Turn on Low Power Mode to cut battery drain by half
Low Power Mode reduces the power your iPhone uses by limiting background activity, dimming the screen slightly, and slowing down processing. When you turn it on, your phone uses roughly half the battery per hour compared to normal operation. You can turn it on manually whenever you want, or set your iPhone to turn it on automatically when the battery reaches 20 percent.
To turn on Low Power Mode manually, open Settings, tap Battery, then toggle Low Power Mode on. The toggle appears in Control Center too — swipe down from the top right corner and tap the battery icon. Low Power Mode stays on until you turn it off or charge your phone to 80 percent, whichever comes first.
Low Power Mode does slow down some tasks noticeably. Apps take longer to open, downloads are slower, and video playback may stutter. But if you need your phone to last through the day on one charge, the tradeoff is worth it.
Key Takeaways
- Low Power Mode cuts battery drain in half by limiting background activity and processing speed, and you can turn it on manually or set it to set up at 20 percent battery.
- Reduce screen brightness to the lowest level you can read comfortably, or turn on Auto-Brightness so your phone adjusts brightness based on the light around you.
- Turn off location services for apps that do not need it, disable Bluetooth and Wi-Fi when you are not using them, and turn off background app refresh for apps you do not check often.
- Keep your iPhone between 20 and 80 percent charged most of the time, avoid heat above 95 degrees Fahrenheit, and do not let the battery drain completely to zero regularly.
- Update to the latest iOS version, close apps running in the background, and check Settings to see which apps are draining the most battery.
Lower your screen brightness or use Auto-Brightness
Your screen is the single biggest battery drain on an iPhone. Lowering the brightness cuts battery use significantly. Open Settings, tap Display & Brightness, and drag the brightness slider all the way down to the lowest level you can still read comfortably. If you are indoors under bright lights, you may be able to go lower than you think.
A better option is Auto-Brightness, which adjusts your screen brightness automatically based on the light around you. Turn it on in Settings under Display & Brightness. Your phone uses its front-facing camera to measure the light in the room and dims the screen in dim rooms, brightens it in bright rooms. This saves battery without you having to think about it.
If you use your phone outdoors in sunlight, Auto-Brightness will raise the brightness high enough to see the screen, which uses more battery. But indoors, where most people spend most of their time, Auto-Brightness typically uses less battery than manual brightness.
Turn off location services, Bluetooth, and background app refresh
Location services use your phone's GPS chip constantly, which drains battery fast. Open Settings, tap Privacy & Security, then Location Services. You will see a list of every app that uses your location. Turn off location for apps that do not need it — for example, your calculator app does not need to know where you are. Leave it on for Maps, Weather, and Find My, but turn it off for social media apps, games, and news apps.
Bluetooth and Wi-Fi search for connections in the background even when you are not using them. Turn them off when you leave home or when you do not need them. Open Control Center and tap the Bluetooth icon to turn it off, or tap the Wi-Fi icon. They turn back on automatically when you restart your phone, so you do not have to remember to turn them back on every day.
Background App Refresh lets apps update their content even when you are not using them — for example, Mail checks for new messages, or Weather updates the forecast. This uses battery constantly. Open Settings, tap General, then Background App Refresh. Turn it off entirely, or turn it off for individual apps you do not check often. Keep it on for Mail, Messages, and any app you want to get notifications from.
Keep your battery charged between 20 and 80 percent
iPhone batteries degrade over time, and the way you charge affects how fast that happens. Charging to 100 percent and letting the battery drain to zero regularly wears out the battery faster than keeping it in the middle range. The sweet spot is between 20 and 80 percent — charge your phone when it hits 20 percent, and unplug it when it reaches 80 percent.
This is not always practical in daily life, so do not stress about it. But if you want your battery to stay healthy for years, avoid letting it sit at 100 percent for long periods and avoid letting it drain all the way to zero regularly. If you charge your phone overnight, turn on Optimized Battery Charging in Settings under Battery. Your phone learns when you usually charge it and slows down charging to 80 percent until you need it, then finishes charging to 100 percent just before you wake up.
Optimized Battery Charging is the easiest way to protect your battery without changing your routine. It works automatically once you turn it on.
Avoid heat and keep your phone cool
Heat damages iPhone batteries permanently. Avoid leaving your phone in direct sunlight, in a hot car, or in other places where the temperature climbs above 95 degrees Fahrenheit. If your phone gets hot during normal use — for example, while playing a graphics-heavy game or recording video — let it cool down before you use it again.
Remove your phone case while charging if the case is thick or traps heat. Thin cases are fine, but thick leather cases or heavy protective cases can prevent heat from escaping while your phone charges. If your phone feels warm to the touch while charging, take the case off.
If your phone overheats, iOS will slow it down or stop charging to protect the battery. You will see a warning message on the screen. Let your phone cool down in a room-temperature environment before you use it again.
Update iOS and close apps running in the background
Apple releases iOS updates that often include battery improvements. Open Settings, tap General, then Software Update. If an update is available, plug in your phone and install it. Updates can fix bugs that drain battery, improve how efficiently apps run, and optimize how your phone manages power.
Apps running in the background use battery even when you are not looking at them. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen to open the app switcher and see which apps are open. Swipe up on any app to close it. You do not need to close apps constantly — iOS manages background activity well — but if you notice your battery draining fast, close apps you are not using.
Check which apps are using the most battery by opening Settings, tapping Battery, then Battery Usage. You will see a list of apps ranked by how much battery they have used in the last 24 hours or the last 10 days. If one app is using far more battery than others, consider uninstalling it or checking its settings to see if you can reduce its battery use.
Disable notifications and reduce visual effects
Every time your phone lights up to show a notification, it uses battery. Open Settings, tap Notifications, and turn off notifications for apps you do not need alerts from. Keep notifications on for Messages, Mail, and apps you use frequently, but turn them off for games, news apps, and social media.
Visual effects like animations and transparency also use battery. Open Settings, tap Accessibility, then Display & Text Size. Turn on Reduce Motion to cut down on animations when you swipe between screens or open apps. This is a small change, but it adds up over time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does leaving my iPhone plugged in overnight damage the battery?
No, not if you have Optimized Battery Charging turned on. Your phone will charge to 80 percent and then wait until just before you wake up to finish charging to 100 percent. If you do not have it turned on, your phone charges to 100 percent and stays there, which does wear the battery slightly faster over years. Turn on Optimized Battery Charging in Settings under Battery to protect your battery during overnight charging.
Is it bad to use my iPhone while it is charging?
Using your phone while charging generates heat, which can damage the battery over time. It is fine to use your phone occasionally while it charges, but avoid heavy use like gaming or video recording. If your phone feels warm while charging, stop using it and let it cool down.
Should I close all my apps to save battery?
No. iOS manages background apps efficiently, and closing apps does not save much battery. Closing apps actually uses more battery because your phone has to reload them from scratch when you open them again. Only close apps if you notice your battery draining unusually fast.
Does dark mode really save battery?
Dark mode saves battery only on iPhones with OLED screens — iPhone 12 and newer. On older iPhones with LCD screens, dark mode makes almost no difference. If you have a newer iPhone, turning on dark mode in Settings under Display & Brightness does reduce battery use slightly.
How often should I fully charge and drain my iPhone battery?
You do not need to fully charge and drain your battery regularly. In fact, doing this often wears out the battery faster. Charge your phone whenever it is convenient, and let iOS manage the rest. The only time you need a full charge is before a long day away from a charger.