How to Save Battery on iPhone: Boost Battery Life with These Easy Tweaks

Let’s be honest — there’s nothing more frustrating than watching your iPhone battery dip into the red before the day’s even halfway done. Whether you’re commuting, working, or just scrolling through social media, battery anxiety is real. The good news? You’ve got more control over your iPhone’s power than you might think.

In this guide, we’ll show you how to save battery on iPhone without turning it into a brick. From system settings you might’ve missed to smarter charging habits, these tips will help you get through the day with fewer low-battery warnings and more peace of mind.

Enable Low Power Mode

One of the easiest way on how to preserve battery life on iPhone is to enable Low Power Mode, and it works surprisingly well. When you turn it on, your phone automatically reduces or disables background activities like mail fetch, visual effects, automatic downloads, and iCloud syncing. It also lowers screen brightness slightly and optimizes performance to save energy.

To enable it, go to Settings > Battery > Low Power Mode. But as you might already know, you can access it quickly via Control Center or just ask Siri.

Pro tip: You don’t have to wait until your battery drops to 20% — you can toggle Low Power Mode on anytime you want to stretch your battery, whether you’re on a long day out or just forgot your charger.

Adjust Screen Brightness and Display Settings

Your screen is one of the biggest power consumers on your iPhone — especially if it’s cranked up to full brightness. So, when wondering how to make your iPhone battery last longer, dialing it down can make a big difference. Here’s what to do:

Manually Adjust Brightness:

1. Open Control Center by swiping down from the top-right corner of the screen.
2. Use the brightness slider to adjust to a lower, comfortable level.

Enable Auto-Brightness:

Auto-Brightness adjusts your screen’s brightness based on ambient lighting, ensuring optimal visibility while conserving battery life.

1. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size.
2. Scroll down and toggle on Auto-Brightness.

Activate Dark Mode:

Dark Mode uses a darker color scheme that’s easier on the eyes and can help conserve battery on iPhone, especially on OLED screens (like those on iPhone X and newer).

• Navigate to Settings > Display & Brightness. Select Dark to enable Dark Mode.
• You can also long-press the brightness slider in Control Center to quickly toggle Dark Mode and Night Shift on or off.

Set a Shorter Auto-Lock Interval:

Reducing the time it takes for your phone to lock when inactive can also save iPhone battery.

1. Go to Settings > Display & Brightness > Auto-Lock.
2. Choose a shorter time frame, such as 30 seconds or 1 minute.

Manage Background App Activity

Apps running in the background can consume battery by refreshing content or using location services even when you’re not actively using them. Managing these activities helps increase iPhone battery life:

Disable Background App Refresh:

1. Open Settings and tap General.
2. Select Background App Refresh.
3. You can turn it Off entirely or choose to disable it for specific apps by toggling them off individually.

Review Location Services:

Some apps use location services in the background, which can drain battery life.

1. Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services.
2. Review the list and set apps to Never or While Using the App, depending on your preference.

Review Battery Usage:

Also, check Settings > Battery to see which apps are using the most power. If something’s hogging battery in the background (looking at you, Facebook), it might be time to rein it in or uninstall it altogether.

Optimize Connectivity Settings

Your iPhone is constantly trying to stay connected — to Wi-Fi, Bluetooth devices, AirDrop targets, 5G networks, and more. But if you’re not using these features, leaving them on can be a quiet battery killer.

A few ways to prolong iPhone battery life:

• Wi-Fi: If you’re away from known networks, turning off Wi-Fi can prevent your phone from constantly scanning for connections.
• Bluetooth: Not using headphones or wearables? Disable it in Control Center or Settings > Bluetooth.
• AirDrop: Set it to “Receiving Off” from Control Center when you don’t need it.
• 5G: On iPhone 12 or newer, consider using 5G Auto or even LTE under Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Options > Voice & Data — 5G can drain more power in areas with spotty coverage.

Update iOS and Apps Regularly

Keeping your iPhone and apps updated is more important for battery life than most people realize. Apple frequently releases iOS updates that fix bugs, improve efficiency, and optimize battery usage — especially after major version launches.

To check for updates, go to Settings > General > Software Update. If one’s available, plug in your phone and update when it’s convenient.

The same goes for apps: head to the App Store > your profile picture > scroll down to Updates. Developers often release fixes for battery-hungry glitches or issues with background activity, so staying up to date helps your phone run smoother and last longer.

Utilize Optimized Battery Charging

Your iPhone actually learns your daily charging routine — and uses that info to preserve long-term battery health. The feature is called Optimized Battery Charging, and it slows down how fast your phone charges past 80% when it knows you don’t need a full battery right away.

You’ll find it under Settings > Battery > Charging. Make sure Optimized Battery Charging is turned on.

Why it matters: Lithium-ion batteries degrade faster when they stay at full charge for long periods. By limiting time spent at 100%, this feature helps extend your battery’s overall lifespan — which means more reliable performance and better day-to-day battery life over time.

Avoid Extreme Temperatures

Batteries are sensitive to temperature — especially heat. Apple recommends keeping your iPhone between 32° and 95°F (0° to 35°C). Exposing your phone to very high or low temperatures (like leaving it on a hot car dashboard or using it in freezing weather) can cause temporary performance issues and long-term battery damage.

Here are a few quick tips:

• Don’t charge your phone under a pillow, on a blanket, or in direct sunlight.
• Remove bulky or heat-trapping cases if your phone gets warm while charging.
• If you’re out in cold weather, keep your iPhone in an inside pocket to retain body heat.

Manage Visual Effects and Animations

Apple’s signature UI animations look great, but they do take a small toll on your battery — especially on older devices. If you’re looking to squeeze out more life from your charge, consider turning off some of those effects.

Here’s how:

• Go to Settings > Accessibility > Motion.
• Toggle on Reduce Motion to limit dynamic screen transitions like parallax effects.
• You can also turn off Auto-Play Message Effects and Auto-Play Video Previews while you’re here.

These changes not only help your battery but can also make your phone feel a little snappier and more efficient — especially if it’s a few years old.

Turn Off the Fitness Tracking Feature

If you’re not using your iPhone as a fitness tracker, there’s no reason it should constantly be counting steps and motion activity in the background.

You can disable fitness tracking by going to Settings > Privacy & Security > Motion & Fitness, then toggle off Fitness Tracking.

Apps like Health or third-party fitness apps won’t be able to collect motion data after this — but if that’s not something you rely on, turning it off is a quick win for battery life.

This is especially helpful if you use an Apple Watch or another dedicated fitness tracker and don’t need your phone doing the same job in the background.

Limit Your Notifications

Every time your iPhone lights up with a new notification, it’s using battery — especially if the screen turns on frequently or your device vibrates. Multiply that by dozens or hundreds of alerts a day, and you’ve got a hidden source of drain.

Here’s what to do:

• Go to Settings > Notifications.
• Review your apps one by one and disable notifications for anything that isn’t essential.
• You can also switch off sounds, vibrations, or banners for less intrusive alerts.

Want to go even further? Use Focus Modes (via Settings > Focus) to filter out non-urgent notifications during specific times — like work hours or bedtime.

Streamlining your alerts not only helps save battery but also reduces distractions — so it’s a win-win.

One More Thing: Charging Smarter Matters, Too

Of course, even with all the right settings dialed in, your iPhone still needs to be charged every day. So, while you’re figuring out how to save battery on iPhone, it’s also worth thinking about how you charge it.

If you’re using the same old brick from five years ago, you might be missing out on the efficiency and safety benefits newer chargers provide:

Anker Nano Charger (30W)

If you’re the kind of person who likes to travel light — or just wants to free up space in your bag or at your desk — the Anker Nano Charger (30W) is a great fit. Thanks to the use of advanced GaN (Gallium Nitride) tech, it’s tiny (seriously, it’s barely over an inch thick), yet it delivers 30W of fast charging — enough to power your iPhone 15 Pro to 50% in under 30 minutes.

You can use it for your iPad, MacBook Air, earbuds… basically anything USB-C. The folding prongs make it easy to toss in a bag without snagging anything, and the built-in ActiveShield 2.0 temperature monitoring means you can charge without worrying about overheating.

Anker Nano Power Bank (30W, Built-in USB-C Cable)

For those always on the move (or the ones who forget their cables more often than they’d like to admit), this Anker Nano Power Bank (30W, Built-in USB-C Cable) checks all the boxes. It’s super compact, has a built-in USB-C cable, and enough power (10,000mAh) to fully recharge your iPhone 15 Pro twice. The 30W bi-directional fast charging means you can charge your iPhone and the power bank itself quickly — no extra cables needed.

This battery pack has a small color display that shows exactly how much battery you’ve got left and how long until it’s full again — which is surprisingly useful when you’re trying to plan your next charge. And if you’re trying to reduce your carbon footprint, the outer shell is made with 80% recycled plastic.

Whether you’re navigating a long commute, attending back-to-back meetings, or just someone who likes a backup plan, having a reliable power bank like this can save you from a dead phone when it matters most.

Conclusion

You don’t need to overhaul your iPhone or carry a power bank everywhere just to make it through the day. Knowing how to save battery on iPhone is really about using what’s already built into iOS—just a little more intentionally.

By turning on Low Power Mode, tweaking a few display and connectivity settings, and staying on top of updates, you can squeeze a lot more life out of your battery. It’s quick, it’s easy, and it actually works. Try a few of these tips today, and chances are, you’ll spend less time hovering near an outlet.

FAQ

How can I stop my iPhone battery from draining so quickly?

To stop your iPhone battery from draining so quickly, you can try reducing screen brightness, enabling low power mode, turning off background app refresh, disabling location services for apps you don’t need, and checking if your software is updated. Also, limiting push notifications and automatic downloads can help conserve battery life.

What drains iPhone battery fastest?

The iPhone battery drains fastest due to several activities like high screen brightness, constant use of location services, having multiple apps running in the background, streaming high-definition videos, and using power-intensive apps such as games or GPS navigation. Push notifications and battery-consuming features like Bluetooth and Wi-Fi can also accelerate battery drain.

How to make a battery last longer?

To make a battery last longer, always keep your device in a cool environment to avoid overheating, reduce screen brightness or use auto-brightness, enable battery saver mode, minimize app usage that consumes high power, and avoid letting your battery drop to 0% or charging it to 100% every single time. Also, consider turning off unnecessary features like Bluetooth and Wi-Fi when not in use.

What is the 20/80 rule in iPhone?

The 20/80 rule for iPhone, also known as the battery care rule, suggests that you should keep your battery charged between 20% and 80% to maintain its health over time. This practice avoids the stress of being at a very low or very high charge, which can degrade the battery faster. Regularly maintaining your battery within this range can lead to better long-term battery performance.