Your iPhone’s battery life can quickly deplete when certain apps consume excessive power in the background. Whether it’s social media, streaming, or poorly optimised apps, identifying and managing these battery hogs is crucial. Here’s a step-by-step guide to finding and stopping battery-draining apps on iOS.
Step 1: Check Battery Usage in Settings
iOS provides a detailed breakdown of your battery usage, showing which apps consume the most power.
- Go to Settings: Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Navigate to Battery: Tap Battery to access a list of apps and their battery usage.
- View Usage Breakdown:
- The screen displays a 24-hour view or the last 10 days.
- You’ll see a percentage next to each app, indicating how much battery it consumed.
- Apps using significant percentages are likely draining your battery.
Tip: Tap an app to see how much of its usage was in the background versus on-screen. Apps consuming high percentages in the background are often the culprits.
Step 2: Identify Problematic Apps
Once you’ve identified the apps consuming the most battery, evaluate whether their usage aligns with your habits:
- Social Media Apps: Apps like Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat are notorious for running background processes, such as refreshing feeds and sending notifications.
- Streaming Services: Apps like Netflix and Spotify can drain your battery, especially if they stream high-quality video or audio.
- Navigation Apps: GPS-based apps like Google Maps and Waze require constant location tracking, which can consume power.
Step 3: Stop Battery-Draining Apps
Here’s how to manage and stop apps that are draining your battery:
- Background App Refresh:
- Many apps run background processes to stay updated, even when you’re not using them.
- Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh.
- Toggle off Background App Refresh for apps you don’t need updating in the background.
- Restrict Location Services:
- Go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services.
- Change settings to While Using the App or Never for apps that don’t require constant location tracking.
- For instance, social media apps rarely need location access, so disabling it can save battery.
- Turn Off Notifications:
- Constant notifications can drain battery by waking the screen and using resources.
- Go to Settings > Notifications and turn off notifications for non-essential apps.
- Force Close Problematic Apps:
- Double-click the Home button (or swipe up from the bottom on newer iPhones) to view running apps.
- Swipe up on any apps you suspect are draining your battery to close them.
Step 4: Optimise Settings for Maximum Battery Life
iOS includes several built-in features to help you conserve battery life:
- Enable Low Power Mode:
- Go to Settings > Battery and toggle on Low Power Mode.
- This reduces background activity, email fetch, and visual effects.
- You can also enable Low Power Mode quickly through Control Center.
- Reduce Brightness:
- Open Control Center and lower the brightness slider.
- Alternatively, enable Auto-Brightness in Settings > Display & Brightness > Auto-Brightness.
- Disable Automatic Downloads:
- Go to Settings > App Store and turn off App Updates and Automatic Downloads if you prefer to update apps manually.
Step 5: Delete or Replace Energy-Hungry Apps
If an app consistently drains your battery despite optimisation, consider:
- Updating the App: Check for updates in the App Store, as newer versions may fix bugs or inefficiencies.
- Reinstalling the App: Sometimes, deleting and reinstalling the app can resolve issues.
- Using an Alternative: Look for more battery-efficient alternatives. For example, use Safari instead of a third-party browser.
Step 6: Monitor for Future Issues
To ensure your battery remains healthy, regularly check for battery-draining apps and update your iPhone’s settings.
Check Battery Health:
- Go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health.
- If your Maximum Capacity is significantly below 80%, your battery may need replacement to restore peak performance.
Final Thoughts
Identifying and stopping battery-draining apps on iOS can make a significant difference in your iPhone’s daily performance. By managing app activity, optimising settings, and keeping an eye on battery usage, you’ll enjoy longer battery life and a smoother experience.
Start optimising today, and keep your iPhone running at its best!