Why Is My Phone Battery Draining So Fast? 10 Fixes That Work
Find out what's draining your iPhone or Android battery and how to fix it, plus charging habits that help your battery last longer.
If your phone barely makes it to lunchtime, there's usually a cause you can fix. Start by finding out what's using the battery, then work through the fixes below.
First, check what's using your battery
- iPhone: Settings > Battery shows usage by app over the last 24 hours or 10 days.
- Android: Settings > Battery (sometimes under Battery and device care) shows the same.
If one app is using far more than you'd expect, especially "in the background", that's your prime suspect.
10 fixes
- Turn down screen brightness or turn on auto-brightness. The screen is usually the biggest power user.
- Use dark mode. On phones with OLED screens (most modern mid-range and flagship phones) dark mode can noticeably save power.
- Shorten the auto-lock or screen timeout to 30 seconds or 1 minute.
- Limit background activity. On iPhone, turn off Background App Refresh for apps that don't need it. On Android, set rarely used apps to Restricted or put them to sleep in battery settings.
- Review location access. In privacy or location settings, set most apps to "While using the app" rather than "Always".
- Cut down notifications. Every notification wakes the screen. Turn them off for apps that don't need your attention.
- Watch out for poor signal. Your phone works harder searching for signal in weak areas. Use Wi-Fi calling indoors if your network supports it.
- Update your phone and apps. Updates often fix battery bugs.
- Use Low Power Mode or Power Saving mode when you know it'll be a long day.
- Restart the phone. A stuck app or process can drain power until it's cleared.
Is the battery itself worn out?
All phone batteries wear out over time. On iPhone, check Settings > Battery > Battery Health. If maximum capacity has dropped to around 80% or below, a replacement battery will make a big difference. Many Android phones show battery health in their settings or support app.
A battery replacement from the manufacturer or a reputable repair shop usually costs far less than a new phone. Choose a repairer that uses quality parts and offers a warranty.
Charging habits that help
- Avoid heat. Don't leave your phone charging in direct sun or under a pillow.
- You don't need to drain it to 0% before charging. Topping up little and often is fine.
- Turn on Optimised Charging (iPhone) or Adaptive or Protect battery charging (Android) so the phone avoids sitting at 100% for hours overnight.
- Use good-quality chargers and cables. Very cheap unbranded chargers can be unsafe.