Set an App’s Battery Usage on Android: Optimized vs Unrestricted
Fix missing notifications or background work by changing one app’s battery mode—or put unused apps to sleep. Prefer Optimized / Adaptive Battery for most apps; use Unrestricted / Never sleeping sparingly.
What You Need
- The app that must keep running (messaging, music, work VPN…) or that drains battery.
- Pixel Help: keep Adaptive Battery and per‑app optimization on unless you have a reason not to.
- Samsung: Never sleeping apps can increase background battery use (Samsung).
Modes (Pixel / Samsung app Battery): Optimized (recommended)—phone learns usage; may delay notifications. Unrestricted—runs more in background; uses more battery (Pixel: turning optimization off lets the app run more even with Adaptive Battery on). Restricted—limits background; app may not behave normally / notifications delayed (Pixel battery tips).
Step 1: Pixel — Adaptive Battery
Settings > Battery > Battery Saver > Adaptive Battery → turn on Use Adaptive Battery if off. Learning can take days/weeks after setup or reset.
Step 2: Pixel — per‑app App battery usage
Settings > Apps > See all apps → app → App battery usage → Allow background usage → choose Optimized (default), Unrestricted, or Restricted. Prefer Optimized; use Unrestricted only when the app must stay active.
Step 3: Samsung — app Battery + Never sleeping
Settings > Apps → app → Battery → Unrestricted / Optimized / Restricted (Samsung audio/notifications help).
Also: Settings > Battery and device care (or Device care) > Battery > Background usage limits → Never sleeping apps → + → add app. Remove via More options → Remove apps. Use Sleeping / Deep sleeping for rarely used apps to save power.
Step 4: Revoke when not needed
Return Unrestricted apps to Optimized; remove Never sleeping entries you no longer need. Check Battery usage if drain spikes after changes.
Missing alerts?
Official docs
Pixel Adaptive Battery / optimization: 7015477; battery tips: 6090612. Samsung sleeping / Never sleeping: ANS10003442; per‑app Battery Unrestricted: TSG10001337; notifications + sleeping: TSG10001486.