How to stop a OnePlus closing apps in the background

Device

Android

Shown on

OnePlus Nord 5 (CPH2709), OxygenOS 16.0.5.1201, Android 16

App

Settings

Path

Settings › Battery › Power saving settings › App battery management

Real screenshots

6 of 6 steps

Checked

October 2026

Sources

1 official, linked below

Step by step

1. 

   Search for it

   Open Settings and search for optimi. Optimise battery use opens the right page: Battery, Power saving settings, App battery management.

   Done

2. 

   Or go through Battery

   Open Battery and tap Power saving settings, under Battery settings.

   Done

3. 

   Tap App battery management

   It is at the bottom of Power saving settings.

   Done

4. 

   Tap the app

   Find it in the list, or use Search at the top.

   Done

5. 

   Choose Allow background activity

   There are three choices. Allow background activity: no restrictions. Smart mode (Recommended), which was picked: it optimises background activity when power use is high. Restrict background activity: closes the app in the background or limits some functions.

   Done

6. 

   Late notifications while asleep

   Back in Power saving settings, Sleep standby optimisation says your device uses less power when you are asleep and app notifications will be delayed. It was on on ours; switch it off if that matters.

   Done

If you do not see this option

• App not in the list? Chrome was not in ours. Only some apps are listed.
• Looking on App info? Chrome's App info on our phone had no Battery row; the setting is only in App battery management.
• Older OxygenOS? OnePlus's OxygenOS 14 manual puts it at Settings, Battery, More settings, App battery management. On our OxygenOS 16 phone it is under Power saving settings. Source: OxygenOS 14.0 User Manual

If this does not work

• Notifications late at night? Turn off Sleep standby optimisation, step 6.
• Want to restart the app instead? Force stop it and open it again.

About this guide

If an app stops delivering notifications or keeps restarting, the battery settings may be closing it. On OxygenOS 16 the per-app setting is not on the app's App info page, but in App battery management.

The screenshots are from our OnePlus Nord 5 with OxygenOS 16.0.5.1201 and Android 16, in Dark mode. Chrome is not in the list on ours, so the pictures use Facebook. We looked and changed nothing.

Good to know

See what uses battery: battery percentage on a OnePlus.

Clear an app's cache: on a OnePlus.

In short: Settings, Battery, Power saving settings, App battery management, the app, Allow background activity.