreshing symptom, the sources discuss various factors that can generally lead to an iPhone running slow:

  • Outdated iOS or apps: Keeping your iPhone updated to the latest iOS version and updating your apps is recommended as it can solve many problems and improve performance. Automatic updates for both iOS and apps can be enabled.
  • Insufficient storage space: A lack of free storage space can cause the iPhone to run slowly, as the system needs space for temporary files. Maintaining at least 1 GB of free space is advised. Optimizing storage can involve reviewing photos/videos, offloading unused apps, and clearing temporary files. Offloading an app removes the app itself while preserving its data, allowing for easy reinstallation later.
  • Too many demanding apps running in the background: While Background App Refresh specifically relates to content updates, having many apps actively consuming resources in the background can impact overall performance. Closing unused apps can free up CPU resources and power. However, it's noted that force closing apps unnecessarily might actually slow down the device because it takes longer to reload them.
  • Glitching system settings or corrupted apps: These can sometimes lead to performance issues.
  • Excessive widgets, push mail, or location services: These features, while useful, can consume battery and processing power, potentially contributing to slowness. Removing unnecessary widgets, turning off push mail, or disabling location services for non-essential apps are suggested tips.
  • Overheating: An iPhone that is too hot or too cold might run slower. Keeping the device at a moderate temperature and avoiding direct sunlight or hot environments when charging is recommended.
  • Degraded battery health: Rechargeable batteries lose capacity and peak performance over time. When battery health degrades significantly, iOS may apply performance management features to prevent unexpected shutdowns. These features can lead to noticeable effects like longer app launch times or apps refreshing in the background. You can check your battery health in Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging. If health is significantly degraded, replacing the battery can help restore performance.

Several troubleshooting steps are suggested for various performance issues, including the frequent refreshing problem:

  • Restarting the iPhone: A simple restart can fix minor software glitches. If the problem is immediate after restarting, it might indicate a more persistent issue. A force restart method is also described (quickly press and release Volume Up, then Volume Down, then press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears).
  • Reset All Settings: This option resets system settings restored from an old backup without deleting app data. One user considered trying this before a factory reset.
  • Clearing Safari history and website data: This can help speed up browsing.

For the specific issue of apps refreshing too often, particularly after restoring from a backup, the most effective solution mentioned in the Reddit discussion was a factory reset and setting up the iPhone as a new device. This process wipes all data from the phone. One user who did this found that it resolved the refreshing issue, noting that restoring from their backup seemed to reintroduce the problem. While a factory reset is a more drastic step, it can fix major software issues and improve performance. It is crucial to back up your data before performing a factory reset. The process involves going to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings. Setting up as a new device means not restoring from an existing backup, but rather logging into accounts and redownloading apps fresh.

In conclusion, while general performance tips like updating iOS and apps, managing storage, and checking battery health are important for overall iPhone speed, the specific and persistent issue of apps refreshing immediately upon switching might be tied to deeper memory management behaviors, possibly exacerbated by restoring from an old backup. For this particular problem, a factory reset and setting up the device as new, as reported by one user, appears to be a potentially effective solution when other troubleshooting steps fail.

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EU Delivers Formal App Store Ruling: Apple Must Change Anti-Steering Rules or Face More Fines

 Brussels has spoken again, and the message to Apple is clear: your App Store rules in Europe are still not compliant with the Digital Markets Act (DMA). The European Commission has published its complete 67-page ruling following a €500 million fine imposed on Apple in April. Apple now has until June 22 to fully align its App Store with the DMA's anti-steering provisions or face recurring financial penalties.

The core of the issue lies in Apple's anti-steering restrictions, which the Commission found continue to limit app developers' ability to inform users about alternative payment methods outside the App Store and facilitate transactions through external platforms. According to the ruling, these restrictions contravene Article 5(4) of the DMA, which requires designated gatekeepers like Apple to allow app developers to communicate freely with their users and offer competing payment systems without unfair conditions or excessive fees. The DMA came into force in November 2022 and became applicable to designated gatekeepers in 2023.

Apple had previously modified its business terms, allowing developers to add one external link per app to direct users to their own websites. These changes required developers to follow a standardized Apple-designed flow, including an interstitial warning screen before users are redirected. Additionally, Apple prohibited developers from pre-filling user-specific data, such as login credentials or purchase details, into the redirection URL.

However, the European Commission determined that Apple's implementation falls significantly short of the law's intent and legal requirements. Key findings in the ruling state that developers are still unable to promote alternative payment systems within their apps in a meaningful way. The structure imposed by Apple creates friction and discourages user redirection.

Specific non-compliant aspects highlighted by the Commission include:

  • Apple's current terms (both the "New Business Terms" and the "New Music Streaming Business Terms") restrict developers' ability to communicate and promote offers within the app and conclude contracts, contrary to the DMA's requirement that developers should be free to engage in "any form of communication and conclusion of contracts".
  • Restrictions on the destination page after a link-out, such as limiting links to only one URL per app (five for music streaming apps) and prohibiting the use of web view, are incompatible with the DMA's requirement to allow steering to any channel or form of communication.
  • The mandatory disclosure sheet displayed before redirection is not neutral or objective and may deter end users from using alternative channels, making steering unduly difficult. The recurrent nature of this sheet after every link-out is also seen as an unjustified restriction.
  • Prohibiting developers from including additional data in the URL restricts their ability to promote offers and conclude contracts, making the process unduly difficult for end users who have to re-enter information.
  • Apple's imposition of a 27% commission on any digital purchases made through external websites linked from within an app is seen as undermining the concept of allowing free steering. This fee is only slightly lower than the standard 30% in-app purchase commission.

The Commission explicitly rejected Apple's argument that it was only required to "allow" steering, not "facilitate" it. The ruling states that Apple's technical and procedural barriers effectively discouraged developers from directing users to external purchasing options, violating the law. It also criticized Apple's claim that its measures were designed to protect user security and privacy, finding that Apple had not put forward convincing arguments or shown these restrictions were objectively necessary and proportionate.

Crucially, the Commission clarified that the DMA's "free of charge" requirement in Article 5(4) applies not only to the communication and promotion of offers but also to the conclusion of contracts following steering, regardless of where the contracts are concluded. The Commission stated that Apple's 27% commission fee for steered transactions is incompatible with this requirement because it cannot be considered merely remuneration for facilitating the initial acquisition of the end user by the developer. The notion of "initial acquisition" implies compensation linked in time to the initial matchmaking and not a recurrent fee applied indefinitely or to already acquired users.

Apple has been given until June 22 to rectify these issues. Failure to comply will result in "periodic penalty payments," the amount of which would be determined based on the seriousness of the infringement and Apple's revenue. Apple must also pay the initial €500 million fine by July 23 or begin accruing interest.

In response to the full ruling, Apple reiterated its stance in a statement, describing the European Commission's actions as unjustified and detrimental to users' privacy and security. Apple claimed the decision forces them to give away technology for free and is bad for innovation, competition, products, and users. Apple stated it will appeal the decision and continue engaging with the Commission to advocate for its European customers.

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Why Industry Insiders Say New Intelligent Driving Regulations Won’t Cause Major Turmoil

 At this year’s Shanghai Auto Show, a notable shift emerged: automakers that once aggressively promoted "high-level intelligent driving" have made a striking about-face. Now, they cautiously refer to their systems as mere "assisted driving," emphasizing the critical role of shared human-vehicle control. This pivot follows strict new regulations from China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), which aim to rein in marketing language for intelligent driving and tighten oversight of over-the-air (OTA) software updates. Even the Ministry of Public Security’s traffic safety research division weighed in, warning that false advertising could lead to legal consequences—including criminal liability—for serious accidents caused by misleading claims.



Legal Risks of Exaggerated Claims: Beyond Fines, Criminal Liability Looms

Under Article 28 of China’s Advertising Law, fabricating or overstating assisted driving capabilities—such as labeling a Level 2 system as "autonomous driving"—can result in fines of 5 to 10 times the advertising budget, or even license revocation for severe violations. If such misinformation leads to accidents with casualties, it may violate the Criminal Law, potentially sentencing responsible individuals to up to two years in prison or criminal detention, plus fines.

Yet after speaking with industry insiders—including marketing strategists and R&D engineers—a common view emerged: these new rules won’t drastically reshape the intelligent driving landscape in the short term.

Minimal Impact on Current Practices: Mostly a "Rebranding Exercise"

For Dayu, a marketing manager who designs campaigns for automakers, the changes are largely superficial. "Besides banning terms like ‘intelligent driving,’ ‘valet parking,’ or ‘hands-free driving,’ the regulations don’t disrupt our core strategies," he explains. New features that violate terminology rules get renamed; existing ones only need updated scripts and materials—costs that are negligible for most brands.

Strategically, automakers will still navigate regulatory gray areas. "They’ll highlight best-case scenarios within legal limits," Dayu notes, using phrases like "industry-leading performance under optimal conditions" to imply superiority without crossing explicit lines. Tech-inexperienced users, however, may still misinterpret these nuanced claims. In essence: marketing hype will adapt, not disappear.

OTA Restrictions: A Tangible "Speed Bump"

Where regulations bite harder is in OTA oversight. Engineers like Xiao Yang, working for a top EV manufacturer, report immediate delays in planned updates. "Previously, OTA filings were rubber-stamped; now every update needs rigorous approval," he says. Gone are the days of rushing out "semi-finished" features—think lax driver monitoring that allowed users to ignore the road for minutes, or buggy "beta" versions tested on early adopters.

Take the "hotfix" culture: Car companies once quickly patched obvious flaws, like jerky braking or misaligned lane displays, without significant scrutiny. Now, with updates capped at monthly intervals and strict pre-approval testing, hasty releases carry too much risk. "This forces us to prioritize safety over speed," Xiao Yang admits. While development slows, it curbs reckless practices where users unknowingly served as testers for unrefined tech.

What Triggered the Crackdown? A High-Profile Accident that Changed the Game

The catalyst was a fatal Xiaomi SU7 crash in March 2025. The driver, overreliant on assisted driving, failed to react to sudden roadwork, leading to a tragic outcome. Critics soon highlighted Xiaomi’s ads boasting "construction zone recognition," fueling accusations of exaggerated claims. This incident, coming just weeks after a milder February notice, pushed regulators to act decisively.

By April, MIIT convened a closed-door meeting with 60 automakers, mandating terminology changes (no more "high-level intelligent driving"; use "combined assisted driving" instead) and stricter safety protocols. The message was clear: ambiguous hype is out—clarity on system limits is now non-negotiable.

A Global Precedent: Tesla’s FSD Under Scrutiny

The U.S. offers a parallel story with Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) system. After launching FSD V12 in 2024, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) investigated its poor performance in low visibility, involving 2.41 million vehicles. NHTSA accused Tesla of "misleading" marketing materials and threatened a $130 million fine unless discrepancies were addressed. Today, even the advanced FSD V14 still carries a "Supervised" tag—a regulatory reminder that human oversight remains critical—a lesson China is now enforcing domestically.

A Reality Check for Users: You’re Still in Charge

For consumers, the takeaway is simple: no matter how sophisticated the marketing, you remain the primary driver. Until a universal safety rating system (like China’s equivalent of Euro NCAP for ADAS) emerges, treat all "assisted" features as exactly that—tools to aid, not replace, human attention.

Industry insiders may downplay short-term impacts, but these regulations signal a crucial shift: from wild-west innovation to a safer, more transparent future. Slower OTA cycles and stricter labeling aren’t setbacks—they’re guardrails ensuring intelligent driving evolves without compromising safety. After all, the road to autonomy is long; better to build it on a foundation of trust, not hype.

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Here we go again: The iPhone ‘shake-up’ is now coming in 2027

 iPhone 16 Plus and iPhone 16e

Image: David Price / Foundry
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iPhone 17 Air’s camera problem may not matter as much as I thought

 3D-printed iPhone 17 design mockups give us a new look at what's expected

This fall, Apple is launching a new ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air that could prove especially compelling. The new model will have some shortcomings though, including only a single rear camera. But thanks to a little fact-finding exercise, I now know that won’t matter as much to me as I’d initially feared.

iPhone 17 Air will only have one rear camera

Apple’s flagship iPhones have boasted multiple rear cameras for a very long time.

The first dual-camera setup launched with the iPhone 7 Plus in 2016—nearly a full decade ago.

Since then, having two or more cameras on the back of the iPhone has become standard.

But when the iPhone 17 Air arrives, it will have only a single rear camera.

Both the Ultra Wide and Telephoto lenses of the iPhone Pro models will be gone, leaving only the single Main ‘Fusion’ camera.

As excited as I am for the iPhone 17 Air’s ultra-thin, futuristic new design, I’ve been a little worried about the camera situation.

So I did a little research.

I wanted to know: how many Ultra Wide and Telephoto photos have I taken recently?

Apple’s Photos app reveals I won’t miss the extra cameras much

iOS 18.4 Photos

Apple’s Photos app unfortunately doesn’t make this easy to find out. There are no special albums that collect images from each of the iPhone’s different rear cameras.

But a simple manual count didn’t take long.

I learned that out of my last 50 photos:

  • 4 were Telephoto
  • 0 Ultra Wide
  • 46 used the Main camera

This was honestly about what I’d expected, if not a little low for Telephoto.

First, I always knew that losing the Ultra Wide didn’t really matter to me. I almost never use it.

And I thought the Telephoto number would be low, but four out of 50 was a little lower than I’d expected. I would have guessed maybe 8.

So I kept counting, and the numbers kept shrinking.

Out of my next 100 photos, not a single one was Telephoto or Ultra Wide.

Then I counted another 100 before drawing my conclusions.

With my last 250 photos counted, the results were:

  • 7 Telephoto
  • 3 Ultra Wide
  • 240 Main

That seemed like a good place to stop counting, because the data was clear.

iPhone 17 Air’s camera won’t be the problem I expected

It seems my iPhone 16 Pro Max’s extra cameras are largely extraneous.

Out of the Telephoto photos I took, there were only a couple I would miss if I hadn’t been able to capture them. None of the Ultra Wide photos would be missed.

I know I’ve used the Telephoto lens more on vacations, and expect to miss it a bit then, but in everyday life I clearly don’t use it. At least to nowhere near the same extent as the Main camera.

Will Apple introduce some fancy new camera features on the iPhone 17 Pro that make me reconsider? Possibly. But based on what I know now, I feel a lot more comfortable saying the iPhone 17 Air is for me.

Do you take many Telephoto or Ultra Wide photos? Let us know in the comments.

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Jony Ive's Latest Project Could Be an AI 'Phone' Without a Screen

 OpenAI is considering acquiring the AI hardware startup founded by former Apple design chief Jony Ive and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, according to a new report from The Information. The deal could be worth at least $500 million.

jony ive ipad pro
The venture, known as "io Products," is developing AI-powered devices that could include a "phone" without a screen and other AI-enabled household products, according to people with direct knowledge of the talks. That's despite people close to the project apparently insisting it is "not a phone."

Ive and Altman began their collaboration more than a year ago, focusing on creating voice-enabled AI assistants. The project is still in the early design stages, with no finalized product concepts yet.

The venture is being funded by Ive and Laurene Powell Jobs' Emerson Collective. The startup currently employs a small team that includes former Apple designers Tang Tan and Evans Hankey, who previously worked with Ive on the iPhone.

Instead of a full acquisition, OpenAI and the hardware startup are also discussing partnership options. If acquired, OpenAI would gain not only the technology but also the engineering team that has been developing the device, according to the report's sources.

The deal structure reportedly involves io Products employing engineers to build the device while OpenAI provides AI capabilities and Ive's LoveFrom studio contributes design expertise.

An AI hardware venture would put OpenAI in more direct competition with Apple, despite their existing partnership announced last June where Apple's Siri assistant uses ChatGPT for certain queries.

The AI voice assistant market is becoming increasingly competitive, with OpenAI, Meta, Google, Anthropic, and xAI all developing voice capabilities for their text chatbots. OpenAI launched a voice mode for ChatGPT last year, allowing customers to engage in spoken conversations with the chatbot.

Ive left Apple in 2019, where he served as chief design officer before founding his design firm LoveFrom. He continued to work with Apple as a consultant through LoveFrom until 2022, when the partnership officially concluded.

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How Apple Could Navigate Trump's Tariffs, According to Gurman

 Apple is likely to take a multi-pronged approach to manage the impact of impending tariffs on its products, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The company faces looming challenges, as new tariffs will affect not just China-based production but also the very countries Apple has diversified into.

Apple iPhone 16 family lineup
The upcoming tariffs range from 20% to 46% across Apple's global manufacturing hubs. India, where Apple increasingly builds iPhones and AirPods, will face a 26% tariff. Vietnam, which produces AirPods, iPads, Apple Watches and Macs, will be hit with a 46% levy. Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and even Ireland will face tariffs between a 20% and 37%.

Gurman believes Apple will pursue a combined strategy to mitigate these impacts. First, he says the company will likely pressure its component suppliers and manufacturing partners to reduce prices. Second, Apple may absorb a portion of the increased costs, eating into its typical hardware profit margin of around 45%.

Third, and perhaps most concerning for consumers, Apple could consider iPhone price adjustments. The company has already implemented price increases in other markets in response to tax policies, currency fluctuations, and inflation. "I expect that Apple will seriously consider iPhone price adjustments," writes Gurman. "It helps that consumers have probably heard about the outside factors here and won’t see it as a cash grab."

Finally, Apple will likely accelerate its supply chain diversification efforts. While the company won't be able to rapidly shift production to the United States, it may prioritize shipments from countries with lower tariff rates, such as routing more iPhones from India rather than China.

Apple has been stockpiling inventory in the U.S. for months in anticipation of the tariffs, which could delay price increases until the iPhone 17 launch in September. Units already in the U.S. are exempt from the tariffs, which officially take effect on April 9.

Despite Apple CEO Tim Cook's efforts to cultivate a relationship with Trump, including attending his inauguration and pledging $500 billion in US investments over the next four years, the company has so far not been successful in securing exemptions.

For consumers wondering whether they will have to pay more for an iPhone this fall, Gurman suggests Apple might become more aggressive with trade-in specials and installment plans to offset potential price increases, or possibly revive its previously considered hardware subscription service.

Apple has not yet made any comment on the tariffs or its plans going forward, but the company is surely working behind the scenes to calculate their impact.

Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

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Apple Planning 'Bold' New 20th Anniversary Design for 2027 iPhone Pro

 Apple is preparing a "major shake-up" for the iPhone's 20th anniversary in 2027, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

iphone x front back

iPhone X released in 2017 for 10th anniversary

Writing in his latest Power On newsletter, Gurman says that Apple plans to launch a foldable iPhone alongside a "bold" new iPhone Pro model that makes more extensive use of glass.

Could this mean Apple plans to realize former design chief Jony Ive's dream of making an iPhone made entirely of a single plane of glass? That much isn't known, but if Apple plans to unveil something as dramatic as the iPhone X, launched in 2017 for the iPhone's 10th anniversary, then it will have to have something pretty special in the works.

For the iPhone X, Apple famously dropped the Home button in favor of an entirely touch-based interface system, and replaced the Touch ID fingerprint sensor with Face ID facial authentication.

As for the model number that Apple will choose to use for its 20th anniversary iPhone, it's hard to say. Apple's naming conventions have varied over the years. If Apple continues its annual release pattern and numerical naming, the 2027 lineup would likely be the iPhone 19 series.

However, Apple has previously adjusted its naming to commemorate significant milestones, such as skipping from iPhone 8 to iPhone X for the 10th anniversary. So it's possible that Apple might introduce an "iPhone 20" or adopt a different naming convention to celebrate the 20th anniversary. We'll have to wait and see.

Gurman has previously said he expects Apple's first book-style foldable iPhone to be released next year, so presumably the "foldable version" coming in 2027 will be either a second iteration of that model, or a completely different version, perhaps utilizing a clam-shell design.

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iPhone 17 Pro's New Rear Camera Bar 'Same Color As Rest of Device'

 Apple's upcoming iPhone 17 Pro models will feature a redesigned rear camera panel that spans the width of the device, but it will be the same color as the iPhone itself, rather than being part of a two-tone design.

iPhone 17 Pro 3 4ths Perspective Aluminum Camera Module 1
That's according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Writing in his latest Power On newsletter, the reporter says the iPhone 17 Pro won't have a two-toned back, as some renders have depicted. "The camera area will be the same color as the rest of the device," he says.

Some images online even show a two-tone design, with a dark-black camera block on top of a silver iPhone back. Those are, like many renders on the internet, not an accurate representation of what's to come.

The iPhone 17 Pro won't have a two-toned back, I'm told. The camera area will be the same color as the rest of the device.

In this sense, apart from the new Google Pixel-esque camera module, the iPhone 17 Pro "won't a major departure from current models," reckons Gurman.

According to The Information, Apple has chosen a half glass, half aluminum build for its iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max to increase durability. The glass will allow wireless charging to continue to be available, while a partial aluminum frame will be less prone to breakage.

This year's iPhone 17 series will also include a new ultra-slim iPhone 17 "Air" model that replaces the Plus device in the lineup. The new models are expected to be announced in September.

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