It’s no secret that iPhones are powerful — but power comes at a cost. If your phone keeps dying before the end of the day, you’re not alone. Many users are looking for simple ways to improve iPhone battery life without sacrificing performance. Fortunately, Apple provides plenty of tools to help you manage power more efficiently.
Whether you’re using the latest iOS 18 or an older model, these strategies can make a huge difference in daily battery usage.
1. Update to the Latest iOS Version
Apple consistently improves battery performance with each iOS update. So, if you haven’t updated yet, now’s the time. iOS 18 introduces several enhancements aimed at optimizing background activity and improving app efficiency.
Navigate to Settings > General > Software Update to check if you’re running the latest version.
For a full breakdown of new features, check out iOS 18 Features – What’s New in Apple’s 2025 Software Update.
2. Manage Background App Refresh
Apps that refresh in the background use up both data and battery. While it’s convenient for some apps to stay updated, it drains power over time.
Here’s how to control it:
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Open Settings |
| 2 | Go to General > Background App Refresh |
| 3 | Choose Wi-Fi only or turn it Off entirely for specific apps |
Turning off background activity for less-used apps can significantly improve battery performance.
3. Use Low Power Mode
Low Power Mode is a quick fix that limits background activity and visual effects. When your battery drops below 20%, iOS suggests enabling it — but you can manually activate it anytime.
To turn it on:
Settings > Battery > Low Power Mode
Once enabled, email fetching, background apps, and visual effects are reduced to conserve energy.
4. Adjust Screen Brightness and Auto-Lock
Your iPhone’s display is one of the biggest battery drainers. Therefore, keeping your screen brightness low and setting a short auto-lock time can have an immediate impact.
| Setting | Recommended Value |
|---|---|
| Brightness | 40% or lower |
| Auto-Lock | 30 seconds to 1 minute |
Go to Settings > Display & Brightness to make these changes quickly.
5. Optimize Location Services
Location Services is another hidden power hog. While some apps need GPS to function, many access it unnecessarily in the background.
Control it this way:
Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services
Then, choose “While Using the App” for most apps or turn off access entirely where not needed.
6. Review Battery Usage by App
If you’re unsure what’s draining your battery, Apple offers a built-in tool that breaks it down.
Settings > Battery > Battery Usage by App
You’ll see which apps consume the most power. Apps like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube often appear at the top, especially with background usage enabled.
Take action accordingly — either force quit, disable background activity, or limit usage.
7. Turn Off Unused System Services
Many system services run silently and continuously in the background. These include analytics, location-based ads, and device tracking.
To optimize:
| Step | Location |
|---|---|
| Turn Off | Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services > System Services |
| Suggested | Disable options like Location-Based Suggestions, iPhone Analytics, and Routing & Traffic |
Even small tweaks like these can add hours to your battery life daily.
8. Customize Widgets and Live Activities
iOS 18 introduced enhanced widgets and Live Activities, which stay active and constantly update. Although they’re useful, they can drain power when overused.
Remove or limit them like this:
Touch and hold a widget > Tap Remove Widget
For more customization tips, see our guide on How to Customize Widgets on iOS 18 Like a Pro.
9. Disable Push Email
Push email keeps your inbox synced in real-time, but it requires your phone to be constantly listening for updates. Switching to manual or fetch every 30 minutes can help save battery.
| Setting | Path |
|---|---|
| Mail Settings | Settings > Mail > Accounts > Fetch New Data |
| Suggested | Set to Fetch every 30 minutes or Manually |
This won’t affect your ability to receive emails — it’ll just check for them less frequently.
10. Avoid Extreme Temperatures
According to Wikipedia, lithium-ion batteries degrade faster when exposed to heat or cold. To protect your iPhone’s battery health, avoid charging it in hot environments and never leave it in direct sunlight.
Also, if you’re charging overnight or using intensive apps, consider removing your phone case to reduce heat buildup.
Final Thoughts
Improving your iPhone’s battery life is less about hacks and more about smart habits. By adjusting a few key settings, you can gain extra screen time and reduce the need for midday charging.
While no phone lasts forever on a single charge, these tips can help you make the most of each cycle. For users looking to get more life out of their iPhone in 2025, these strategies are simple, effective, and free to implement.
Curious how these optimizations compare across different devices? Dive into the history of iOS to see how Apple’s power management has evolved over time
