We’ve all been there – that moment of panic when you realize your iPhone battery is at 10% and you still have hours before you can get to a charger.
Battery anxiety is real, and in our increasingly connected world, having a phone that can keep up with our busy lives is essential.
The good news is that you don’t need to carry around a bulky power bank or hunt for outlets throughout your day. With a few simple tweaks and habits, you can significantly extend your iPhone’s battery life.
I’ve compiled these 10 practical hacks that actually work, based on how iPhones really function – no myths or placebo fixes here.
Let’s dive in and help you keep your iPhone powered up when you need it most!
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1. Adjust Your Screen Brightness
Your iPhone’s display is one of the biggest battery drainers.
Keeping your screen brightness at maximum level will quickly deplete your battery. Instead, try lowering it to a comfortable level that’s still visible but not blindingly bright.
Turn on Auto-Brightness in Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size > Auto-Brightness. This feature adjusts your screen based on ambient light, using just enough power for visibility without overdoing it.
In bright sunlight, your screen will brighten automatically, while dimming in darker environments to save battery.
If you’re really trying to conserve battery, manually dim your screen even further by swiping down to access Control Center and adjusting the brightness slider.
2. Enable Low Power Mode
When your battery hits 20%, your iPhone will automatically suggest turning on Low Power Mode but don’t wait until then!
You can manually enable it anytime by going to Settings > Battery > Low Power Mode or adding it to your Control Center for quick access.
Low Power Mode is like putting your iPhone on an energy diet.
It reduces or pauses background app refresh, automatic downloads, some visual effects, and mail fetch. Your phone might seem slightly less responsive, but you’ll gain significant battery life when you really need it.
Pro tip: Create an automation in Shortcuts to automatically enable Low Power Mode when your battery falls below a certain percentage of your choosing.
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3. Identify Battery-Draining Apps
Not all apps are created equal when it comes to battery consumption. Some are serious power hogs that can drain your battery even when you’re not actively using them.
Go to Settings > Battery to see which apps are using the most power. If you spot an app that’s using a disproportionate amount of battery (especially in the “Background Activity” category), consider limiting its background refresh, location access, or even deleting it if it’s not essential.
Social media apps, games with high-quality graphics, and video streaming services are typically the biggest culprits.
Consider accessing these through your browser instead of dedicated apps when you’re trying to save battery.
4. Turn Off Unnecessary Location Services
GPS is a notorious battery drain. Many apps request location access, but few genuinely need it all the time.
Review which apps have access to your location by going to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services.
Change settings from “Always” to “While Using the App” or “Ask Next Time” for most apps. For many apps, you can even select “Never” without losing essential functionality.
Pay special attention to the apps that use precise location. For many apps like weather or food delivery, approximate location works just fine and uses less battery.
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5. Manage Your Connectivity Options
Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and cellular data all consume battery power, especially when they’re constantly searching for signals.
Turn off Bluetooth when you’re not using it with accessories. Disable Wi-Fi when you’re out and about with no intention of connecting to networks.
In areas with poor cellular coverage, consider temporarily enabling Airplane Mode, as your phone wastes significant battery searching for a signal.
AirDrop, Personal Hotspot, and NFC are also battery consumers.
Keep them turned off until you specifically need them.
6. Optimize Mail Settings
Do you really need to know the second a new email arrives? Probably not. Push email constantly keeps a connection open, which drains battery.
Go to Settings > Mail > Accounts > Fetch New Data. Turn off Push and choose a schedule for fetching mail – every 15 minutes, 30 minutes, hourly, or manually. The less frequent the fetching, the more battery you’ll save.
For non-essential email accounts, set them to Manual fetch so they only check for new mail when you open the Mail app.
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7. Enable Dark Mode
This hack works particularly well if your iPhone has an OLED display (iPhone X and newer models).
OLED screens turn off pixels that are displaying black, which means Dark Mode can significantly reduce power consumption.
Turn on Dark Mode by going to Settings > Display & Brightness > Dark, or set it to automatic so it enables at sunset. Not only does it save battery, but many users find it easier on the eyes, especially at night.
For maximum battery benefit, use true black wallpapers along with Dark Mode to keep as many pixels off as possible.
8. Update Your iOS
Apple regularly releases iOS updates that include battery optimizations and fixes for bugs that might be draining your battery.
Keep your iPhone updated by going to Settings > General > Software Update. Enable Automatic Updates to ensure you’re always running the most efficient version of iOS.
After major updates, your phone might initially seem to drain faster as it reindexes and optimizes in the background.
Give it a day or two to settle before judging the impact on battery life.
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9. Disable Unnecessary Visual Effects and Features
iPhones come with many visual flourishes and convenience features that look great but consume extra power.
Turn off animations by going to Settings > Accessibility > Motion > Reduce Motion. This replaces sliding animations with simpler dissolves that use less processing power.
Consider disabling features like “Raise to Wake” (Settings > Display & Brightness) and “Hey Siri” (Settings > Siri & Search) if battery life is more important than convenience.
Background app refresh (Settings > General > Background App Refresh) is another feature that’s convenient but battery-intensive. Disable it completely or selectively for non-essential apps.
10. Maintain Optimal Battery Health
Taking care of your battery’s overall health will ensure better daily performance. Avoid exposing your iPhone to extreme temperatures, as both heat and cold can damage battery capacity.
Enable Optimized Battery Charging in Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging. This feature learns your charging routine and delays charging past 80% until you need it, reducing battery aging.
Contrary to some beliefs, it’s better to keep your battery between 20% and 80% rather than letting it drain completely before recharging.
Partial charges are actually healthier for modern lithium-ion batteries.
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Conclusion
Your iPhone battery doesn’t have to be a source of constant anxiety.
By implementing these practical hacks, you can significantly extend your battery life and reduce the number of times you need to reach for a charger throughout the day.
Some of these changes might take a little getting used to, but the payoff in extended battery life is worth the minimal inconvenience.
Remember, battery optimization is about finding the right balance between functionality and longevity. You don’t need to implement all these hacks at once. Start with the ones that seem most practical for your lifestyle, and gradually incorporate others as needed.
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