Your iPhone is a powerhouse of technology, but none of its features matter if the battery drains too quickly. Keeping the battery alive for as long as possible is a common concern, especially with so many apps and background processes fighting for power.
The good news is that with a few adjustments and some clever habits, you can stretch your battery life significantly. Here in this guide we will discuss different ways to make your iPhone battery last longer. So, without any ado, let us get started.
Ways To Make Your iPhone Battery Last Longer
1. Optimize Your Display Settings
Your iPhone’s screen is a power-hungry beast. The brighter it is, the faster your battery drains. Adjusting display settings can save a significant amount of energy without sacrificing usability.
Start with the brightness. Reduce it manually or enable Auto-Brightness under Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size. Auto-Brightness adjusts based on ambient light, which prevents unnecessary brightness in dark settings.
Another trick is using Dark Mode. If your iPhone has an OLED screen, enabling Dark Mode under Settings > Display & Brightness reduces the energy needed to light up the display. OLED screens only light individual pixels, so darker themes require less power.
Finally, shorten your Auto-Lock timer. Go to Settings > Display & Brightness > Auto-Lock and set it to 30 seconds or 1 minute. Long Auto-Lock durations mean the screen stays on longer than necessary, draining the battery.
These tweaks may seem minor, but combined, they keep your screen from guzzling power. The display is often the biggest battery hog, so reigning it in can extend usage significantly.
2. Manage Background App Activity
Apps running in the background often drain power without you realizing it. They fetch updates, sync data, and refresh content, all of which add up. Controlling this behavior can save battery life.
Start by reviewing which apps refresh in the background. Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh. Disable it for apps you don’t need updating constantly. For instance, do you need a news app refreshing every minute when you only open it twice a day? Probably not.
Next, check battery usage under Settings > Battery. This page shows which apps are using the most energy. Apps consuming a large chunk in the background need immediate attention. Either restrict their activity or uninstall them if they aren’t essential.
Also, remember to close unnecessary apps. Double-tap the home button (or swipe up on models without a home button) to access the app switcher. Swipe away apps you don’t need open. Leaving too many apps running clutters your phone and drains battery through background processes.
Taking charge of app activity puts you in control of where your battery power goes. You’ll be amazed at how much longer your phone lasts without dozens of apps quietly sipping energy in the background.
3. Update to the Latest iOS
Apple continuously works on optimizing battery usage with each iOS update. Bugs or inefficiencies in older versions may cause your battery to drain faster. Updating ensures you benefit from the latest software improvements.
Before updating, check your current version. Go to Settings > General > About. If an update is available, it will show under Settings > General > Software Update. Connect your phone to Wi-Fi and a charger before starting the process.
Beyond fixes, new iOS versions often introduce features that can help manage power. For instance, iOS 16 introduced Low Power Mode suggestions when the battery hits 20% or less, reminding you to enable it and extend your battery life. Staying up-to-date ensures you’re using your phone as efficiently as possible.
Updating might seem tedious, but it’s a simple way to ensure your phone runs smoothly and conserves battery life. Ignoring updates is like driving on old tires – they’ll work, but not as efficiently as new ones.
4. Use Low Power Mode Wisely
Low Power Mode is your iPhone’s battery-saving hero. It temporarily disables background processes, reduces screen brightness, and slows down system performance to save power. You can turn it on manually under Settings > Battery or add it to your Control Center for quick access.
Don’t wait until your battery is critically low to use it. You can enable Low Power Mode whenever you anticipate needing extended battery life. For example, if you’re heading out for the day without a charger, switching it on early helps stretch your battery much further.
When Low Power Mode is active, non-essential tasks like automatic downloads and mail fetching pause. Sure, it limits some features, but that trade-off keeps your phone alive longer. If you rely on essential apps during long days, this setting becomes your best friend.
Low Power Mode is straightforward, but it packs a punch. It’s like shifting your car into eco mode – everything slows down, but you get more mileage.
5. Disable Unnecessary Notifications
Every time your phone lights up for a notification, it uses power. Over time, these tiny energy drains add up. Disabling unnecessary notifications reduces this waste and keeps your battery lasting longer.
Head to Settings > Notifications and review each app. Turn off notifications for apps that don’t need your attention. For apps you want alerts from, adjust their settings to limit sounds or banners. For instance, do you need constant updates from a shopping app? Probably not.
Also, consider using Focus Modes. These let you create customized notification settings for different times, like work or bedtime. It’s a powerful way to manage distractions and save battery simultaneously.
Simplifying notifications saves more battery than you’d expect. It’s like plugging a leaky faucet – you won’t notice the small drips until they’ve wasted a gallon.
6. Turn Off Location Services
Location Services are incredibly useful, but they come at a cost. Apps that constantly track your location drain your battery faster. Limiting location tracking can save significant energy.
Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services. Review the list of apps and decide which ones actually need your location. Change settings to “While Using the App” or “Never” for apps that don’t require constant tracking.
Some apps, like Maps, obviously need location access. But others, like social media apps, can function perfectly fine without it. You can also turn off location entirely for specific periods by toggling the main Location Services switch.
Reducing location tracking not only saves battery but also improves privacy. You’re essentially stopping apps from tracking you when they don’t need to.
7. Keep Your iPhone Cool
Extreme temperatures – hot or cold – damage your battery and shorten its lifespan. Keeping your phone at a moderate temperature preserves both battery life and overall performance.
Avoid leaving your phone in direct sunlight, especially on hot days. Similarly, don’t expose it to freezing temperatures. If your phone feels warm, remove it from its case to allow heat to dissipate. Avoid heavy usage while charging, as it generates excess heat that can strain the battery.
Heat isn’t just a temporary issue – it causes long-term battery wear. Think of it like overcooking food; once it’s burned, there’s no fixing it. Keeping your phone cool ensures you don’t “burn out” your battery prematurely.
8. Optimize Charging Habits
How you charge your phone affects battery health. Over time, poor charging habits can degrade your battery’s maximum capacity. The good news is that small changes make a big difference.
Avoid letting your phone drop to 0% regularly. Lithium-ion batteries, like the one in your iPhone, prefer staying between 20-80% charge. Allowing the battery to drain completely before charging stresses it unnecessarily.
Use the original charger or a certified alternative. Cheap, off-brand chargers can overheat your phone or provide inconsistent power, damaging the battery over time.
Enable Optimized Battery Charging under Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging. This feature slows charging past 80% when it predicts you don’t need a full charge, preserving long-term health.
Treat your battery well, and it’ll treat you well in return. It’s like taking care of a car engine—good maintenance keeps it running smoothly.
9. Limit Widgets and Background Activity
Widgets are convenient, but they use power to stay updated. Every time a widget refreshes its data, it drains a bit of battery. Reduce the number of widgets on your Home Screen to conserve energy.
Swipe to the Today View or Home Screen, press and hold a widget, and select “Remove Widget” to delete it. Prioritize essential widgets like Weather or Calendar, and ditch the rest.
Similarly, limit background activities like syncing photos, auto-uploading files, or refreshing data. Head to Settings > iCloud and adjust settings to control which apps use iCloud syncing. Less background activity means more battery life for essential tasks.
Final Thoughts
Extending your iPhone’s battery life isn’t rocket science – it’s about making smart adjustments and forming better habits. Small tweaks to settings, app usage, and charging routines go a long way.
By following these tips, you’ll spend less time tethered to a charger and more time enjoying your phone. Remember, a little effort now saves you a lot of frustration later.
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