Wi-Fi in sleep mode on a smartphone – what is it?

What does the “Wi-Fi in sleep mode” function mean? Why does Wi-Fi stop working when the phone is not in use?

In the Wi-Fi settings, there is a feature called Wi-Fi in sleep mode. Many users do not know why it is needed and whether it is worth enabling it. In our article, we will explain what this feature means, whether it is needed and when it should be turned on or off.

What is Wi-Fi in sleep mode?

Wi-Fi in sleep mode is a function in the Wi-Fi settings that is responsible for saving the battery level on your smartphone. Since most applications continue to run in the background , even when the phone is not in use and is in sleep mode, Internet traffic continues to be wasted, as is battery power. And since most energy-consuming processes (for example, updating applications, downloading, syncing, etc.) are activated by default only when Wi-Fi is on, the phone can sit down much faster because of this.

The Wi-Fi Sleep feature turns off Wi-Fi automatically when the phone is not in use to conserve battery power. At the same time, in the settings of this function, the user can disable it or set certain conditions for activation.

How to disable or enable Wi-Fi in sleep mode?

The “Wi-Fi in sleep mode” function can be found by following the steps below:

1. First, the user needs to open the phone settings.
2. Then select the wireless settings, and from there – the Wi-Fi settings.
3. Depending on the phone model and OS version, the function may be located in different sections. You should look for the items “Advanced”, “Advanced settings” or the gear icon.

After the user finds the line with the “Wi-Fi in sleep mode” function, you must click on it. A window will open with a selection of options.

1. Do not turn off. Means Wi-Fi will work even in sleep mode.
2. Only with mains power. Wi-Fi will only work when the phone is charging.
3. Always turn off. As soon as the smartphone goes into sleep mode, Wi-Fi will immediately turn off.

Some smartphone models may have more detailed settings. For example, the user will be able to set the dependence of the battery level on the state of Wi-Fi, etc.

Do I need to turn on Wi-Fi in sleep mode?

Although the feature is designed to save battery life on the phone and make life easier for users, many people deliberately turn it off. Most processes, such as updating apps or syncing accounts, are best done when the phone is not in use. The fact is that these operations not only waste battery power, but also load the phone. Therefore, a sudden update can significantly reduce the speed of the Internet at an important moment, as well as affect the performance of the phone. For this reason, by default, many download-related processes are scheduled at night.

If the user has a high battery level as a priority, then it is recommended to activate the “Wi-Fi in sleep mode” function, i.e. set to “Always off”. But if the owner of the phone prefers the device to download, update and synchronize when the smartphone is not in use, then in the function settings you need to set “Do not turn off”.