The fastest way to extend battery life is to lower your screen brightness and enable Low Power Mode
Your iPhone screen uses more power than any other component. Lowering brightness to 30 to 40 percent cuts battery drain noticeably, and you adjust it by swiping down from the top-right corner (iPhone X and later) or up from the bottom (iPhone 8 and earlier), then dragging the brightness slider left. If you find yourself squinting, turn on True Tone in Settings > Display & Brightness — it adjusts color temperature to your environment and feels easier on the eyes at lower brightness levels.
Low Power Mode is the single most effective setting. Enable it in Settings > Battery, then tap Low Power Mode. It reduces CPU speed, limits background activity, and disables some features like mail fetch and automatic downloads. Your phone will feel slightly slower, but battery life extends by 15 to 25 percent. You can also set your iPhone to turn Low Power Mode on automatically when the battery reaches 20 percent.
Key Takeaways
- Lower your screen brightness to 30 to 40 percent and enable Low Power Mode in Settings > Battery to see the biggest when ready improvement.
- Turn off location services for apps that do not need it, disable background app refresh, and stop mail from fetching automatically — all found in Settings.
- Close apps running in the background by swiping up from the bottom (iPhone X and later) or double-tapping the home button (iPhone 8 and earlier), then swiping up on each app.
- Keep your iPhone between 20 and 80 percent charge during normal use and avoid leaving it plugged in overnight, which degrades the battery over months and years.
- If your battery drains faster than it used to, check Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging to see if the battery has degraded below 80 percent capacity.
Turn off location services and background app refresh
Apps running in the background drain your battery even when you are not using them. Go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services and turn it off entirely, or scroll down and disable it for individual apps — most apps do not need constant location access. Maps and weather apps need it; social media and games usually do not.
Background App Refresh lets apps update their content in the background so they are fresh when you open them. Disable it in Settings > General > Background App Refresh, or turn it off for specific apps by scrolling down the same menu. Turning it off means your email and news apps will not update until you open them, but you save 5 to 10 percent battery life.
Stop automatic mail fetching and disable push notifications
Your Mail app can fetch new messages automatically every 15 minutes, or it can wait until you open the app. Go to Settings > Mail > Accounts > Fetch New Data and change the setting from Automatic to Manual or every 30 minutes. This is one of the largest hidden drains on older iPhones.
Push notifications wake your screen and trigger background activity. Go to Settings > Notifications and disable notifications for apps you do not need alerts from — keep them on for messages and calls, but turn them off for games, shopping apps, and news. You can also turn off banner notifications and use only badge icons, which do not light up your screen.
Close apps running in the background
Apps stay in memory after you close them and can run code in the background. On iPhone X and later, swipe up from the bottom of the screen and hold until the app switcher appears, then swipe up on each app card to close it. On iPhone 8 and earlier, double-tap the home button to open the app switcher, then swipe up on each app.
You do not need to close apps constantly — iOS manages memory well — but closing apps before you put your phone away for several hours prevents them from draining battery overnight. Focus on apps you know use location or play audio, like maps, music, and fitness apps.
Disable features you are not using right now
Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and cellular radios all consume power. Turn off Bluetooth in Settings > Bluetooth if you are not using wireless headphones or a smartwatch. Turn off Wi-Fi in Settings > Wi-Fi if you are away from home and using cellular data — your phone will not waste power searching for networks. You can also enable Airplane Mode in Settings or by swiping down from the top-right corner if you need your phone but do not need connectivity.
If you use your phone in a cold environment, battery drain accelerates because the battery chemistry slows down. Warm your phone in your pocket or a bag before using it heavily, and avoid leaving it in a cold car overnight.
Check your battery health and replace it if it has degraded
Over time, iPhone batteries lose capacity. Go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging and look at the Maximum Capacity number. If it is below 80 percent, your battery has degraded and will not hold a charge as long as it used to. If it is below 80 percent and you use your phone heavily, consider replacing the battery.
Apple replaces batteries at Apple Stores and authorized service providers. The cost varies by iPhone model but is typically $50 to $70. If your iPhone is under warranty or covered by AppleCare+, the replacement may be free. You can also check the Condition section in Battery Health & Charging — if it says "Service Recommended" or "Service Battery," the battery has degraded enough that Apple recommends replacement.
Do not use third-party chargers or batteries unless they are certified by Apple or carry the MFi (Made for iPhone) label. Cheap chargers can damage your battery and create safety hazards.
Adjust display settings for your usage pattern
If you use your phone indoors most of the time, enable Auto-Brightness in Settings > Display & Brightness. Your phone will adjust brightness based on ambient light, which saves battery in dim rooms. If you spend time outdoors, turn it off — outdoor sunlight forces the screen to maximum brightness, which drains the battery faster than a manual setting would.
You can also reduce the refresh rate on iPhone 13 Pro and later. Go to Settings > Display & Brightness and turn off 120Hz, which locks the screen to 60Hz and saves battery. The difference is noticeable if you scroll a lot, but most people do not see a visual difference in everyday use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does turning off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth really save battery?
Yes, but the savings are small — usually 2 to 5 percent per day — unless you have a lot of Bluetooth devices paired or your phone is searching for Wi-Fi networks constantly. Turn them off if you are away from home or not using wireless devices, but do not obsess over it if you use them regularly.
Is it bad to leave my iPhone plugged in overnight?
Modern iPhones have optimized battery charging that slows charging once the battery reaches 80 percent, so leaving your phone plugged in overnight does not damage it when ready. However, keeping your battery between 20 and 80 percent during normal use extends its lifespan over months and years. If you charge overnight regularly, your battery will degrade faster than if you unplug it at 100 percent.
Why does my battery drain faster in cold weather?
Cold slows the chemical reactions inside the battery, so it cannot deliver power as quickly. Your iPhone may even shut down at 20 percent battery in freezing temperatures, even though the battery is not actually empty. Warm your phone in your pocket or bag and the battery will recover.
Does closing apps in the background actually help?
Closing apps saves battery only if they are actively running code or using location services. iOS suspends most apps automatically, so closing them does not help much. Focus on closing apps you know use power — maps, music, fitness, and camera apps — rather than closing everything.
What should I do if my battery health is at 85 percent?
At 85 percent capacity, your battery is still healthy and does not need replacement. You will notice slightly shorter battery life than when the phone was new, but it is normal degradation. Most people replace their iPhone before the battery drops below 80 percent, so you likely have years of use left.