Turn on Low Power Mode to cut battery drain by half
Low Power Mode is the single fastest way to extend your iPhone's battery life. When you turn it on, your phone reduces processor speed, limits background activity, and dims the display slightly. Most people see their battery last 1.5 to 2 times longer with Low Power Mode on.
To turn it on, go to Settings > Battery > Battery Saver and toggle it on. Your phone will show a yellow battery icon at the top when it is active. You can also add it to Control Center — swipe down from the top right, tap the settings icon, then add Battery Saver so you can turn it on with one tap.
Low Power Mode stays on until your battery reaches 20 percent, then turns off automatically. You can turn it off manually anytime if you need full performance for a task.
Key Takeaways
- Low Power Mode cuts battery drain significantly and is the fastest single change you can make.
- Turning off location services, background app refresh, and push notifications for apps you do not use constantly saves battery without affecting daily use.
- Reducing screen brightness and enabling auto-brightness lets your display use less power while staying readable.
- Closing apps running in the background and disabling Bluetooth and Wi-Fi when you are not using them prevents constant power drain.
- Keeping your iPhone updated and avoiding extreme heat protects the battery itself and prevents faster degradation over time.
Disable location services for apps that do not need it
Apps using GPS drain your battery constantly because they keep your phone's location hardware active. Most apps do not need your location all the time — only when you are actively using them.
Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services. You will see a list of every app that has asked for location access. Tap each app and change the setting from "Always" or "While Using" to "Never," or choose "While Using" if the app needs location only when you have it open. Maps, weather, and ride-sharing apps are the main ones that need location while you use them. News apps, games, and social media rarely need it.
Turn off Location Services entirely if you do not need it for the day. This is one of the heaviest battery drains on an iPhone.
Turn off background app refresh for apps you rarely check
Background App Refresh lets apps update their content even when you are not using them — so your email, news, and weather apps are ready when you open them. But this constant refreshing drains your battery, especially if you have dozens of apps with this setting on.
Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh. You will see a toggle at the top and a list of apps below it. Turn off the master toggle to disable it for all apps, or scroll through and turn it off only for apps you do not check often. Keep it on for email, messages, and any app you use multiple times a day.
Turning this off means your apps will not update until you open them, but they will open faster because they are not refreshing in the background.
Reduce screen brightness and use auto-brightness
Your iPhone's display is the biggest battery drain on the phone. Lowering brightness saves power directly, and letting your phone adjust brightness automatically based on the light around you prevents the screen from staying bright when it does not need to be.
Go to Settings > Display & Brightness and drag the brightness slider down to around 30 to 40 percent. This is readable indoors and saves significant battery. Then toggle on Auto-Brightness so your phone raises the brightness in bright sunlight and lowers it in dim rooms automatically.
If you use your phone mostly indoors, keeping brightness at 30 percent with auto-brightness on will cut display power use by more than half compared to maximum brightness.
Turn off push notifications and disable Bluetooth when not in use
Push notifications wake your screen and trigger your phone to check for new messages constantly. Bluetooth keeps a radio active even when you are not connected to anything. Both drain battery in the background.
Go to Settings > Notifications and review which apps send you notifications. Turn off notifications for apps that do not need to alert you when ready — social media, games, and news apps are good candidates. Keep notifications on for messages, calls, and email if those matter to you.
For Bluetooth, go to Settings > Bluetooth and toggle it off when you are not using wireless headphones, speakers, or a car system. Turn it back on only when you need it. The same applies to Wi-Fi — if you are on cellular data, turn Wi-Fi off so your phone does not search for networks constantly.
Close apps running in the background and restart your phone weekly
Apps left open in the background continue using processor power and memory, which drains battery. Closing them forces your phone to start fresh when you open them again.
Swipe up from the bottom of your screen (or swipe down from the top right on newer iPhones) to see all open apps. Swipe up on each app card to close it. You do not need to do this constantly, but closing apps you finished using prevents them from running in the background.
Restart your iPhone once a week by holding the power button and volume button together, then sliding to power off. Wait 10 seconds, then turn it back on. A restart clears temporary files and stops apps from accumulating in memory, which improves battery performance.
Keep your iPhone cool and update to the latest iOS version
Heat damages your iPhone's battery permanently and causes it to drain faster. Avoid leaving your phone in direct sunlight, in a hot car, or in a case while charging. If your phone gets hot during normal use, close apps and let it cool down.
Apple releases iOS updates regularly that include battery optimizations and fixes. Go to Settings > General > Software Update and install any available update. These updates often improve how efficiently your phone uses power.
If your battery drains very quickly even after these changes, your battery may be degraded. Go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging to see the maximum capacity of your battery. If it is below 80 percent, the battery is aging and may need replacement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Low Power Mode slow down my phone?
Yes, slightly. Your phone processes information a bit slower and some visual effects are reduced. For most daily tasks like texting, email, and browsing, you will not notice the difference. Games and video editing will feel slower, but battery life improvement is usually worth it.
Will turning off background app refresh break my email or messages?
No. Email and messages will still arrive when they come in — they just will not pre-load in the background. When you open the app, it will refresh and show new messages. The delay is usually a few seconds, not hours.
Can I turn off location services completely without breaking my phone?
Yes. Maps will not work without location, but every other app and function will work normally. You can turn location back on anytime you need it. Many people turn it off during the day and turn it on only when they need directions.
How often should I restart my iPhone?
Once a week is enough for most people. A restart clears memory and stops background processes from piling up. If your phone feels sluggish or battery drains unusually fast, restart it when ready — this fixes many temporary issues.
What temperature is too hot for my iPhone?
Apple says your iPhone works best between 32°F and 95°F (0°C to 35°C). Above 95°F, the battery drains faster and can be damaged permanently. If your phone feels hot to the touch, remove it from direct sun or a case and let it cool down before using it again.