Turn on Low Power Mode to cut power drain when ready
Low Power Mode reduces how hard your iPhone works and cuts battery drain by roughly half. When you turn it on, your phone slows down slightly, dims the screen a bit, and stops background tasks that are not urgent. You will notice the difference most in how long the phone lasts between charges.
To turn it on, open Settings, tap Battery, then tap Battery Health & Charging. Scroll down and toggle Low Power Mode on. Your phone will show a yellow battery icon at the top to remind you it is active. You can also swipe up from the bottom of the screen (or down from the top right on newer models) and tap the battery icon in Control Center to turn it on faster next time.
Low Power Mode stays on until your battery reaches 20 percent, then turns off automatically. You can turn it off sooner if you need full speed — for example, if you are using GPS or taking photos and the slowdown bothers you.
Key Takeaways
- Low Power Mode cuts battery drain by roughly half and is the single fastest way to extend your phone's time between charges.
- Closing apps running in the background, turning off location services for apps that do not need it, and reducing screen brightness all reduce drain without slowing your phone down.
- Turning off Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and cellular data when you are not using them saves battery, but turning off Wi-Fi actually drains the battery faster because your phone searches for a signal instead.
- Older batteries hold less charge than new ones, and you can check your battery's health in Settings to see whether it is time to replace it.
- Charging your phone to 80 percent instead of 100 percent, and keeping it out of heat, slows down the damage that happens to every battery over time.
Close background apps and stop location tracking for apps that do not need it
Apps running in the background use power even when you are not looking at them. Some apps need to run in the background — your mail app, your messaging app, your maps app when you are navigating. Others do not. Stopping the ones that do not need it saves battery without changing how your phone works.
To see which apps are running in the background, open Settings, tap General, then tap Background App Refresh. You will see a list of every app on your phone. Toggle off Background App Refresh for apps you do not use often or that do not need to update when you are not using them — for example, a news app, a game, or a social media app. Leave it on for mail, messages, maps, and your phone app.
Location services drain battery because your phone is constantly checking where you are. Go to Settings, tap Privacy & Security, then tap Location Services. You will see which apps are using your location. For each app, tap it and choose "Never" instead of "Always" or "While Using". Apps like maps and weather need location while you are using them, but a flashlight app or a notes app does not need to know where you are at all.
Reduce screen brightness and turn off auto-brightness if it is too high
Your screen is the biggest battery drain on your phone. The brighter it is, the faster the battery empties. Lowering the brightness to a level you can still read saves hours of battery life.
Swipe down from the top right of your screen (or up from the bottom on older models) to open Control Center. You will see a brightness slider. Drag it down to a level that is comfortable to read in your current light. The lower you go, the longer your battery lasts.
If you use Auto-Brightness, your phone adjusts the screen brightness based on the light around you. This sounds helpful but often keeps the screen brighter than you need. Go to Settings, tap Display & Brightness, and toggle off Auto-Brightness. Then set the brightness slider to a level you like and leave it there. You can always raise it temporarily if you are outside in bright sun.
Turn off Bluetooth and Wi-Fi when you are not using them — but know that turning off Wi-Fi actually drains battery faster
Bluetooth drains battery when it is on, even if you are not connected to anything. If you do not use wireless headphones or a smartwatch, turn Bluetooth off in Control Center. The same goes for Wi-Fi if you are in a place with no network you want to use.
However, turning off Wi-Fi when you are in range of a network you normally use actually drains your battery faster. When Wi-Fi is off, your phone searches for a cellular signal instead, which uses more power than staying connected to Wi-Fi. If you are at home or at work where you have Wi-Fi, leave Wi-Fi on. If you are somewhere with no network you use, then turn it off.
Cellular data itself does not drain much battery, but if your signal is weak, your phone works harder to stay connected. You cannot control signal strength, but you can turn off cellular data in Settings if you are in airplane mode or if you know you will not need it for a while.
Check your battery health and replace it if it is worn out
Every iPhone battery loses the ability to hold a charge over time. After two or three years, a battery might hold only 80 percent of the charge it held when new. After four or five years, it might hold 60 percent. You cannot stop this from happening, but you can see how worn your battery is and decide whether to replace it.
Go to Settings, tap Battery, then tap Battery Health & Charging. You will see "Maximum Capacity" — this is the percentage of charge your battery can hold compared to when it was new. If it says 80 percent, your battery holds 80 percent of its original charge. If it says 60 percent, it holds 60 percent.
If your battery is below 80 percent and your phone is more than two years old, replacing the battery is usually cheaper than buying a new phone and will make your phone last much longer between charges. Apple and most phone repair shops can replace the battery. The cost varies, but is usually between $50 and $100.
Charge your phone to 80 percent instead of 100 percent to slow battery aging
Charging your battery all the way to 100 percent every day wears it out faster than charging it to 80 percent. This is because lithium batteries — the kind in iPhones — age faster when they are fully charged. If you charge to 80 percent instead, your battery will stay healthier longer.
You do not have to do this every day. But if you charge your phone overnight, you can set it to stop charging at 80 percent automatically. Go to Settings, tap Battery, then tap Battery Health & Charging. Scroll down and toggle on Optimized Battery Charging. Your phone will learn when you usually charge it and will slow down charging to 80 percent until you need the phone, then finish charging the last 20 percent.
If you are going on a trip and need the full charge, you can turn off Optimized Battery Charging temporarily. Just toggle it off before you charge, then turn it back on when you get home.
Keep your phone cool and avoid heat
Heat damages batteries. If your phone gets hot — from sitting in a hot car, from using it while charging, or from running a demanding app for a long time — the battery ages faster and drains quicker.
Keep your phone out of direct sunlight and away from heat sources. If your phone gets hot while you are using it, close apps and let it cool down. If it gets hot while charging, unplug it and let it cool before you charge again. In very hot weather, take your phone out of a case for a while so air can cool it down.
Wireless charging generates more heat than wired charging, so if your battery is already worn, use a wired charger instead. The difference is small, but it adds up over time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does turning off Wi-Fi save battery?
Not if you are in range of a network. When Wi-Fi is off, your phone searches for a cellular signal, which drains more power than staying connected to Wi-Fi. Turn Wi-Fi off only if you are somewhere with no network you use, like a remote area or a place where you do not have an account.
Will Low Power Mode slow down my phone?
Yes, slightly. Your phone will be a bit slower at opening apps and loading web pages. Most people do not notice much difference in everyday use. If the slowdown bothers you, turn Low Power Mode off — it is not worth the frustration if you do not need the extra battery life at that moment.
How often should I replace my iPhone battery?
When the maximum capacity drops below 80 percent, replacement becomes worth considering. Most people replace the battery every three to four years. If your phone is older and the battery is at 60 percent or lower, replacing it is almost always cheaper than buying a new phone.
Can I use my phone while it is charging without damaging the battery?
Yes, but it generates heat, which ages the battery faster. If you need to use your phone while charging, unplug it, use it, then plug it back in when you are done. Avoid using demanding apps like games or video while the phone is charging.
Does dark mode save battery on my iPhone?
Only on newer iPhones with OLED screens — iPhone 12 and later. On older iPhones with LCD screens, dark mode makes almost no difference. If you have a newer phone, dark mode does save some battery, but lowering the brightness saves much more.