Turn on Low Power Mode to cut background activity
Low Power Mode is the fastest way to extend your battery. It reduces performance, limits background app refresh, and turns off some visual effects. Your phone still works normally for calls, texts, and everyday tasks—it just uses less power.
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, then tap the battery icon. Low Power Mode stays on until your battery reaches 20 percent, or you turn it off manually.
Most people notice Low Power Mode kicks in around 20 percent battery, but you can turn it on anytime—even at 100 percent if you know you will be away from a charger all day. There is no penalty to using it early.
Key Takeaways
- Low Power Mode reduces background activity and visual effects, extending battery life by several hours without affecting basic phone functions.
- Turning off location services, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi when you are not using them saves significant battery power throughout the day.
- Apps running in the background consume battery even when you are not looking at them; limiting background app refresh cuts this drain.
- Screen brightness is one of the largest battery drains on iPhones; using auto-brightness or keeping it below 40 percent makes a real difference.
- Disabling push notifications and setting mail to fetch manually instead of automatically checking reduces the number of times your phone wakes up.
Reduce screen brightness and use auto-brightness
Your screen is the single biggest battery drain on an iPhone. The brighter it is, the faster your battery empties. Lowering brightness to 30 or 40 percent cuts battery use noticeably without making the screen hard to read indoors.
The easiest approach is to turn on auto-brightness. Go to Settings, tap Accessibility, then Display & Text Size, and toggle on Auto-Brightness. Your phone then adjusts brightness based on the light around you—bright outdoors, dim indoors—without you having to think about it.
If you prefer manual control, swipe up from the bottom (or down from the top right) to open Control Center and drag the brightness slider down. You can also set a maximum brightness in Settings so it never goes above a level you choose, even if you accidentally turn it up.
Turn off location services and background app refresh
Location services use GPS, which drains battery quickly. Many apps request location permission but do not actually need it constantly. Go to Settings, tap Privacy & Security, then Location Services. You will see a list of every app that uses location. Toggle off location for apps that do not need it—maps and weather need it, but games and social media usually do not.
You can also set location to "While Using" instead of "Always" for most apps. This means the app can use your location only when you have it open, not in the background.
Background App Refresh lets apps update in the background even when you are not using them. Go to Settings, tap General, then Background App Refresh. You can turn it off entirely, or toggle it off for individual apps. Turning it off for apps you do not check often (like news apps or fitness trackers) saves battery without affecting apps you use daily.
Disable Bluetooth and Wi-Fi when not in use
Bluetooth and Wi-Fi search for connections constantly, even when you are not actively using them. Turning them off when you leave home or the office saves battery throughout the day.
Swipe up from the bottom (or down from the top right) to open Control Center. Tap the Bluetooth icon to turn it off, and tap the Wi-Fi icon to turn it off. Both will stay off until you turn them back on manually. If you use Bluetooth headphones or a car connection regularly, you can leave Bluetooth on—the battery drain is small compared to location services or a bright screen.
If you travel between locations with Wi-Fi, turning Wi-Fi off while you drive and back on when you arrive saves battery without much inconvenience. Your phone will use cellular data instead, which uses less power than searching for Wi-Fi networks.
Limit notifications and set mail to fetch manually
Every time your phone receives a notification, it wakes up the screen and uses power. Push notifications for every app add up quickly. Go to Settings, tap Notifications, and review which apps send you alerts. Turn off notifications for apps that do not need to interrupt you—games, shopping apps, and social media are good candidates.
Email is a bigger battery drain than most people realize. By default, Mail checks for new messages automatically every few minutes. Go to Settings, tap Mail, then Accounts, then Fetch New Data. Change the setting from "Push" or "Every 15 Minutes" to "Manually." Your phone will only check email when you open the Mail app, not constantly in the background. If you need email alerts for work, set only your work account to push and leave personal accounts on manual.
Close apps running in the background and restart your phone
Apps stay in memory after you close them and can use battery in the background. Swiping them away from the app switcher does not always stop them completely. Restarting your phone once a week clears the memory and stops all background processes, which often improves battery life noticeably.
To restart: press and hold the power button and volume button together until "Slide to Power Off" appears. Slide to turn off, wait 10 seconds, then press the power button again to turn it back on. A full restart takes about a minute but can add hours to your battery life if your phone has been running for weeks without restarting.
If one app drains battery much faster than others, you can check which apps use the most power. Go to Settings, tap Battery, then Battery Usage. Apps listed at the top use the most battery. If an app you rarely use is high on the list, consider deleting it or turning off its background app refresh.
Update iOS and manage storage space
Apple releases iOS updates that often improve battery performance. Go to Settings, tap General, then Software Update. If an update is available, plug in your phone and install it. Updates can fix battery drain caused by bugs in older versions.
A phone with very little free storage space also drains battery faster because the system works harder to manage files. If your storage is nearly full, delete photos, videos, or apps you do not use. You can check storage by going to Settings, tapping General, then iPhone Storage. Aim to keep at least 10 to 15 percent of your total storage free.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Low Power Mode damage my battery long-term?
No. Low Power Mode only reduces performance temporarily and does not harm the battery itself. You can use it every day without any damage. It is actually better to use Low Power Mode than to let your battery drain to zero, which does stress the battery over time.
Will turning off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth make my phone less useful?
Only if you need them at that moment. Turning them off while you are driving or away from Wi-Fi networks saves battery without affecting basic phone use. You can turn them back on in seconds when you need them, so the inconvenience is minimal.
What is the difference between Low Power Mode and turning off background app refresh?
Low Power Mode reduces overall performance and visual effects across the entire phone. Background App Refresh only stops apps from updating when you are not using them. Using both together saves the most battery, but Low Power Mode alone is faster and easier if you just need a quick fix.
Can I use my phone normally while Low Power Mode is on?
Yes. Low Power Mode slows down performance slightly and reduces some visual effects, but calls, texts, email, and web browsing all work normally. You will not notice the difference for everyday tasks, only in demanding apps like games or video editing.
Why does my battery drain so fast even with these settings on?
A battery that drains unusually fast may be old or damaged. Batteries degrade over time and hold less charge after 500 full charge cycles (about two years of normal use). Go to Settings, tap Battery, then Battery Health & Charging to see your battery's maximum capacity. If it is below 80 percent, the battery may need replacement.