Turn on Low Power Mode to cut background activity

Low Power Mode is the fastest way to extend your iPhone's battery life. When you turn it on, your phone reduces processor speed, limits background app refresh, and dims the display slightly. Most people notice their battery lasts 1 to 2 hours longer per charge.

To turn it on, open Settings, tap Battery, then toggle Low Power Mode to on. 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. Your phone will ask if you want to enable Low Power Mode—tap Turn On. Once active, the battery icon in the top right turns yellow.

Low Power Mode stays on until your battery reaches 20 percent, then turns off automatically. You can turn it off manually anytime by returning to Settings or Control Center. Some apps may not work fully while Low Power Mode is active—for example, email may not fetch as often—but most people find the trade-off worth it.

Key Takeaways

  • Low Power Mode reduces processor speed and background activity, and you can turn it on in Settings > Battery or through Control Center.
  • Reduce screen brightness and enable Auto-Brightness so your display uses less power in different lighting conditions.
  • Turn off location services for apps that do not need it, and disable background app refresh for apps you do not use constantly.
  • Close apps running in the background, turn off Bluetooth and Wi-Fi when you are not using them, and disable push notifications for non-essential apps.
  • Check Battery Health in Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging to see if your battery is degrading and may need service.

Lower your screen brightness and use Auto-Brightness

Your display is the biggest battery drain on an iPhone. Lowering brightness saves power when ready. Open Settings, tap Display & Brightness, and drag the brightness slider to the left. Most people find 30 to 50 percent brightness comfortable indoors.

Enable Auto-Brightness so your phone adjusts brightness automatically based on the light around you. In the same Display & Brightness menu, toggle Auto-Brightness on. Your phone uses its front camera to sense light levels and dims the screen in dim rooms, then brightens it in sunlight. This prevents you from running the screen at full brightness when you do not need it.

If you use your phone outdoors often, keep Auto-Brightness on and let it handle brightness changes. If you prefer manual control, set a baseline brightness around 40 percent and adjust only when needed. Avoid keeping brightness at maximum—it drains your battery 2 to 3 times faster than a moderate setting.

Turn off location services for apps that do not need it

Location services use your phone's GPS, which consumes significant power. Many apps request location permission but do not actually need it constantly. Open Settings, tap Privacy & Security, then tap Location Services. You will see a list of every app that has requested location access.

For each app, you have four choices: Never, While Using, Always, or Precise Location. Set most apps to Never unless they genuinely need your location—for example, Maps needs it, but News does not. Apps set to Always drain battery even when you are not using them. Apps set to While Using only access location when you have them open.

Disable Precise Location for apps where it is not critical. This tells your phone to give the app an approximate location instead of exact GPS coordinates, which uses less power. Review this list once a month because app updates sometimes reset location permissions to Always.

Disable background app refresh and push notifications

Background App Refresh lets apps update their content even when you are not using them. This is useful for email and messaging apps but wasteful for games and news apps you check occasionally. Open Settings, tap General, then Background App Refresh. Toggle it off entirely, or tap it again to turn off refresh for individual apps.

Push notifications also drain battery because your phone must stay connected to Apple's servers to receive them. Open Settings, tap Notifications, and review which apps send you notifications. Turn off notifications for apps you do not need alerts from—keep them on for Messages, Phone, and Calendar, but disable them for games, shopping apps, and social media if you check those manually.

If you turn off Background App Refresh for an app, you will need to open it manually to see new content. Email will not arrive until you open the Mail app. This is a reasonable trade-off for apps you do not use daily. Test which apps you actually miss updates from, then adjust your settings accordingly.

Close apps running in the background and disable Bluetooth

Apps left open in the background continue to use power. Swipe up from the bottom of your screen (or down from the top right on newer models) to see your open apps. Swipe up on any app to close it. You do not need to close apps constantly—iOS manages memory well—but closing apps you finished using prevents them from running in the background.

Bluetooth stays on by default and searches for devices even when you are not using wireless headphones or speakers. Turn it off when you do not need it. Open Control Center and tap the Bluetooth icon to turn it off. Turn it back on only when you want to use wireless audio or accessories. The same applies to Wi-Fi—if you are on cellular data, turn off Wi-Fi to save power.

Leaving Bluetooth on all day can reduce battery life by 5 to 10 percent. If you use wireless headphones regularly, keep Bluetooth on. If you only use them occasionally, turn Bluetooth off and turn it on only when needed.

Check your battery health and replace it if needed

Over time, iPhone batteries degrade and hold less charge. Open Settings, tap Battery, then tap Battery Health & Charging. You will see Maximum Capacity, which shows what percentage of the battery's original capacity remains. A new iPhone shows 100 percent. After two years of normal use, it typically drops to 80 to 85 percent.

If Maximum Capacity is below 80 percent and you have owned your phone for more than two years, your battery is degrading normally. If it drops below 80 percent within the first year, or below 50 percent within two years, your battery may have a defect. Apple offers battery replacement for a fee—check Apple's website for your region's cost, which typically ranges from $50 to $70.

You can also see Peak Performance Capacity in the same menu. If it says your battery cannot support peak performance, your phone will slow down under heavy load to protect the battery. This is another sign that replacement may help. Visit an Apple Store or authorized service provider to replace the battery. Bring your phone and proof of purchase if you have it.

Disable visual effects and reduce motion

Your iPhone uses animations and visual effects throughout the interface. These consume power, especially on newer phones with high refresh rate displays. Open Settings, tap Accessibility, then tap Display & Text Size. Toggle on Reduce Motion. This removes animations when you swipe between screens and open apps, which saves battery and also makes your phone feel faster.

You can also reduce transparency effects. In the same menu, toggle on Increase Contrast. This simplifies the visual design and uses less power. These changes are subtle but add up over the course of a day, especially if you use your phone heavily.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Low Power Mode slow down my iPhone?

Yes, slightly. Low Power Mode reduces processor speed to save power, so apps may open a fraction of a second slower and games may run less smoothly. Most people do not notice the difference in everyday use. The battery extension is worth the minor slowdown for most users.

Will turning off Bluetooth and Wi-Fi when I am not using them really save battery?

Yes, but the savings depend on how often you use them. If you leave Bluetooth on all day but only use wireless headphones for an hour, turning it off saves 5 to 10 percent battery. If you use Bluetooth constantly, the savings are smaller. Turn them off if you are not using them and expect to be away from a charger for many hours.

What is the difference between While Using and Always for location services?

While Using means the app can access your location only when you have it open. Always means the app can access your location anytime, even when you are not using it. Always drains battery much faster because the app can request your location in the background. Use Always only for apps like Find My or fitness trackers that need constant location data.

Can I use Low Power Mode all the time?

Yes, you can leave Low Power Mode on permanently if you want maximum battery life. Some features will work differently—background app refresh will be limited, and some visual effects will be disabled—but your phone will function normally. Many people turn it on when they know they will be away from a charger for a long time.

How often should I check my battery health?

Check it once every six months if you use your phone heavily, or once a year if you use it normally. Battery degradation is gradual, so checking more often is unnecessary. If you notice your battery drains much faster than usual, check Battery Health to see if the battery has degraded suddenly, which may indicate a defect.