The most common reasons your iPhone battery drains quickly

iPhone battery drain usually comes from one of three sources: an app running constantly in the background, a setting that keeps your screen or radios active when you don't need them, or a hardware problem developing inside the battery itself. Most of the time it is the first two, and you can fix them yourself in minutes.

The fastest way to find out which one is happening is to check your battery usage report. Go to Settings > Battery > Battery Usage. This screen shows you which apps have used the most power in the last 24 hours or the last 10 days. If one app is using 30 percent or more of your battery while you barely use it, that app is the problem. If the percentages are spread evenly across many apps, or if the top apps match how much you actually use your phone, then a setting or the battery itself is the culprit.

Key Takeaways

  • Check Settings > Battery > Battery Usage to see which apps are draining power; a single app using 30 percent or more is usually the problem.
  • Background App Refresh, location services, and screen brightness drain battery constantly, and turning them off or limiting them saves hours of use per day.
  • If your phone is more than three years old or has been through water damage, the battery itself may be failing and needs replacement.
  • Restarting your phone clears temporary glitches that cause phantom battery drain, and you should do this before trying anything else.
  • If battery usage is spread evenly across many apps and settings are normal, a hardware problem is likely and a technician should test it.

Restart your phone first

Before you change any settings or delete apps, restart your iPhone. Many battery drain problems are temporary glitches that clear themselves when the phone powers down and back up. Hold the power button until you see "slide to power off," slide it, wait 30 seconds, then hold the power button again until the Apple logo appears.

Let the phone sit for a few minutes after it restarts, then check your battery usage again. If the drain has stopped or slowed, the problem was a temporary glitch and you are done. If it continues, move to the next step.

Turn off Background App Refresh for problem apps

Background App Refresh lets apps keep running and checking for new information even when you are not using them. This is useful for email and messaging apps, but wasteful for games, news apps, and social media. Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh. You will see a list of every app on your phone. Toggle off the switch next to any app that does not need to update while you are away from it.

If your battery usage report showed one specific app draining power, turn off Background App Refresh for that app first. Then check your battery usage again after a few hours of normal use. If the drain stops, you have found the problem. If it continues, turn Background App Refresh back on for that app and move to the next setting.

Limit location services and reduce screen brightness

Location services use your phone's GPS, which is one of the most power-hungry features available. Go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services. You will see a list of apps with location permission. For most apps, you do not need them to know your location all the time. Tap each app and choose Never, While Using, or Ask Next Time instead of Always. Maps and weather apps can stay on Always if you use them regularly, but social media and games should be While Using or Never.

Screen brightness is the second biggest battery drain after apps. Go to Settings > Display & Brightness and turn on Auto-Brightness. This adjusts your screen to match the light around you instead of staying at full brightness all day. If you prefer manual control, keep brightness below 40 percent for indoor use.

Check for battery health and age

If you have made the changes above and battery drain continues, or if your phone is more than three years old, the battery itself may be failing. Go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging. Look at the number under Maximum Capacity. If it is 80 percent or higher, your battery is still healthy. If it is below 80 percent, the battery has degraded and will not hold a charge as long as it used to.

If Maximum Capacity is below 50 percent, or if you see a message saying "Your battery may need service," the battery needs replacement. You can take your phone to an Apple Store or an authorized repair shop. Battery replacement usually takes one to two hours and costs between $50 and $100 depending on your model, though the cost varies by location and provider.

Turn off features you do not use

Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and cellular data all drain battery when they are searching for a signal. If you are not using them, turn them off. Go to Settings > Bluetooth and toggle it off. Go to Settings > Wi-Fi and toggle it off. You can also use Control Center (swipe down from the top right on newer iPhones, or up from the bottom on older ones) to turn these off quickly.

If you use Wi-Fi at home or work, leave it on in those places — Wi-Fi uses less power than cellular data. But if you are somewhere with no Wi-Fi, turning off Wi-Fi searching saves battery. The same is true for Bluetooth: if you are not using wireless headphones or a smartwatch, turn it off.

Update iOS and apps

Apple releases iOS updates that often fix battery drain problems in older versions. Go to Settings > General > Software Update and install any update available. This may take 15 to 30 minutes and requires your phone to be plugged in.

App developers also release updates that fix battery problems. Go to the App Store, tap your profile picture in the top right, scroll down to "Available Updates," and update any app that has a newer version. If a specific app is draining your battery, updating it often solves the problem.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my battery drain faster in cold weather?

Cold temperatures slow the chemical reactions inside your battery, making it deliver power more slowly. Your phone may show 20 percent battery but shut down anyway because the battery cannot deliver power fast enough. The battery recovers when it warms up. If this happens often, your battery may be aging and needs replacement.

Does closing apps in the background save battery?

No. Closing apps does not save battery because iOS automatically stops apps from using power when you switch away from them. Constantly closing and reopening apps actually uses more power. Let iOS manage your apps and focus instead on turning off Background App Refresh for apps that do not need it.

Should I use Low Power Mode all the time?

Low Power Mode reduces performance and disables some features to stretch battery life, but it is meant for emergencies, not daily use. Use it when you are below 20 percent battery and cannot charge soon. For everyday use, fix the settings and apps draining power instead of running in Low Power Mode constantly.

Can a software glitch cause battery drain that restarting does not fix?

Yes. If restarting does not help, a corrupted app or iOS setting may be the cause. Try uninstalling the app that showed the highest usage in your battery report, then reinstall it from the App Store. If that does not work, you may need to restore your phone through a computer using Finder or iTunes, which erases everything and reinstalls iOS fresh.

What if my battery drains even when I am not using my phone?

This usually means an app is running in the background or a radio like Bluetooth or Wi-Fi is searching for a signal. Check your battery usage report to see which apps are active. If no single app stands out, go through the settings above — turn off Background App Refresh, location services, and Bluetooth. If drain continues, the battery itself may be failing.