Why Is My iPhone Battery Draining Fast? (8 Fixes)

Dealing with an iPhone battery that drains faster than you can charge it is incredibly frustrating. You're not alone—rapid battery drain is one of the most common complaints among iPhone users, especially with older models or after software updates. Whether you're missing important calls or constantly searching for a charger, this issue can disrupt your day.

This problem often stems from software glitches, background app activity, aging hardware, or improper settings. In this guide, you'll learn how to identify the root cause of your iPhone's battery drain and fix it with 8 practical solutions. We'll start with simple tweaks and move to more advanced troubleshooting, ensuring you have the best chance of restoring your battery life. Plus, we'll discuss when it's time to consider an upgrade if the fixes don't work.

By the end, you'll know how to extend your iPhone's battery life, what to watch for if the problem persists, and whether a replacement or repair makes more sense. Let's dive in!

Common Causes

• Background app refresh and notifications draining power
• Outdated iOS software causing inefficiencies
• Aging battery with reduced capacity (common after 2-3 years)
• High screen brightness or intensive app usage
• Poor network signal forcing the phone to work harder

Troubleshooting Steps

1. Check Battery Usage in Settings

Difficulty: easy | Time: 5 minutes

Go to Settings > Battery on your iPhone. Look at the 'Battery Usage by App' section to see which apps are consuming the most power over the last 24 hours or 10 days. High usage from apps like social media or games often indicates background activity.

Why this works: Identifying power-hungry apps lets you restrict or uninstall them to save battery. If you see an app using over 20-30% of battery while barely used, that's a red flag.

What you should see: A clear list of apps and their usage percentages. If an app stands out, close it or adjust its settings (e.g., disable background refresh).

Warning signs: If no single app is using much power but the battery still drains, move to the next step.

2. Turn Off Background App Refresh

Difficulty: easy | Time: 3 minutes

Navigate to Settings > General > Background App Refresh and toggle it off for all apps or selectively for high-usage ones identified in Step 1.

Why this works: Apps updating in the background can drain battery even when you're not using them.

What you should see: Battery drain should slow down within a few hours. Check Battery Usage again to confirm.

Warning signs: If disabling this doesn’t help, the issue might be elsewhere like hardware or network.

3. Reduce Screen Brightness

Difficulty: easy | Time: 2 minutes

Lower your screen brightness by swiping down to access the Control Center and sliding the brightness bar down, or enable Auto-Brightness in Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size.

Why this works: The display is one of the biggest power consumers on an iPhone. Lower brightness reduces energy use.

What you should see: Immediate improvement in battery life, especially if brightness was previously at 80-100%.

Warning signs: If battery drain persists even at low brightness, the issue isn’t display-related.

4. Update iOS to the Latest Version

Difficulty: easy | Time: 10-20 minutes

Go to Settings > General > Software Update and install any available updates. Ensure your iPhone is charged or plugged in during the update.

Why this works: Apple often releases updates to fix battery drain bugs and optimize performance.

What you should see: After updating, monitor battery life over 24 hours. Improvements are often noticeable.

Warning signs: If updating worsens the drain or doesn’t help, consider a software reset in later steps.

5. Enable Low Power Mode

Difficulty: easy | Time: 2 minutes

Turn on Low Power Mode via Settings > Battery or through Control Center (add it if not visible by customizing in Settings).

Why this works: This mode reduces background activity, lowers brightness, and limits performance to save battery.

What you should see: Battery life extends significantly, though some features (like mail fetch) may be slower.

Warning signs: If Low Power Mode doesn’t help, the battery hardware might be degraded.

6. Check Battery Health

Difficulty: easy | Time: 3 minutes

Go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging. Look at the 'Maximum Capacity' percentage. If it’s below 80%, your battery is significantly degraded.

Why this works: This tells you if the battery hardware itself is the issue due to age or wear.

What you should see: A capacity above 80% suggests software issues; below 80% indicates hardware degradation.

Warning signs: If capacity is low, consider a battery replacement (see later steps or upgrade section).

7. Reset All Settings

Difficulty: medium | Time: 10 minutes

Backup your iPhone first, then go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset All Settings. This won’t delete data but resets preferences.

Why this works: Misconfigured settings or glitches can cause battery drain; resetting clears these.

What you should see: Battery performance may improve after a day or two as settings normalize.

Warning signs: If this doesn’t work, the issue is likely hardware-related. Be aware this resets Wi-Fi passwords and other preferences.

8. Replace the Battery (if Under 80% Capacity)

Difficulty: hard | Time: 1-2 hours (at service center)

If Battery Health shows capacity below 80%, visit an Apple Store or authorized service provider for a replacement. Costs are around $69-$99 depending on the model. Check if you’re under AppleCare+ for potential discounts.

Why this works: A new battery restores full capacity, often making the phone feel like new.

What you should see: Battery life returns to near-original levels post-replacement.

Warning signs: DIY replacement is not recommended due to risk of damage. If cost exceeds value of the phone, consider upgrading. Check warranty status before proceeding.

When to Upgrade

If your iPhone’s battery health is below 80% and the device is over 3-4 years old, a replacement might be more cost-effective than a repair. Battery replacements cost $69-$99 through Apple, but if your phone struggles with performance issues beyond battery life (like slow processing or outdated iOS support), the repair cost may not justify the limited lifespan left. Additionally, if you’ve tried all troubleshooting steps and the drain persists—or if you see swelling or overheating (a safety concern)—it’s a strong sign the hardware is failing permanently.

Check your warranty or AppleCare+ status at support.apple.com; if covered, you might get a discounted or free repair. However, for models like the iPhone 8 or older, Apple may no longer provide software updates, leaving you vulnerable to security risks. In such cases, upgrading to a newer model with better battery technology and longer support makes sense. Safety note: A swollen battery is a fire hazard—stop using the device and seek professional help immediately.

Ultimately, if repair costs approach 50% of a new iPhone’s price or if you’re constantly battling multiple issues, upgrading offers better value and peace of mind. Newer models also have improved battery efficiency and features that can prevent this problem in the future.

Upgrade Now

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Prevention Tips

• Avoid exposing your iPhone to extreme heat or cold, as it degrades battery health.
• Charge between 20-80% when possible to minimize battery wear (use Optimized Battery Charging in Settings).
• Disable unnecessary features like location services or push notifications for apps you don’t need.
• Regularly update iOS to benefit from Apple’s battery optimization patches.
• Use official or MFi-certified chargers to prevent damage from cheap alternatives.