iPhone battery draining fast? These tricks will help
Your iPhone is fully charged in the morning. At two o'clock in the afternoon, it's already beeping again that the battery is low. Sound familiar? You're not the only one struggling with an iPhone that drains faster than a glass of water in the Sahara Desert. But here's the thing: most battery problems aren't caused by a dead battery , but by settings that are secretly draining power. Six simple tweaks can double your battery life—without having to immediately reach for new accessories or a power bank. The tricks are so obvious, you'll kick yourself for not thinking of them sooner.
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The six tricks that make the difference
A rapidly draining battery doesn't have to be a reason to buy a new phone. With these six tweaks, you'll get more out of your current device right away.
1. Disable background refresh for power hogs
Apps like Facebook, Instagram, and news apps constantly refresh their content, even when you're not using them. This drains battery life without you even realizing it. Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh and disable it for apps you don't need constantly updated. Keep it enabled only for essential apps like WhatsApp or your email. It saves an average of 20-30% of your battery life per day.
2. Dim your screen and use auto brightness wisely
The display is your phone's biggest energy consumer. Set the brightness to around 50% and enable auto-brightness. This ensures that the screen only brightens when necessary. Extra tip: shorten the auto-lock time to 30 seconds via Settings > Display & Brightness. Every second your screen is on unnecessarily uses energy.
3. Location services: only when you use the app
Dozens of apps want to know your location, but most don't need it at all. Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services. Set each app to "While Using App" or "Never." Only navigation apps and weather apps need "Always." This simple adjustment can save up to 15% battery life per day.
4. Selectively disable push notifications
Every notification that comes in activates your screen and consumes power. Being mindful of notifications not only saves battery life but also reduces distractions. Go to Settings > Notifications and browse your apps. Ask yourself: do I need to be notified about this right away? For most apps, the answer is no. Keep notifications limited to messaging apps and essential business apps.
5. Use energy saving mode preventively
Don't wait until your battery is at 20%. Activate power saving mode even at 50% if you know you'll be able to get through the day without a charger. This mode limits background activity, reduces visual effects, and slightly reduces performance. You'll barely notice the difference, but your battery will last much longer. Set a shortcut in the control panel for quick access.
6. Reset network connections if problems occur
A poor connection forces your device to work harder to connect to cell towers or Wi-Fi networks. This drains your battery. Do you notice your battery suddenly draining much faster? Reset your network settings via Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings. You'll have to log in to Wi-Fi networks again, but this often fixes hidden connection issues.
When is your battery really worn out?
Even with all the tricks, your phone still can't last half a day? Check the battery health in Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging. Is the maximum capacity below 80%? Then the battery probably needs replacing. Apple recommends replacing it below this limit.
A new battery at Apple costs between €55 and €105, depending on your model. This can be relatively expensive for older devices. Consider a refurbished model with a new battery – often cheaper than simply replacing the battery on your current phone.
Additional tips for specific situations
Traveling? Set your phone to airplane mode when you have no signal. In areas with poor coverage, your device will constantly search for a signal, which uses a lot of power.
Watching a lot of videos? Pre-download content via Wi-Fi instead of streaming over 4G or 5G. Mobile data uses up to three times more energy than Wi-Fi.
Gaming on your phone? Graphics-intensive apps are battery killers. Limit gaming sessions or invest in a power bank for on-the-go use. Modern ones can fully charge your device two to three times.
The result: doubling is feasible
With these six adjustments and the extra tips, most users get at least 50% more battery life out of their devices. Doubling the battery life is achievable if you previously had all power-intensive features enabled. It takes no more than ten minutes to set everything up, but it will save you daily frustration and searching for power outlets.
The trick is to find the balance between functionality and battery life. Experiment with the settings and find what works for you. After a week, you'll know exactly which adjustments yield the most results without sacrificing functionality.
Conclusion: More battery life with simple adjustments
An iPhone whose battery dies faster and faster doesn't have to be expensive. With these six tweaks—from disabling background refresh to smartly managing location services—you can instantly get extra hours out of your battery. It takes ten minutes to set up, but it saves you the hassle of daily dead batteries. If the tricks aren't working and your battery health is below 80%, it's time for a refurbished device with a fresh battery or check out our power banks for on the go . But try these settings first—there's a good chance your phone will suddenly last a full day again.
