Background app refresh why isn't mail in there

Background App Refresh is a feature in iOS that allows apps to refresh their content in the background, even when the user is not actively using the app. This feature is designed to help apps stay up-to-date and provide a better user experience.

However, not all apps are eligible for Background App Refresh. Apple has specific guidelines for which apps can use this feature, and Mail is one of the apps that is not eligible.

There are a few reasons why Mail is not eligible for Background App Refresh:

  1. Security: Mail is a sensitive app that handles personal and confidential information. Allowing it to run in the background could potentially compromise user data and security.
  2. Resource usage: Mail is a resource-intensive app that requires a significant amount of CPU, memory, and network resources. Running it in the background could impact the overall performance and battery life of the device.
  3. User expectations: Users expect Mail to be a foreground app that they can interact with directly. Running it in the background could change the user's expectations and make the app feel less responsive.

Instead, Apple provides other ways for Mail to stay up-to-date and provide a good user experience. For example:

  1. Push notifications: Mail can use push notifications to alert the user when new emails arrive, even when the app is not running in the foreground.
  2. Fetch: Mail can use the Fetch API to periodically check for new emails in the background, without running the app in the foreground.
  3. Local storage: Mail can store emails locally on the device, allowing users to access their emails even when they don't have an internet connection.

Overall, while Background App Refresh is a powerful feature, it's not suitable for all apps, especially those that handle sensitive data like Mail. Apple's guidelines and restrictions are in place to ensure that apps are secure, efficient, and provide a good user experience.