If you're tired of the battery running out on your iPhone after what seems like a short period of time, we have some tips to keep your iPhone running longer.
The tips are straight from Apple, too, which means they're optimized specifically for iPhones. We'll even debunk some old rumors (like: is it OK to let my battery drain faster?).
Here's how to keep your iPhone working longer on a single charge.
Update your iPhone
Apple recommends keeping your iPhone on the latest software at all times. While it's true some of the company's software releases have actually been bad for battery life, Apple typically works to improve performance in each release.
Dim your screen
You don't need your screen blasting at full brightness. You can adjust it easily by opening control center (swipe down on the iPhone X or up on any other iPhone) and changing the brightness level. Apple also recommends using the auto-brightness feature, which dims the screen indoors and brightens it outdoors.
Use Wi-Fi
When your phone is connected to a cellular network, it's constantly trying to ping cell towers and using up as much power as it can to get you a good data connection. If Wi-Fi is available, you're better off using it since it doesn't require your phone's modems to work as hard.
Turn off background activity
Background Activity allows apps to pull in data even when they're not being used. This doesn't mean you need to close apps (Apple has debunked that theory), but it does mean you can force your phone to stop pinging the email server, for example. Here's how:
- Go to Settings
- Tap General
- Tap Background App Refresh and toggle it to off.
Try low power mode
If you really want to get the most out of your battery, use low power mode. Some folks turn this on when their iPhone is about to die, but you can lengthen the life even if you turn it on at 100 percent. "Low Power Mode reduces display brightness, optimizes device performance, and minimizes system animations," Apple explains. Here's how:
- Go to Settings
- Tap Battery
- Toggle Low Power Mode
- You'll know it's on when your battery icon turns yellow.
Finally, don't worry about letting your iPhone die
While there are rumors that letting your battery die all the way can be good — or bad — for your iPhone, there's no truth to them. Apple says it doesn't matter when you charge your iPhone, whether it has 50 percent of the battery left at night when you go to bed or nothing in the tank.
Apple explains on its website that its lithium-ion batteries work in cycles, no matter when you start to charge it. "You complete one charge cycle when you've used (discharged) an amount that equals 100% of your battery's capacity — but not necessarily all from one charge. For instance, you might use 75% of your battery's capacity one day, then recharge it fully overnight. If you use 25% the next day, you will have discharged a total of 100%, and the two days will add up to one charge cycle."
Apple also says its batteries are meant to hold "at least 80%" of original charge capacity for what it calls "a high number of charge cycles."