The fastest way to extend battery life is to lower screen brightness and enable Low Power Mode
Your iPhone's screen uses more power than any other component. Reducing brightness to 40 percent or lower cuts battery drain noticeably. On any iPhone, swipe down from the top-right corner (or up from the bottom on older models) to open Control Center, then drag the brightness slider left. You can also turn on Auto-Brightness in Settings > Display & Brightness, which adjusts brightness to match your surroundings and saves power throughout the day.
Low Power Mode is the single most effective setting. Enable it in Settings > Battery, then tap Low Power Mode and select "Turn On." Low Power Mode reduces CPU speed, limits background activity, and disables some visual effects. Your phone will still work normally, but apps refresh less often and some features pause. Most people can run Low Power Mode all day without noticing a difference in daily use.
If your battery drains faster than it used to, your battery health may be declining. Check it in Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging. If maximum capacity is below 80 percent, the battery is aging and will drain faster no matter what settings you change. Apple can replace the battery for a fee, or you can continue using the phone and straightforward charge it more often.
Key Takeaways
- Lowering screen brightness to 40 percent or less and enabling Low Power Mode are the two fastest ways to extend battery life without changing how your phone works.
- Background app refresh, location services, and push notifications drain battery even when you are not using your phone—turning them off for apps you do not need them for saves significant power.
- Check your battery health in Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging; if maximum capacity is below 80 percent, the battery is aging and replacement may be worth considering.
- Keeping your iPhone cool and avoiding full discharge cycles helps preserve battery lifespan over months and years.
Turn off background app refresh for apps that do not need it
Apps running in the background consume battery even when you are not looking at them. Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh and you will see a list of every app with permission to refresh. Toggle off background refresh for apps you rarely use or do not need real-time updates from—for example, a game, a news reader you check manually, or a shopping app. Leave it on for messaging apps, email, and maps if you use them regularly.
You do not have to turn off background refresh entirely. Disabling it only for the apps that drain the most power (you can see which ones in Settings > Battery > Battery Usage) gives you the biggest gain without losing functionality you actually need.
Disable location services for apps that do not need your location
Location services use GPS, Bluetooth, and cellular data to pinpoint your position. Many apps request location permission but do not need it constantly. Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services and scroll through the list. For each app, tap it and choose "Never," "While Using," or "Always." Choose "While Using" for maps and ride-sharing apps. Choose "Never" for apps like games, calculators, or news readers that do not need to know where you are.
Some apps show a purple arrow next to their name, meaning they used location in the last 24 hours. If you see apps you do not recognize using location, disable it for them when ready. Location running in the background is one of the fastest ways to drain a battery.
Reduce notifications and disable push notifications for low-priority apps
Every notification wakes your screen and triggers a small amount of processing. Go to Settings > Notifications and review which apps send you notifications. For apps you do not check often, tap the app name and toggle off "Allow Notifications." For apps you do want to hear from, tap the app and choose "Badges" or "Sounds" instead of "Banners"—badges use less power because they do not wake your screen.
Disable push notifications for email if you do not need when ready alerts. Go to Settings > Mail > Accounts, tap your email account, then Fetch New Data. Change the setting from "Push" to "Fetch Every 15 Minutes" or "Hourly." Your phone will check for mail on a schedule instead of the moment it arrives, which uses significantly less battery.
Keep your iPhone cool and avoid extreme temperatures
Lithium batteries drain faster and degrade more quickly when hot. Avoid leaving your iPhone in direct sunlight, in a car on a hot day, or in a case while charging if the phone feels warm. If your iPhone gets too hot, it will slow itself down or shut off charging to protect the battery. Remove the case while charging if your phone runs warm, and charge in a cool room.
Cold temperatures also affect battery performance temporarily—your iPhone may show a lower battery percentage in winter and return to normal when it warms up. This is not permanent damage. However, storing your iPhone in freezing conditions for long periods can harm the battery, so keep it at room temperature when not in use.
Disable visual effects and animations
Your iPhone's animations and visual effects—like parallax (the way icons shift when you tilt your phone) and transparency—use processing power. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size and toggle on "Reduce Motion." This disables most animations and makes your phone feel snappier while using less battery. You can also toggle on "Reduce Transparency" in the same menu to simplify visual effects.
These changes are subtle and most people do not notice them after a day or two. The battery savings are real but modest compared to Low Power Mode or screen brightness—use them as a secondary step after you have already lowered brightness and enabled Low Power Mode.
Charge your iPhone correctly to preserve battery health over time
How you charge affects how long your battery lasts over months and years. Lithium batteries last longest when they spend most of their time between 20 and 80 percent charge. If you regularly charge to 100 percent and let the battery drop to zero, you will wear it out faster. Charge your phone whenever it drops below 20 percent, and unplug it when it reaches 80 percent if you can.
If you cannot watch your phone while charging, use Optimized Battery Charging. Go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging and toggle on "Optimized Battery Charging." Your iPhone will learn your charging habits and slow charging to 80 percent overnight, then finish the last 20 percent an hour before you usually wake up. This keeps your battery in the healthier 20–80 range most of the time.
Avoid using your phone while it charges, especially with a case on. Charging generates heat, and using the phone at the same time makes it hotter. Let it sit undisturbed while plugged in.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does closing apps in the background save battery?
No. Closing apps does not save battery because apps in the background use almost no power unless they are actively refreshing. Closing and reopening an app actually uses more power because your phone has to reload it from storage. Leave apps open and instead disable background refresh for the ones you do not need it for.
Will using Low Power Mode damage my iPhone?
No. Low Power Mode is designed to be used every day. It straightforward reduces CPU speed and disables some background tasks temporarily. Your phone returns to normal performance the moment you turn Low Power Mode off or charge to 100 percent. There is no long-term harm.
Should I let my iPhone battery drain completely before charging?
No. Letting your battery drop to zero regularly wears it out faster. Charge your phone when it reaches 20 percent. Modern iPhones do not need a full discharge cycle to work properly, and avoiding it extends battery lifespan.
Why does my battery drain faster in winter?
Cold slows the chemical reactions inside the battery, so it delivers power more slowly and shows a lower percentage. This is temporary—your battery percentage will return to normal when your phone warms up. Storing your phone in freezing conditions for weeks can cause permanent damage, but normal winter use is fine.
Can I use a third-party charger without damaging my battery?
Yes, as long as it is certified by Apple or carries the USB-IF certification mark. Uncertified chargers may deliver inconsistent power and generate excess heat, which can harm the battery. Stick with Apple chargers or certified third-party brands.