Turn on Low Power Mode to cut background activity
Low Power Mode is the fastest way to stretch your battery when you are running low. It reduces processor speed, limits background app refresh, disables automatic downloads, and dims the screen slightly. Your iPhone will still work normally for calls, texts, and most apps — you just will not notice the performance difference in everyday use.
To turn it on, open Settings, tap Battery, then toggle on Low Power Mode. You can also swipe up from the bottom of your screen (or down from the top right on newer models) to open Control Center and tap the battery icon. Low Power Mode typically extends your battery by two to four hours, depending on what you are doing.
You can set your iPhone to turn on Low Power Mode automatically when your battery reaches 20 percent. Go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging and toggle on "Low Power Mode" under the threshold options. This way you do not have to remember to switch it on yourself.
Key Takeaways
- Low Power Mode reduces background activity and can extend battery life by two to four hours without affecting basic phone functions.
- Dimming your screen or using auto-brightness saves more battery than any other single setting because the display uses the most power.
- Background app refresh, location services, and push notifications drain battery even when you are not actively using an app.
- Closing apps running in the background does not save battery on modern iPhones, but turning off background refresh for specific apps does.
- Extreme heat damages your battery permanently, so avoid using your phone in direct sunlight or in hot cars for extended periods.
Lower your screen brightness or enable auto-brightness
Your screen is the single biggest drain on your battery. Lowering brightness can add hours to your battery life. Open Settings, tap Display & Brightness, and drag the brightness slider to the left. A brightness level between 30 and 50 percent is comfortable for most indoor use and saves significant power.
A better option is to turn on auto-brightness, which adjusts your screen based on the light around you. In the same Display & Brightness menu, toggle on "Auto-Brightness." Your phone will dim in low light and brighten in sunlight automatically, so you are never using more brightness than you actually need. This saves battery without requiring you to manually adjust the slider throughout the day.
If you use your phone outdoors often, consider enabling reduce white point as well. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size and toggle on "Reduce White Point." This makes bright whites less intense, which uses less power and is easier on your eyes in sunlight.
Turn off background app refresh for apps you do not use constantly
Apps refresh their content in the background even when you are not looking at them — checking for new messages, updating weather, downloading photos. Each refresh uses battery. You do not need every app doing this all day long.
Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh. You will see a list of every app on your phone. Toggle off background refresh for apps you do not check regularly. Keep it on for messaging apps, email, and anything else you want to stay current, but turn it off for games, news apps, and social media you check manually. This alone can add 30 minutes to an hour to your battery life.
Be aware that turning off background refresh means those apps will not update until you open them. If you turn it off for your email app, new messages will not arrive until you launch the app yourself. Choose which apps matter enough to stay current in the background.
Disable location services or limit which apps can access your location
GPS and location tracking drain battery quickly because they use your phone's radio and processor constantly. You do not need location services running all the time. Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services and toggle it off entirely if you do not use maps or location-based reminders.
If you need location services for navigation or weather, keep the feature on but limit which apps can use it. In the same Location Services menu, tap each app and choose "Never," "While Using," or "Always." Select "While Using" for most apps — this means they can only access your location when you have them open. Choose "Always" only for apps you truly need to track you in the background, like a fitness app or a family locator.
Apps set to "Always" will drain battery even when you are not using them. Review this list every few months and remove "Always" access from apps that no longer need it.
Turn off push notifications and fetch mail less frequently
Push notifications wake up your phone and light the screen every time an app sends you a message. Each notification uses a small amount of battery. Go to Settings > Notifications and review which apps are allowed to send notifications. Turn off notifications for apps that are not urgent — games, shopping apps, and social media do not need to interrupt you constantly.
For email, go to Settings > Mail and tap Fetch New Data. Change the setting from "Push" to "Every 30 Minutes" or "Hourly." Push means your phone checks for new mail constantly; fetching on a schedule checks only at set intervals. This cuts battery use significantly if you receive a lot of email. You can also turn off mail fetch entirely and check email manually when you open the app.
Disable notifications for location-based reminders as well. Go to Settings > Notifications and look for apps using location. Turn off notifications for any app that sends you alerts based on where you are.
Keep your iPhone cool and avoid extreme temperatures
Heat damages your battery permanently and reduces how long it holds a charge. Avoid leaving your phone in direct sunlight, in a hot car, or near heating vents. If your phone gets too warm, it will slow down or shut off to protect the battery.
Cold temperatures also affect battery performance temporarily — your phone may show a lower battery percentage in winter and recover when it warms up — but cold does not cause permanent damage the way heat does. If your phone is cold, let it warm to room temperature before charging.
Remove thick cases while charging if your phone feels warm. Cases trap heat, and charging generates heat, so a thick case during charging can push your battery into the danger zone. A thin case or no case during charging helps your battery stay cool.
Disable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth when you are not using them
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth radios search for networks and devices even when you are not actively connected. Turning them off saves battery, especially if you are in an area with weak signals — your phone works harder to find a connection when the signal is poor.
Open Control Center and tap the Wi-Fi icon to turn off Wi-Fi, and tap the Bluetooth icon to turn off Bluetooth. You can also go to Settings and toggle them off there. Turn them back on only when you need them — when you are at home, at work, or connecting to a device like headphones or a car.
If you are away from home all day and do not need Wi-Fi, leaving it off saves noticeable battery. The same applies to Bluetooth if you are not using wireless headphones or a smartwatch. Every radio you disable extends your battery by a small amount, and together they add up.
Check which apps are using the most battery and close heavy users
Some apps use far more battery than others. Go to Settings > Battery to see which apps have used the most battery in the last 24 hours or the last 10 days. If a single app is using 30 percent or more of your battery and you do not use it that much, something is wrong.
Common battery hogs include social media apps that autoplay video, navigation apps running in the background, and games. If an app is using too much battery, try closing it completely and reopening it later. If the problem continues, uninstall the app and use the web version instead, or look for a lighter alternative.
Check the battery list regularly — once a week is enough. If you notice a new app suddenly using a lot of battery, it may have a bug or be misconfigured. Restarting your phone often fixes this. If it does not, delete the app.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does closing apps in the background actually save battery?
No. On modern iPhones, closing apps does not save battery because iOS suspends apps automatically when you switch away from them. The only thing that saves battery is turning off background app refresh in Settings. Closing apps manually is unnecessary and does not extend your battery life.
Will my iPhone battery get worse if I use Low Power Mode all the time?
No. Low Power Mode does not damage your battery. It straightforward reduces performance temporarily. You can use it every day without harming your battery's long-term health. The main thing that damages batteries is heat and charging to 100 percent constantly, not the settings you use.
Should I turn off my iPhone to save battery?
Turning off your phone saves battery, but only if you are not using it. If you need your phone available for calls or messages, turning it off defeats the purpose. Low Power Mode is a better choice because it keeps your phone on and usable while cutting battery drain significantly.
Does using dark mode save battery on all iPhones?
Dark mode saves battery only on iPhones with OLED screens (iPhone 12 and newer). On older iPhones with LCD screens, dark mode makes no difference to battery life. If you have an older model, use dark mode only if you prefer how it looks, not for battery savings.
Why is my battery draining so fast even with Low Power Mode on?
Check Settings > Battery to see which apps are using the most power. A single app using 40 percent or more of your battery suggests that app has a problem. Try restarting your phone, or uninstall and reinstall the app. If the problem continues, the app itself may be faulty and you should contact the developer or switch to a different app.