You probably expect that certain iPhone features and apps are going to be more draining on your battery. Is there anyone left who uses Facebook, TikTok, or YouTube and doesn’t think they are killing battery power fast? But for all of the apps that you expect are going to do a number on your battery, there are actually several iPhone features you might not point fingers at. Unfortunately, if you’re not aware of these features, you could be losing battery power and working with a less efficient phone, without any idea how to solve the problem. Here are some of the unexpected Apple features that are draining your battery, according to iPhone experts.
Wi-Fi Assist
Wi-Fi Assist is a useful feature, according to Alex Alexakis, tech expert and CEO of PixelChefs, but it can also drain your battery. “If you’re experiencing battery drain, you may want to disable Wi-Fi Assist,” Alexakis says. “Enabling this feature will automatically switch your device to cellular data when Wi-Fi is weak. This can be useful if you’re in an area with poor Wi-Fi reception, but it can also drain your battery quickly.”
To disable Wi-Fi Assist, go to Settings > Cellular > Wi-Fi Assist and turn off the switch.
If you disable Wi-Fi Assist and you find that you’re having trouble with Wi-Fi connectivity, Alexakis notes that you can always turn it back on.
Background App Activity
Even while not in use, some applications may continue to run in the background and utilize resources, notes Deepika Adhikari, tech and marketing expert at Thenaturehero. “You risk having a dead battery. Double-tap the home button and swipe up on the preview window of an app to see what apps are currently running in the background and to end them.”
Brightness
“The screen brightness on your device might also impact battery life,” Adhikari says. “Swiping down from the top of the screen and adjusting the brightness slider can reduce the screen's brightness and save battery life.”
Hey Siri
If you have "Hey Siri" turned on, your device watches for the wake command, even when the screen is off, according to Adhikari. “This may drain the battery,” he says. “Go to Settings > Siri & Search and toggle the "Listen for Hey Siri" option to deactivate Hey Siri.”
Dynamic Wallpapers
“The battery life of dynamic wallpapers may be shorter than static backgrounds,” Adhikari says. “Use a static wallpaper as an alternative to save battery. Select a still image by going to Settings > Wallpaper > Choose a New Wallpaper.”
Automatic App Updates
Automatic software updates can drain your battery, particularly if many of them are loaded, according to Adhikari. Go to Settings > App Store and turn off "App Updates" to stop automatic app updates.
“Additionally, it's a good idea to keep your smartphone updated with the most recent software upgrades since these updates may contain bug fixes and performance enhancements that can assist in maximizing battery life,” Adhikari says.
