Don’t use Automatic Task Killer for Android

Android task killer is one of the most downloaded applications by the Android phone users. The main function of this application is to shut down other applications either automatically or manually.

It is said that by shutting down applications or games using an Android Task killer or task manager, the Android phone or tablet will run faster, and it will increase the battery efficiency. Is it true? To understand that, it is better if you know how the Android system handles applications first.

Understanding Android System Works and Myth about Android Task Killer

If you install the Task Manager apps, for example, Advance Task Killer, this application will make a list of currently active apps and the applications that running on the background (applications that still active but not in use). The task killer also shows the available memory (RAM) on your phones that are unused.

Whats is Android RAM? Random-Access Memory (RAM) is the temporary memory used by the CPU (Central Processing Unit) to access information or data that are necessary to run a “process.” More RAM means the phone (or tablet) will perform faster, because the CPU can access more information at the same time.

If you turn off one or several applications, it will increase RAM memory. You can turn off the apps one by one or all at once. You can set to shut down application automatically at specified time intervals or when the screen turned off.

Any application that runs on Android system will use a certain amount of RAM. More applications activated means lesser remaining RAMs (available memory) left.

Many people misunderstand about the RAM management on Android. They think that if they kill apps and freeing RAM will make phones work faster and also efficient. This is wrong. In the Android System, each application that previously has been activated but currently not in use (there is no activity) will be stored in its system memories. This is useful when the user wants to reactivate the application, it will load faster. By killing Android apps, it will take more time to reactivate the application and also use more energy thus drains the battery life.

As long as the application inactive or not using the CPU and only uses some RAM, then the background application will not drain the battery, and it will not slow down the phone performance.

You don’t have to worry about RAM shortage. Every time the system needs more RAM for some application, for example, for playing HD (high Definition) Games that requires a lot of RAMs, then Android system will automatically turn off unnecessary background application. This means you do not have to worry about any loss in performance if a lot of applications running in the background.

Android system is automatically kills application that is safe to kill, so actually the users don’t need to kill apps manually. That’s why in many Android applications, sometimes you can’t find the exit button or at least the exit button is rather hard to access.

Note: This condition applies for the Android OS. For most of the other operating systems, it will not automatically shut down the application. So, to improve performance, the user must turn off unused applications. This habit is carried on when the user changes their phone to Android.

The risk of using Android Task Killer

The risk of using Android task killer is when the user accidentally kills an application that is required by the Android system, the phone or tablet will not operate properly. For example, if you accidentally turn off mail application, the device looks to operate normally, but what you don’t realize is the device won’t receive a new mail notification.

However, this condition is actually had been anticipated by the makers of Android Advance Task Killer (ATK) by making an ignore list. You can determine which applications that should not be killed and put in the list. As an addition, the ATK can help you to choose which application that should be included in the “ignore list” automatically. That is why some people consider that the ATK is one of the best task killers for Android.

Do we still need an Android Task Manager / task killer?

I personally think that we still need them. However, I don’t use it to automatically kill Android apps or to turn off applications that running on the background. This is because when I turn on the auto kill feature, it does more harm than good.

Instead, I use ATK to turn off some applications JUST when the applications work improperly. In terms of device performance and battery life, I feel no difference when I was actively using ATK with right now when I rarely use Android Task Killer.

Summary and Frequently Asked Questions.

What is Android Task Killer?

Answer: It is an Android application to shut down other applications either manually or automatically.

Is it using Android Task Killer will increase the device performance and battery life?

Answer: not really

If the Android system will automatically turn off application to freeing up RAM every time needed, then there is no use buying Android phone with big RAM capacity?

Answer: It depends on your needs. For example, the Android phone hardware specification is 256 MB RAM. If there is an Android application that requires at least 300 MB RAM in order to work normally, then despite all active and background apps was turned off, the applications still can’t run properly, or running very slow and full of lag because the limitation of the device hardware.

Besides that, if the phone has bigger RAM, it means more efficient to run many tasks at once. Because the system doesn’t have to kill other apps in order to start a new one. So, bigger RAM is better.

I use Android Task killer, and I feel increasing in my device performance and also longer battery life. Why is that?

Answer: This can be caused by three things. First, the ATK kill inefficient application (bad code application or it have bug). Second, the Task Killer turning off application that uses internet connection continuously and third, it’s only your feeling.

Android Task Killer Pros and Cons – Conclusion

The good and bad of Android Task Killer is become a hot topic since quite a long time. Many people debate and argue on the forum-forum and give their opinion based on their personal experience or by using the technical data they have. Some say that the Android Task Killer is necessary, others say otherwise.

Task killer is needed to shut down application that running improperly. E.g. sometimes my browser application can’t connect to the internet or open a web page. So, to make it work, I turn off the app first then reactivate it. Usually, the browser work normally after that.

We do not recommend neither forbid you to use Android task killer. However, we don’t recommend you to automatically turn off application using android task killer because there is a possibility it will make the Android system unstable or working improperly. But, if you feel comfortable and feel the benefits from the use of Android Task Killer even if you use the automatically kill feature, then feel free to use it.