3 Streaming Habits Tech Experts Say Are Ruining Your iPhone

As a sort-of one-stop shop, you may find yourself relying on your iPhone to fulfill so many of your entertainment and practical needs. It’s just so darn convenient to switch off from banking on your iPhone or using it to keep in touch with friends and family to sitting back, relaxing, and streaming movies, games, and music on your device, as well. But considering how many different ways you can use your phone (and how much time you spend on it), it should come as no surprise that it’s sometimes difficult for your phone’s battery to maintain its charge. And if you’re a habitual streamer of content, you’ll probably find that your battery dwindles even faster when you’re binging your favorite Netflix series. In addition to a slower battery, streaming mistakes can also use up data. Here are three streaming habits tech experts say are ruining your iPhone: 

Streaming over Wi-Fi

One of the biggest mistakes you can make is streaming over Wi-Fi, according to Tech Expert Neil at Mobile Guru Australia. “While it may seem like a good idea to save your data plan, streaming over Wi-Fi can actually use up more battery power and data than streaming over cellular,” Neil said. 

Streaming high-definition videos

Another mistake people make is streaming high-definition videos. “While HD videos look great, they can use up a lot of data and battery power,” Neil said. “If you want to save data and battery life, stick to standard definition videos.”

Streaming for long periods of time

Finally, another habit that’s destroying your iPhone is streaming for long periods of time — regardless of how tempting it is to binge shows for hours. “Whether you’re binge-watching a show or listening to an album on repeat, streaming for hours on end can drain your battery and use up a lot of data,” Neil said. Taking breaks in between streaming content can help preserve your battery and data. 

How does streaming affect your iPhone’s battery or ability to function well?

Even if you’ve always suspected that streaming can affect your iPhone’s battery, just how much of an impact does it make? 

To get an idea, Neil recommends looking at some numbers. “According to a recent study, the average person spends nearly four hours per day streaming video on their phone — that’s almost one-third of their waking hours,” Neil said. “And it’s not just watching videos that can affect your battery life; streaming music and other audio content can also take its toll. In fact, the study found that people who stream audio content on their phones for more than two hours per day are more likely to experience battery drainage issues than those who don’t stream audio at all.”

How can you stream content without ruining your phone?

The good news is that you can still stream the content you love without ruining your phone — just keep a few tips in mind, according to Neil: 

Restart your device: “This may seem like an obvious one, but restarting your phone can often fix small glitches that may be causing issues with your streaming apps,” Neil said. 

Close unused apps: “Having too many apps open at once can tax your phone’s resources and lead to choppy playback or other issues,” Neil said. “So, if you’re not using an app, close it out to help improve performance.”

Check for updates: “Keeping your apps up-to-date is always a good idea, as developers often release updates with bug fixes and performance improvements,” Neil said. 

Adjust video quality: “Many streaming apps let you adjust the video quality based on your connection speed,” Neil said. “If you’re having trouble with buffering or choppy playback, try lowering the quality to see if that helps.”

Additional iPhone streaming tips

First and foremost, make sure you have as strong internet connection, according to Neil — since streaming apps can use up a lot of data, if you’re not on a Wi-Fi connection, you could quickly use up your data plan.

“Second, many streaming apps have a lot of content that is behind a paywall,” Neil said. “This means you’ll need to sign up for a subscription in order to watch most of the shows and movies available on the app. However, there are usually free trial periods offered, so you can tryout the app before committing to a subscription.”

And, lastly: be aware that some streaming apps may not be available in all countries. “If you’re traveling abroad, you may not be able to access your favorite streaming app,”Neil said. “Before you leave, check to see if the app is available in the country you’re visiting.”

With all this in mind, have fun streaming — just take care to keep your battery as boosted as possible.