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iPhone Battery Draining Fast? Try These Fixes

Find out what is using your iPhone battery, change the settings that drain it most, understand temporary drain after an update, and check Battery Health.

Updated 8 min read

Quick Answer

Open Settings, then Battery, to see which apps and activities use the most power and whether iOS has suggestions for you. Faster drain for a few days after an update or new setup can be normal. Limit background activity for the heaviest apps, lower screen brightness, use Wi-Fi when you can, and turn on Low Power Mode when you need more time. If Battery Health shows Service, consider a battery replacement.

Common causes

  • Apps working in the background, such as playing audio or tracking location
  • Frequent notifications that wake the screen
  • High screen brightness or a long Auto-Lock time
  • Weak cellular or Wi-Fi signal, which makes the iPhone keep searching
  • Background tasks that finish after an iOS update or a new setup
  • Very hot or cold conditions
  • An aging battery that holds less charge than when it was new

Step-by-Step Solutions

Start with the Battery screen to see what is using power, then work through the steps that match what you find.

  1. Step 1: Check what is using your battery

    The Battery screen shows which apps and activities use the most power, and it may already suggest a fix.

    Open Settings and tap Battery. If iOS has suggestions, such as turning on auto-brightness or reducing a high brightness level, they appear just above the Daily Usage chart.

    The Daily Usage chart compares today’s battery use with the last seven days, and the list below it shows the three apps that used the most today. Tap View All Battery Usage for the full list, then tap an app to see how it used power.

    • Background Activity: the app used power while you weren’t using it, for example playing music or tracking location.
    • Notifications: the app’s notifications keep waking your iPhone.
    • No Mobile Coverage and Low Signal: your iPhone spent time searching for a signal.
    • Connected to Charger: the app was used while charging, so it didn’t use the battery.
    Good to know

    The Daily Usage chart needs iOS 26 or later. If your battery drains overnight or while you aren’t using your iPhone, look for apps marked Background Activity or Notifications.

  2. Step 2: If it started after an update or new setup

    Some drain right after an update or setting up a new iPhone is expected and temporary.

    After an iOS update, some update tasks keep running in the background even though you can already use your iPhone. An iPhone you have just set up also finishes setup steps in the background. Both can reduce battery life for a while.

    Apple’s advice is to wait a few days and then check again. On iOS 18 or later, the Battery screen may show an Insight called Ongoing iOS Update or Ongoing Device Setup while this is happening. When it finishes, battery life should return to normal.

  3. Step 3: Limit background activity from the heaviest apps

    Adjust only the apps that the Battery screen shows are using a lot of power.

    If an app uses a lot of battery in the background, use it less or change what it is allowed to do when you aren’t using it:

    • Background refresh: open Settings, tap General, then Background App Refresh. You can turn it off, or limit it to Wi-Fi only.
    • Location: open Settings, tap Privacy & Security, then Location Services, and change access for apps that don’t need your location all the time. Avoid turning Location Services off completely, because many iPhone features depend on it.
    • Notifications: in Settings, tap Notifications, then choose an app to turn off notifications you don’t need.
    Good to know

    Closing all your apps from the app switcher doesn’t help. Apple says recently used apps only use power when they are active or doing specific background tasks, and a closed app may not be able to check for new content until you open it again.

  4. Step 4: Lower brightness and check Auto-Lock

    High screen brightness uses a lot of energy, and so does a screen that stays on longer than needed.

    Open Control Center and drag the brightness slider down, or change it in Settings under Display & Brightness. Auto-brightness adjusts the screen to the light around you. It is on by default, and you can check it in Settings under Accessibility, then Display & Text Size.

    In Settings, tap Display & Brightness, then Auto-Lock, and choose how quickly the screen turns off when you aren’t using it. A longer Auto-Lock time, or Never, can use more power.

  5. Step 5: Use Wi-Fi and watch for weak signal

    A weak or missing signal makes your iPhone work harder to stay connected.

    Wi-Fi uses less battery than a cellular connection, so connect to a Wi-Fi network in Settings when one is available. Both Wi-Fi and cellular use less power where the signal is strong.

    If you will be somewhere with no coverage for a while, for example on a flight or in a remote area, turn on Airplane Mode so your iPhone stops searching for a signal. You can’t make or receive calls while it’s on.

    Good to know

    On iPhone 12 or later and iPhone SE (3rd generation), 5G Auto switches to LTE when 5G wouldn’t make a noticeable difference, which saves battery. Open Settings, tap Cellular, then Cellular Data Options, then Voice & Data, and choose 5G Auto.

  6. Step 6: Keep iOS up to date

    Updates can include fixes, and some battery features need a recent iOS version.

    Open Settings, tap General, then Software Update. If an update is available, connect to power and Wi-Fi, then tap Download and Install. Back up your iPhone first.

    Good to know

    Expect a few days of extra background activity after installing it, as described above.

  7. Step 7: Turn on Low Power Mode when you need more time

    Low Power Mode trades some features for longer battery life.

    On iPhone 15 or later, open Settings, tap Battery, then Power Mode, and turn on Low Power Mode. On iPhone 14 or earlier, open Settings, tap Battery, and turn on Low Power Mode. You can also turn it on from Control Center or by asking Siri.

    Low Power Mode lowers brightness, sets Auto-Lock to 30 seconds, reduces some visual effects, and pauses things like email fetch, automatic downloads, Background App Refresh and iCloud Photos. The battery icon turns yellow while it is on, and it turns off by itself once the battery is charged to 80% or more.

    Good to know

    On supported models with iOS 26 or later, such as iPhone 15 Pro and several newer iPhones, Adaptive Power can adjust performance on heavy-use days and turn on Low Power Mode automatically at 20%.

  8. Step 8: Check Battery Health

    All batteries hold less charge as they age. Battery Health tells you how much yours has changed.

    On iPhone 15 or later, open Settings, tap Battery, then Battery Health. On iPhone 14 or earlier, tap Battery, then Battery Health & Charging.

    Maximum Capacity compares your battery with when it was new. A lower number means fewer hours between charges. If you see Service next to Battery Health, or a message that your battery’s health is significantly degraded, a battery replacement can restore full performance and capacity.

    Good to know

    Temperature matters too. Surroundings hotter than 35°C (95°F) can permanently reduce battery capacity, so avoid leaving or charging your iPhone somewhere hot, such as in direct sun. Shorter battery life in the cold is temporary.

Battery still draining fast?

If Battery Health shows Service or says your battery is significantly degraded, if your iPhone shuts down unexpectedly, or if the battery still drains quickly after the steps above, contact Apple Support or an Apple Authorized Service Provider. Apple’s warranty covers a defective battery, and outside warranty Apple offers battery service for a fee.

Before you get service: Resetting or erasing your iPhone isn’t one of Apple’s battery-drain steps, so don’t start there. Back up your iPhone before any service, and don’t open it or try to replace the battery yourself.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it normal for my iPhone battery to drain faster after an update?

For a short time, yes. Some update tasks continue in the background after the update installs. Apple suggests waiting a few days and then checking battery life again.

Why does my iPhone battery drain overnight or when I’m not using it?

Check Settings, then Battery, and look for apps marked Background Activity or Notifications. A weak or missing signal can also drain the battery while the iPhone keeps searching.

Should I close apps to save battery?

No. Apple says closing all your apps doesn’t improve overall performance, because recently used apps only use power when they are active or doing specific background tasks.

What Battery Health percentage means I need a new battery?

Apple’s guidance doesn’t name a single percentage. Maximum Capacity shows how much charge your battery holds compared with when it was new. Look for Service next to Battery Health, or a message that battery health is significantly degraded.

Does cold or hot weather affect battery life?

Yes. Cold can shorten battery life temporarily, and it recovers when the battery warms up. Surroundings hotter than 35°C (95°F) can permanently reduce battery capacity.

Sources & review

This guide was checked against Apple’s official support instructions on September 27, 2026. Device options can change with software updates.

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