iPhones have the best battery life amongst mobile devices, and many people opt for an iPhone over an Android phone because of their long battery life.
So when it begins to fail and slow down, it can be pretty disappointing. Here’s why this may happen, and what you can do about it.
My iPhone Battery Is Draining Fast – Top Reasons Why
First, in some cases it’s normal for an older iPhone battery to be draining faster over time. The older your device gets, the more wear and tear on the battery itself, resulting in a lower battery life.
But this is typically only relevant if you have an old model of iPhone that’s more than 4-5 years old, with most people upgrading before their device enters into its 5th year.
For newer iPhones that have a draining battery, there are some very common reasons why this happens, including:
- Excessive Background Activity – One of the primary culprits for a fast-draining iPhone battery is excessive background activity. Apps running in the background, such as email, social media, and location services, continuously update and use significant battery power.
- Rogue Apps or Software Glitches
Sometimes, a specific third party app or a software glitch can cause abnormal battery drain. - Outdated iOS – Running outdated versions of iOS can also lead to rapid battery depletion. Developers often release updates that include battery optimization improvements.
- Screen Brightness and Usage – High screen brightness significantly impacts battery life.
- Poor Cellular Signal – When your iPhone struggles to connect to a cellular network, it expends more power attempting to establish a strong connection.
- Battery Health Degradation – Over time, iPhone batteries degrade and lose their capacity to hold a charge. This natural wear can lead to quicker battery drain.
- Push Email and Notifications – Push email and frequent notifications require your iPhone to regularly connect to servers, using more battery.
- Location Services – Apps that frequently access your location, like maps and weather apps, can drain the battery faster.
These are the main reasons why you may notice your iPhone battery draining faster than it used to.
Now that we know the most common reasons, we can run through exact what you should do to combat this fairly common problem.
Update iOS and Apps
The first thing that you’ll want to do is ensure your iPhone and all apps are up to date.
Software updates often include battery performance improvements, and outdated software is known to run your battery down faster than normal.
Delete All Third Party Apps
One of the annoying things about your battery draining fast is identifying the cause. One of the most common reasons why this happens is because of a “rogue” third party apps, but it’s very difficult to tell which one it is.
For this reason, it’s advised to delete all of the third party apps on your iPhone that aren’t pre-installed. It’s also unlikely to be well known apps like Facebook and WhatsApp, but more so any smaller apps that you may have installed or updated recently.
Close Unnecessary Apps
As well as deleting apps that you’re no longer using, it’s also a good idea for you to regularly close apps you are not using.
This kind of background activity can build up when you have many apps that are running simultaneously, especially resource-intensive ones like games or video streaming services.
Monitor and Limit Background App Refresh
Some apps continuously update content in the background, leading to battery drain.
Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh and disable it for apps that don’t need to update in the background.
Adjust Screen Brightness and Timeout
Lowering the screen brightness and reducing the screen timeout duration can significantly save battery life.
You can also enable Auto-Brightness, which automatically adjusts the screen brightness based on the surrounding light.
Optimize Battery Charging
iOS has a feature to optimize battery charging, which helps slow down battery aging. Though this feature is usually enabled automatically, there’s a chance that you may have disabled it at some point.
To enable it, go into in Settings > Battery > Battery Health. Here, you’ll find the option to switch it on.
Use Low Power Mode
Activating Low Power Mode reduces background activity and power consumption – this mode is generally meant for when your iPhone has 1-20% battery, but it can also be used all the time if you want to extend the battery life of your device.
Fortunately, it’s very easy to switch on – you can enable it in Settings > Battery.
Check Battery Health
Over time, you’ll find that your battery health deteriorates – this is entirely normal. iPhones allow us to see the battery health of our device – to review this, go into Settings > Battery > Battery Health.
If the maximum capacity is significantly reduced, consider replacing the battery usually, anything more than 80% is considered good, and the lower it gets from that, the more it becomes a good idea to replace it.
Limit Location Services
Location services can be a major drain on the battery. Limit app access to your location by going to Settings > Privacy > Location Services and disable it for apps that don’t need constant location tracking.
Turn Off Push Email and Reduce Notifications
Change email settings to fetch manually or at longer intervals, and limit notifications to essential apps only.
Manage Connectivity Features
Disable Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and cellular data when not in use. When you try and use your phone in areas with poor signal strength, it requires more power to maintain a connection.
This ends up draining your iPhone battery faster than normal, and although you may not think it makes a massive difference, it does add up over time.
Best Sure to Use Certified Chargers and Accessories
Ensure you’re using Apple-certified chargers and accessories, as non-certified products bought from Amazon or eBay can affect battery health when you charge your device.
Reset Settings or Perform a Factory Reset
If all else fails, resetting all settings can sometimes resolve unknown battery issues. As a last resort, consider a factory reset, but make sure to back up your data first.
Conclusion
We buy iPhones for their long battery life, and when this begins to shorten, it can be difficult to know where to start in resolving the issue. By going through the above, you should be able to troubleshoot the problem and get it resolved.
