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.

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