Tips and tricks to save battery on iPhone

You've probably had that moment of dread when your iPhone battery turns red. And it usually happens at the worst possible times, like when you're about to pay for something with Apple Pay or need maps to find your way home.

If you've got an older iPhone, it's normal for the battery to need recharging more often than a newer model. Lithium-ion batteries chemically age, which reduces their capacity over time. And newer iPhones tend to have larger batteries and more efficient processors than older ones.

But before you replace your iPhone's battery or even the whole handset, we've rounded up the best tips and tricks to help you save battery on your iPhone and make every charge last longer.

How to save battery on iPhone

Try these simple tips to squeeze more life out of your Apple iPhone battery.

Adjust your screen brightness

It's surprising how much of a difference tweaking your iPhone's screen brightness can make.

Manually adjust it to a level where you can still see the screen clearly but without that blinding glare.

There are a couple of ways to do this on your iPhone:

• Go to Settings > Display & Brightness and use the slider to set your preferred brightness.
• Open the Control Centre and adjust brightness by using the slider with the sun icon.

Want to stop your brightness from changing? Head to Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size and turn off Auto-Brightness.

Use Low Power Mode

Low Power Mode is one of the best features you can use to save iPhone battery.

When it's on, your phone cuts down on power usage by reducing background activity, including turning off automatic downloads, email fetch and app refreshes.

Your iPhone will automatically switch to Low Power Mode when the battery drops below 20%.

That said, if you want to turn it on manually:

1. Go to Settings > Battery > Low Power Mode.
2. Once activated, your battery icon will turn yellow.

Just remember, you can only use Low Power Mode once your battery drops under 80%.

If you've got an iPhone 15 Pro or later model, you can also use Adaptive Power to extend your battery life on days of high usage.

Go to Settings > Battery > Power Mode and turn it on if it isn't already.

Turn off Location Services and GPS

You need location services enabled for apps like Maps and ride-sharing platforms like Uber. But they can drain your battery quickly.

If you don't need these functions, turning them off can help preserve your battery life. If you still need some location services on, you can always customise which apps have access.

For example, you can choose While Using the App for Maps, which limits the use of location services to when you have the app open.

To turn off location services completely or manage different app permissions, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services.

Turn off Background App Refresh

Turning off Background App Refresh can help save loads of battery. When it's on, apps refresh their content in the background, even if you're not using them.

To turn it off, go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh > Off.

You can also set it to refresh only when connected to Wi-Fi, and switch it on and off for specific apps. The more apps you leave it on for, the more battery it'll drain.

Even your iPhone gives you a helpful note under the options: "Turning off apps may help preserve battery life."

Turn off Wi-Fi, AirDrop or Bluetooth when not in use

If you're not using features like Wi-Fi, AirDrop or Bluetooth, turning them off can help prolong your battery life. Otherwise, they'll keep running in the background, draining power without any real benefit.

The quickest way to turn these off is through the Control Centre. You can also use Airplane Mode, but keep in mind that it'll stop calls and texts from coming through.

To access Control Centre on the iPhone X and later models, swipe down from the top-right corner of your screen. On earlier models and the iPhone SE, swipe up from the bottom edge of any screen.

Alternatively, go to Settings and disable these features from the main list and in General for AirDrop. Just don't forget to turn them back on when you need them.

Manage and lock your iPhone screen

Done using your iPhone? Make sure you lock your screen so you don't lose any precious battery life.

You'll still receive calls and texts but you won't accidentally pocket-dial someone or waste battery unnecessarily.

To lock your iPhone, simply press the side button once. Alternatively, to set how quickly your device auto-locks, go to Settings > Display & Brightness > Auto-Lock.

Also, be mindful of iPhone lock-screen widgets. They might look great, but they'll drain your battery faster.

Stop summoning Siri

Siri is a nice feature to have, but it's always listening. This state of readiness ultimately drains your battery, which isn't worthwhile if you don't use it often.

Turning this active listening off could help to save some battery on your iPhone.

To do this, go to Settings > Siri (or Apple Intelligence & Siri) > Talk to Siri > Off.

If you still want to use Siri, you can keep the Press Side Button option enabled for when you want to manually activate it.

Control your notifications

Every time a notification pops up, your phone screen lights up, which uses a little bit of battery. Whether it's a news update, an iMessage or a social media alert, all these pings add up. Some notifications and app alerts are essentially just spam, anyway.

To save battery, cut down on unnecessary notifications. There are a few ways to do that:

• Go to Settings > Notifications and choose which apps you want notifications from, and in what format.
• Use the Focus feature in Settings > Focus to turn off notifications during important work or sleep periods.
• Turn on Do Not Disturb to stop all notifications when you don't want them.

You can also use Scheduled Summary to group notifications, so you don't get bombarded all day. This is great for news or email updates. And you can schedule them to come all at once, whenever works best for you.

Avoid using too many power-hungry apps

Power-intensive apps can quickly drain your iPhone's battery. If you're watching videos on YouTube or playing high-spec games, make sure you're plugged in or have enough charge to get through.

But it's not just those apps. Things like using Photoshop, having dynamic wallpapers and keeping multiple apps open at the same time can zap your battery too.

A simple fix? Close apps when you're done using them to save battery for later.

Bonus iPhone battery tips and tricks

Display your battery percentage

It's always helpful to know exactly how much power you have left if you're keeping track of your battery life.

While the battery icon in the top-right corner shows an estimate, it's more useful to have a precise percentage figure.

Here's how to get that:

1. Go to Settings > Battery.
2. Toggle on Battery Percentage.

Now, you'll always know exactly how much battery you have left on your phone.

Check your battery health

It's a good idea to keep an eye on your iPhone's battery health to see how much it's degraded over time. Your battery's Maximum Capacity should ideally be at 100%. But anything under 80% might need replacing.

To check, go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging. There, you'll see your phone's battery status under Maximum Capacity and Peak Performance Capability.

Turning on Optimised Battery Charging can help reduce battery ageing and prevent overworking. With this feature, your iPhone will delay charging past 80% until you really need it fully charged overnight, for example.

If you're in a hurry, you can turn this feature off to speed up the charging process.

Carry a power bank wherever you go

If you're worried about your iPhone battery life, it's always a good idea to carry a power bank, especially when you're travelling or heading to work.

It keeps your phone charged on the go and makes sure it won't die during emergencies or unexpected situations.

Plus, it's way more convenient than scrambling to find a plug socket or USB charging port when you need one.

Does Dark Mode save battery?

There's no evidence to suggest that it does, and Apple doesn't recommend it for this purpose.

The choice between Light Mode and Dark Mode is more for your preference as a user.

The brightness setting of your display is a more important factor when it comes to battery usage.

Time for an upgrade?

If you've had enough of an ageing battery and you're on the hunt for a new iPhone, check out our best mobile phone deals across a range of handsets.

Want to save money on your bill? Take a look at our cheapest SIM only deals and mobile phone contracts. Compare with us and see if you can save.

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