Why is my phone's battery draining so fast? (2024)

Keep the screen in check!

The screen is the biggest battery-draining hog since modern smartphones came to be. Panels keep getting bigger, brighter, and more colorful, as well as sporting higher resolutions. We even have large foldable phones and dual-screen devices now. Though all these improvements add to the general experience, they also make smartphones more power-hungry.

How to check battery usage on Android:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. SelectBattery.
3. Tap on Battery usage.
4. Check if any apps are using too much energy. Then, tap on the View by apps drop-down menu and select View by systems. Here you can see how much battery the system components are using.

How to check battery usage on iPhone:

1. Launch the Settings app.
2. Go into the Battery section.
3. Scroll down to the Battery Usage By App section.
4. Here, you’ll see the apps using the most battery, as well as how much of it they use.

Tips to lower screen battery drain

• Lower screen brightness: Dimming your screen brightness will help you save battery significantly. Go to Settings > Display > Brightness level, and adjust the brightness slider.
• Use adaptive brightness: This will ensure you get a bright screen when needed, but you also save battery when high brightness isn’t necessary. Here’s our guide to using adaptive brightness.
• Reduce screen refresh rates: Some devices sport screens with higher refresh rates, and often you can customize this in the settings.
• Reduce auto-lock times: Ensure your screen isn’t on just waiting to possibly be used by reducing auto-lock times. Go to Settings > Display > Screen timeout, and select the amount.
• Ditch live wallpapers: They may look nice, but your phone is essentially playing a video at all times, and that kills the battery.
• Use a black wallpaper: If you have an OLED or AMOLED display, using a black wallpaper is the most power-efficient because the display doesn’t have to activate those pixels. It’s argued the difference isn’t huge, but every bit of help is welcomed.
• Take advantage of the smaller screens: Some foldable phones, like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6and Motorola Razr Plus (2024), have smaller external displays. Try to use those more often than the larger display when there’s no need for an extended view.

How to improve signal to reduce battery drain

• Switch carriers: Carrier reliability varies by area, city, and neighborhood. Do some research, find out which carrier works best in your areas of interest, and look into switching.
• Use Airplane mode: The Airplane mode feature can force your antennas to take a break. Turn off all connectivity, and your phone won’t be working hard to stay connected. You can do this strategically when you are in places you know have lousy service. Just go to Settings > Network & internet > Airplane mode. Alternatively, you can use intelligent tools like IFTTT to automate Airplane mode by location.
• Network extenders: Carriers often offer network extenders that use the internet to give you a signal. Consider getting one if you know you are in a place with spotty service for long periods. You could have one at home or work to ensure the signal is strong where you spend most of your time.
• Signal boosters: Signal boosters can be expensive, but people swear by them. These products have an outer antenna that can pick up reception. The signal is then spread through the house with an internal antenna. A popular option is the weBoost Home Studio Omni($349.99 at Amazon).

How to fix it

• Keep app downloads minimal: I often realize I only use about 20% of the apps I have on my phone. Meanwhile, these applications are always working in the background and wasting battery. Why even have them? Go on a cleaning spree and delete apps you know you don’t need.
• Stop apps from working in the background: If you notice an app is taking too much of your precious juice, you can limit its background. Simply go to Settings > Apps > Select the app > App battery usageand toggle off Allow background usage. On iPhone, you can go to Settings, select the app, and toggle off Background App Refresh. Just realize you will lose some features and functionality, as the app will sleep when not in use.
• Close apps: While Android devices are made to multi-task, and closing apps can hurt more than it helps, there are times when closing apps is your best bet. Applications can go rogue, misbehave, or fail, in which case they often start draining your battery unnecessarily. It is good to close or kill the app to give it a fresh reset when this happens. Go to Settings > Apps > Select the app > Force stop > OK.
• Be mindful of your usage: Sometimes we say we want better battery life, but find ourselves playing games, watching movies, and spending hours on social networks. Then we wonder why the phone dies before you get home! Be mindful of the apps you use and how long you use them.

How to fix it

• Buy a new phone!: It may sound a bit depressing, but once a battery is too old to function efficiently enough, there is nothing sensible you can do about the issue. We have a list of the best phones around. If you’re on a tight budget, we also have a list of the best affordable smartphones.
• Change the battery: Phones with removable batteries are scarce now, but if you happen to be rocking one, you can buy a new battery and replace the worn-out one. If you have a phone with a non-removable battery (which is likely the case), you can open the phone up and change the battery, but this requires some technical know-how and involves some risk. You can also find a phone repair shop and have them take care of the job for you. Sending it to the manufacturer and having it replace the battery is another option. They’ll, of course, charge a fee if it’s not a warranty claim. Oh, and warranties, let’s talk about that!
• Does my phone warranty cover the battery?: Manufacturers didn’t commonly cover batteries in the past, when they were removable. This is because it wasn’t really part of the phone, but an accessory of sorts. Now that most phones have non-removable batteries, most manufacturers cover the battery if it goes bad within the warranty period (usually a year). Check your warranty details, but we know big players like Samsung, Google, and Apple will take care of you.

How to turn off 5G on Android:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Go into Network & internet.
3. Under SIMs, select your SIM.
4. Tap on Preferred network type.
5. Select LTE or whatever you prefer. Just avoid 5G.

How to turn off 5G on iPhone:

1. Launch the Settings app.
2. Go into Cellular.
3. Under SIMs, select your main SIM.
4. Tap on Voice & Data.
5. Select LTE.

Other battery draining problems and tips

• GPS, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth: How often do you use these antennas? I know I always leave them on, but I seldom put them to work. GPS, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth are using the battery, even if a little. Turn them off when you don’t need them, and you will notice improvements in battery draining.
• Camera: Taking photos and videos requires ample amounts of energy. Avoid doing it so often, and your phone will live longer.
• Are you feeling cold?: Lower temperatures affect battery life significantly. Roger Gurney, owner of Arctic Tech Solutions, tells USA Today that lithium-ion batteries stop discharging electricity in the extreme cold. He mentions constant exposure to cold weather can permanently damage a battery. A good solution is to keep the phone close to you, so that body temperature keeps it toasty.
• Avoid the heat, too!: While the cold affects the immediate performance of the battery, the heat will affect your battery in the long run. A battery will start losing performance as it ages, and this process is sped up by heat. Try to keep the device from getting too hot, as much as possible.
• Stay up-to-date: Software updates often come with battery life improvements, so updating your phone to the latest software version is always good. On Android, go to Settings > System > Software updates > System update > Check for update. On iPhone, go to Settings > General > Software Update.
• Get a portable charger: A suitable battery pack will keep your phone alive longer without keeping you tethered to a wall. Get a good portable charger. We would recommend something like the CUKTECH 10 Power Bank or CUKTECH 20 Power Bank.
• Charge faster: Keeping your phone alive longer is great, but charging it as fast as possible is just as important. We have a list of the best wall chargers, if you need some help picking the right one.

If, after all these solutions, you still can’t get your device to last through a full day, maybe it’s time to upgrade to a new phone. You shouldn’t settle with any phone. There are devices with excellent battery life; you can check out our favorites.

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