Turn on Low Power Mode to cut background activity
Low Power Mode is the single fastest way to extend your battery life. When you turn it on, your iPhone slows down some processes, reduces visual effects, and stops apps from refreshing in the background. You will notice the difference in how long your phone lasts, though some apps may load slightly slower.
To turn it on, open Settings, tap Battery, then tap Battery Saver. Choose Low Power Mode. Your status bar will turn yellow to show it is active. You can also add it to Control Center — go to Settings, Control Center, then tap the plus sign next to Battery Saver — so you can toggle it on with one swipe from the top right of your screen.
Low Power Mode works on all recent iPhones and can stay on all day without harming your battery's long-term health. Many people leave it on permanently and only turn it off when they need full performance.
Key Takeaways
- Low Power Mode reduces background activity and extends battery life by limiting visual effects and app refreshes.
- Dimming your screen or turning on Auto-Brightness saves battery because the display uses more power than any other component.
- Turning off location services, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi when you are not using them prevents apps from draining power in the background.
- Closing apps that refresh constantly in the background and disabling notifications for apps you do not need can add hours to your battery life.
- Keeping your iPhone cool and avoiding extreme heat helps your battery hold a charge longer and stay healthy over time.
Lower your screen brightness or use Auto-Brightness
Your display is the biggest battery drain on your iPhone. The brighter your screen, the faster your battery empties. Lowering brightness is one of the easiest ways to add hours to your battery life.
Open Control Center by swiping down from the top right of your screen. You will see a brightness slider. Drag it to the left to dim your screen. Most people find that 30 to 50 percent brightness is comfortable for indoor use and saves significant battery.
For a hands-off approach, turn on Auto-Brightness. Go to Settings, Display & Brightness, then turn on Auto-Brightness. Your phone will adjust the screen brightness based on the light around you, so you are never using more brightness than you need. This alone can add 1 to 2 hours to your daily battery life.
Turn off location services and background app refresh
Apps that track your location or refresh constantly in the background drain your battery even when you are not using them. You do not need location services on all the time — most people use it only for maps, weather, or a few specific apps.
To turn off location services entirely, go to Settings, Privacy & Security, then Location Services. You can toggle the whole feature off, or scroll down to see individual apps and turn off location for the ones that do not need it. Maps, weather, and find-my-friends apps genuinely need location. A news app or game does not.
Background App Refresh lets apps update their content even when you are not looking at them. Go to Settings, General, then Background App Refresh. Turn it off entirely, or scroll down and turn it off for individual apps. Disable it for social media, news, and games — keep it on only for email, messages, or calendar if you want those to update while your phone is locked.
Disable Bluetooth and Wi-Fi when you are not using them
Bluetooth and Wi-Fi search for connections constantly, which uses battery power. If you are not actively using either one, turning them off will extend your battery life.
Open Control Center and tap the Bluetooth icon to turn it off, or tap the Wi-Fi icon to disconnect. You can also go to Settings and toggle them off there. Many people turn these off during their commute or workday and turn them back on when they get home.
If you use Wi-Fi at home or work, leaving it on in those locations is actually more efficient than using cellular data — Wi-Fi uses less power than LTE or 5G. The key is turning it off when you are moving between locations or in an area where you do not have a trusted network.
Reduce notifications and disable visual effects
Every time your phone lights up to show a notification, it uses battery power. Apps that send constant notifications — social media, games, news apps — drain your battery faster than apps you check manually.
Go to Settings, Notifications, then scroll through your apps. For apps you do not need to hear from constantly, tap the app name and turn off notifications, or change the notification style to Badges Only (a small number on the app icon) instead of banners or sounds. This stops your screen from lighting up and your phone from working to deliver the alert.
You can also reduce visual effects that use battery. Go to Settings, Accessibility, Display & Text Size, then turn on Reduce Motion. This disables animations when you open apps or swipe between screens. It is a small change, but it adds up over the course of a day.
Keep your iPhone cool and avoid extreme temperatures
Heat damages your battery and makes it drain faster. If your iPhone gets too warm, it will slow itself down to cool off, which also drains the battery. Avoid leaving your phone in direct sunlight, in a hot car, or near a heat source.
In winter, extreme cold can also drain your battery temporarily — the battery will recover once your phone warms up, but while it is cold, it will not hold a charge as well. If you are outside in freezing weather, keep your phone in an inside pocket close to your body.
If your iPhone is hot to the touch, close apps and let it rest for a few minutes before using it again. Remove any thick case if your phone is overheating, as cases can trap heat.
Close apps running in the background and check battery usage
Some apps use far more battery than others. You can see which apps are draining your battery the most by going to Settings, Battery, then Battery Usage. The list shows you which apps have used the most power in the last 24 hours or the last 10 days.
If you see an app using an unusually high percentage of your battery — more than 10 to 15 percent for an app you barely use — you have a few options. You can uninstall it, turn off background refresh for it, or turn off notifications. Sometimes an app has a bug that makes it drain battery faster than normal; uninstalling and reinstalling it can fix that.
You can also close apps manually by swiping up from the bottom of the screen (or swiping down from the top left on older models) to see your open apps, then swiping up on the ones you are not using. This stops them from running in the background, though iOS already closes apps automatically when it needs memory.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Low Power Mode damage my battery long-term?
No. Low Power Mode does not harm your battery's health. It straightforward reduces performance temporarily. You can use it every day without any negative effects on how long your battery will last over months and years.
Will turning off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth really make a big difference?
It depends on how often your phone searches for connections. If you are in an area with weak Wi-Fi or many Bluetooth devices around, turning them off can add 30 minutes to an hour to your battery life. In areas with strong signals, the difference is smaller.
What is the best brightness level for battery life?
The lower the better for battery, but most people find 30 to 50 percent brightness comfortable indoors. Auto-Brightness is the best option because it adjusts automatically and you do not have to think about it.
Can I use all these tips at once?
Yes. Using Low Power Mode, lowering brightness, and turning off background refresh together can easily add 4 to 6 hours to your battery life. Start with Low Power Mode and Auto-Brightness, then add the others based on what you actually need.
Why is my battery draining so fast even with these changes?
Check Battery Usage in Settings to see which app is using the most power. If one app is using more than 20 percent of your battery, try uninstalling and reinstalling it. If your battery drains even when your phone is off, your battery may be wearing out and you may need a replacement.