Phone Battery Draining Fast? Simple Fixes That Work
You unplug your phone in the morning, and by lunchtime it’s at 20 percent. Or it jumps from 40 percent to 5 percent and shuts off. A phone that can’t hold a charge is stressful, especially when you rely on it to reach family or get to appointments. The good news is that a few simple settings often make a big difference. Here’s what to check, in order.
Why Batteries Drain Fast
A few things use the most power: a bright screen, apps running in the background, location tracking, a weak signal (your phone works harder to stay connected), heat, and an older battery that has simply worn out.
Step 1: See What’s Using the Battery
On an iPhone: open Settings and tap Battery. You’ll see which apps used the most power over the last day or the last 10 days.
On an Android phone: open Settings and tap Battery (on some phones it’s under Battery and device care), then look for battery usage by app.
If one app uses far more than the others, check its settings, update it, or delete it if you don’t need it.
Step 2: Easy Wins
Lower the brightness, or turn on auto-brightness. On an iPhone, it’s in Settings, Display & Brightness. On Android, it’s in Settings, Display.
Turn on a power saving mode. Low Power Mode on an iPhone (Settings, Battery), or Battery Saver on Android (Settings, Battery). This reduces background activity.
Limit location access. In your location settings, set most apps to use your location only while you’re using the app, or turn it off for apps that don’t need it.
Cut down on notifications. Every alert wakes the screen. Turn off the ones you don’t need.
Limit background activity. On an iPhone, check Settings, General, Background App Refresh. On Android, you can restrict an app’s background use in its battery settings.
Install updates. Software updates often include battery improvements, and so do app updates.
About Closing Apps
Many people swipe apps closed all day to save battery. This usually doesn’t help, and it can even use more power, because the phone has to reload the app each time. It’s better to leave apps alone and use the settings above.
Step 3: Watch Out for Heat and Weak Signal
Keep your phone cool. Heat is a battery’s biggest enemy. Don’t leave it in a hot car, on a sunny windowsill, or under a pillow while charging. If a thick case makes it hot while charging, take it off.
Weak signal drains the battery. If you’re somewhere with poor reception, your phone keeps searching. Use Wi-Fi when you can, and consider Airplane Mode if you won’t have any signal for a while.
Charging Habits
Today’s phone batteries don’t need to be drained to zero before charging. Charge whenever it’s convenient. It’s also best to use the charger and cable that came with the phone, or reputable certified ones, and to replace any that are frayed or damaged.
Is the Battery Just Old?
Batteries wear out over the years, and an older battery holds less charge.
On an iPhone: open Settings, Battery, Battery Health & Charging. You’ll see the Maximum Capacity. If it’s much lower than 100 percent, for example below about 80 percent, a replacement may help.
On Android: some phones show battery health in Settings, Battery, and others don’t. A repair shop or the manufacturer can test it.
If you need a new battery, go to the manufacturer or an authorized repair shop. Cheap replacement batteries from unknown sources can be unsafe.
Signs of a Bigger Problem
Stop using the phone and get it checked if it:
Shuts off suddenly at 30 percent or more
Gets very hot when you’re not using it
Has a swollen or bulging back or screen
A swollen battery can be dangerous. Don’t charge it, and take it to a repair professional.
A Quick Warning
Be careful with pop-ups or ads that say your battery is “damaged” or your phone is “infected” and urge you to tap or call. They’re scams. Use your phone’s own Settings to check.
If you’d like someone beside you while you go through your settings, a Kendera Global session can walk through your phone with you, step by step, and show you what’s using the most power.
