Introduction
Samsung Galaxy smartphones are known for their excellent battery life. To achieve this, Samsung uses an aggressive built-in battery management system that automatically puts unused applications to sleep and restricts their background network usage.
While this feature is great for saving battery power, it can cause frustrating problems for certain types of applications. If you use a VPN app for privacy, a fitness tracker that relies on GPS, or a messaging app that needs to receive instant notifications, Samsung's battery optimisation might randomly close these apps as soon as you minimise them.
If your VPN keeps disconnecting or you are missing important messages, the solution is to disable battery optimisation for those specific apps. This tutorial will show you exactly how to grant "Unrestricted" background access on your Samsung Galaxy device.
Understanding Samsung's Battery Settings
Before we change the settings, it is helpful to understand the three different battery modes Samsung assigns to your installed applications:
Restricted: The app is strictly forbidden from using battery power in the background. If you close or minimise the app, it instantly stops working.
Optimised (Default): The phone decides what is best. It will allow the app to run in the background sometimes, but if the phone thinks you are not using it enough, it will put the app to sleep. This is the main reason apps unexpectedly crash or disconnect.
Unrestricted: The battery management system leaves the app alone. The app is allowed to run constantly in the background without being limited, ensuring 24/7 connectivity.
Here is how to set your essential apps to "Unrestricted."
Step-by-Step Guide to Disabling Battery Optimisation
Note: These steps were performed on a Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus 5G, but the process is nearly identical for all modern Samsung devices running One UI.
Step 1: Locate the App Info Menu
You do not need to dig through the main system settings to find what you are looking for; you can access battery controls directly from your home screen or app drawer.
Open your phone's app drawer.
Locate the specific app you are having trouble with (for example, a VPN or messaging app).
Long-press (tap and hold) on the app's icon until a small pop-up menu appears.
Tap the "i" icon (a small lowercase "i" inside a circle) located in the top corner of the pop-up menu. This will immediately open the "App Info" page.
Step 2: Change the Battery Settings
Now that you are in the App Info menu for your chosen application:
Scroll down the list of options and tap on Battery.
You will see the three battery modes mentioned earlier: unrestricted, Optimised, and restricted. By default, it will likely be set to Optimised.
Tap on Unrestricted.
Once the blue dot is on Unrestricted, you can simply swipe back or exit to your home screen. The settings are saved automatically.
Step 3: Repeat for Other Apps
Remember, this setting only applies to the specific app you selected. If you have multiple applications that are disconnecting in the background (like a secondary VPN, an antivirus scanner, or a background downloader), you must repeat Steps 1 and 2 for each individual app.
Is it Safe to Use "Unrestricted" Mode?
Yes! Setting an app to Unrestricted does not harm your phone. However, you should only use this setting for apps that truly need it.
Because the app will be allowed to run 24/7 in the background without being put to sleep, it will consume more battery power than an "Optimized" app. If you set every app on your phone to Unrestricted, your overall battery life will drain noticeably faster. We recommend only using this feature for essential tools like VPNs, smartwatch companion apps, and communication tools.
Video Tutorial
If you prefer a visual guide, watch our quick step-by-step video tutorial below: