Once you have set up your iPhone so that it features your favorite apps, with all of the right settings in place to make your life as convenient as possible, the last thing you will want is for your phone to last a year — max — before sliding downhill and sending you back to the Apple store. Your phone was an investment, of course, and one that should be able to withstand time and use. But there are a few things you could be doing to your phone that optimize its battery power and makes it last as long as possible. Tech Expert Jason Wise, chief editor at EARTHWEB, considers these his top life-changing tips for a longer-lasting iPhone battery, along with an explanation of how they work and why he relies on them.
Enable Low Power Mode
One of the most effective ways to extend iPhone battery life is by enabling Low Power Mode, Wise says. “This feature reduces background activity and disables certain animations and visual effects, saving significant battery power. I rely on this feature because it optimizes the device’s performance while still allowing essential functions to operate smoothly.”
Optimize Screen Brightness
Adjusting the screen brightness to a lower level helps prolong battery life. “The brighter the screen, the more power it consumes,” Wise says. “By manually adjusting the brightness or utilizing Auto-Brightness mode, you can conserve battery power without compromising readability. I find this tip particularly useful when I’m using my iPhone for long durations.”
Disable Background App Refresh
Background App Refresh allows apps to refresh their content even when they are not actively in use, but it can drain battery life, Wise explains. “Disabling this feature in Settings-> General-> Background App Refresh prevents unnecessary background activity and conserves battery power,” he adds. “I rely on this tip to ensure that my iPhone battery lasts longer throughout the day.”
Manage Location Services
“Certain apps continuously track your location in the background, which can significantly impact battery life,” Wise says. “By going to Settings-> Privacy-> Location Services, you can review and manage app permissions for location tracking. Only allowing necessary apps access to your location will help preserve battery life. This tip is important to me as I often use location-based applications.”
Close Unused Apps
It's a common misconception that force-closing apps in the App Switcher improves battery life, Wise notes. However, iOS automatically manages app activity in the background, so force-closing actually uses additional power.
“Therefore, I recommend keeping only essential apps open and closing unused ones by swiping them up on the App Switcher screen,” Wise says. “This helps prevent unnecessary battery drain.”
