Turn on Low Power Mode to cut background activity

Low Power Mode is the single fastest way to extend your iPhone's battery life. When you turn it on, your phone reduces processor speed, limits background app refresh, and dims the display slightly. Most people see 1 to 3 extra hours of use before needing to charge.

To turn it on, open Settings, tap Battery, then toggle on Low Power Mode. You can also swipe up from the bottom of your screen (or down from the top right on newer models) to open Control Center and tap the battery icon. Low Power Mode stays on until your battery reaches 20 percent, then turns off automatically—or you can turn it off manually whenever you want.

Low Power Mode does not delete data or change your settings permanently. Everything returns to normal once you turn it off. The trade-off is that some features work slower, but for most daily tasks like texting, email, and web browsing, you will not notice the difference.

Key Takeaways

  • Low Power Mode extends battery life by 1 to 3 hours and is the fastest single change you can make.
  • Turning off background app refresh, location services, and push notifications for apps you do not use constantly saves significant battery without affecting core phone functions.
  • Reducing screen brightness and enabling auto-brightness prevents the display from draining battery faster than any other single component.
  • Disabling Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and cellular data when you are not using them stops your phone from constantly searching for connections.
  • Checking which apps use the most battery in Settings helps you decide whether to uninstall them, restrict their background activity, or use them less often.

Reduce screen brightness and enable auto-brightness

Your display uses more battery than any other component on your iPhone. Lowering brightness is one of the most effective ways to extend battery life, especially if you use your phone for several hours a day.

Open Settings, tap Display & Brightness, and drag the brightness slider to the left. Most people find 30 to 50 percent brightness comfortable for indoor use. If you spend time outdoors, enable Auto-Brightness in the same menu—your phone will adjust brightness based on surrounding light, so you are not running the screen at full power in dim rooms.

If you have an iPhone 12 or newer with an OLED display, you can also enable Dark Mode in Settings under Display & Brightness. Dark Mode displays black pixels by turning them off entirely on OLED screens, which uses less power than showing white or bright colors. Older iPhones with LCD screens see less benefit from Dark Mode, but it still helps slightly.

Turn off background app refresh for apps you do not use constantly

Background App Refresh lets apps update their content even when you are not using them. This is useful for weather, news, and messaging apps, but it drains battery if enabled for every app on your phone.

Open Settings, tap General, then Background App Refresh. You will see a list of every app with permission to refresh in the background. Toggle off the apps you do not check regularly—for example, if you use a fitness app once a week, turn off its background refresh. Keep it on for apps like Mail, Messages, and any calendar or reminder app you rely on throughout the day.

Turning off background refresh does not delete data or prevent notifications. The app straightforward will not update until you open it. The next time you launch it, the content will refresh when ready.

Disable location services for apps that do not need it

Location services use GPS, Bluetooth, and cellular data to pinpoint your location. Apps like Maps and weather need it, but many apps request location permission and use it constantly in the background, draining battery even when you are not actively using them.

Open Settings, tap Privacy & Security, then Location Services. You will see every app that has requested location access. Tap each app and choose "Never" or "Only While Using" instead of "Always." For most apps—social media, games, shopping apps—choose "Never." For apps like Maps or a delivery service you use actively, choose "Only While Using" so they can access your location only when you have the app open.

If you do not use location services at all, you can toggle off Location Services entirely at the top of the same menu. This saves the most battery but will disable Maps and weather location features until you turn it back on.

Turn off push notifications and fetch mail less frequently

Push notifications wake up your phone and light the screen every time an app sends you a message. If you have dozens of apps sending notifications, your phone is constantly working even when you are not using it.

Open Settings, tap Notifications, and review which apps send notifications. Disable notifications for apps you do not need to hear from when ready—games, shopping apps, and social media are common culprits. Keep notifications on for Messages, Mail, and any app related to work or safety.

For email specifically, open Settings, tap Mail, then Accounts. Tap Fetch New Data and change the fetch interval from "Every 15 Minutes" or "Every 30 Minutes" to "Hourly" or "Manually." This means your phone will check for new mail less often, reducing battery drain. You will still receive notifications for important emails if you have them enabled.

Disable Bluetooth and Wi-Fi when you are not using them

Bluetooth and Wi-Fi constantly search for available networks and devices, even when you are not actively connected. Turning them off when you do not need them saves battery, especially on long days away from home.

Swipe up from the bottom of your screen (or down from the top right on newer models) to open Control Center. Tap the Bluetooth icon to turn it off, and tap the Wi-Fi icon to turn it off. You can turn them back on the same way whenever you need them. If you use Bluetooth headphones or a smartwatch regularly, you may want to leave Bluetooth on—the battery savings from turning it off are smaller than the savings from the other steps in this guide.

If you travel frequently or spend time in areas with poor cellular coverage, turning off cellular data can also help. Open Settings, tap Cellular, and toggle off Cellular Data. Your phone will use Wi-Fi only, which uses less power than constantly searching for a cellular signal.

Check which apps drain the most battery and restrict them

Some apps are straightforward more power-hungry than others. Games, video streaming apps, and social media apps that run background processes consume far more battery than email or messaging apps. Identifying which apps drain the most power helps you decide whether to uninstall them, use them less often, or restrict their background activity.

Open Settings, tap Battery, then tap 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. Tap the time period toggle at the top to switch between views. If an app you rarely use is in the top five, consider uninstalling it or using a web version instead. If an app you use frequently is draining unusual amounts of battery, you may have a background process running unnecessarily—go back to Background App Refresh and turn it off for that app.

If an app crashes or behaves strangely after you restrict its background activity, you can always turn the restriction back on. There is no penalty for experimenting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Low Power Mode slow down my iPhone?

Low Power Mode reduces processor speed, so demanding tasks like gaming or video editing will feel noticeably slower. For everyday use—texting, email, web browsing, and social media—most people do not notice a difference. You can turn it off anytime if you need full speed.

Will turning off background app refresh prevent me from getting notifications?

No. Turning off background app refresh stops the app from updating in the background, but push notifications still arrive when ready. Your phone will still alert you when someone texts or emails you, even if background refresh is off for that app.

Can I schedule Low Power Mode to turn on automatically?

Yes. Open Settings, tap Battery, then tap Low Power Mode. Scroll down and toggle on "Turn On Automatically," then choose a battery percentage. Your phone will turn on Low Power Mode automatically when your battery drops to that level.

Does Dark Mode save battery on all iPhones?

Dark Mode saves meaningful battery only on iPhones 12 and newer, which have OLED screens. On older iPhones with LCD screens, Dark Mode saves very little battery. If you have an older iPhone, focus on brightness and background app refresh instead.

What should I do if my battery drains very quickly even after these changes?

If battery drain continues despite Low Power Mode and the other steps above, your battery may be aging. Open Settings, tap Battery, then Battery Health & Charging to see your battery's maximum capacity. If it is below 80 percent, the battery itself may need replacement. You can also restart your iPhone or check for software updates in Settings, General, Software Update, as a software bug occasionally causes unusual drain.