Is your iPhone battery draining faster than usual after an iOS update? You’re not alone. While software updates often bring new features and security improvements, they can sometimes cause unexpected battery issues. The good news? Most of these issues can be fixed with a few smart tweaks.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to diagnose what’s causing the battery drain and apply practical solutions that work. Whether you’re on iOS 17 or any other recent version, these tips will help you restore your iPhone’s battery performance.
Step-by-Step Guide to Fix iPhone Battery Drain
- Check Battery Health
- Go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging.
- Look at Maximum Capacity. If it’s below 80%, your battery may need replacement.
- Review Battery Usage by App
- Navigate to Settings > Battery and scroll to see which apps consume the most power.
- Tap on any app to see screen time and background activity.
- If an app is using too much battery, consider force quitting or uninstalling it.
- Disable Background App Refresh
- Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh.
- Set it to Off or Wi-Fi only to reduce background battery usage.
- Turn Off Location Services
- Head to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services.
- Disable for apps that don’t need location access, or set to While Using the App.
- Enable Low Power Mode
- Open Settings > Battery, then toggle Low Power Mode.
- This limits background activity and mail fetch, extending battery life.
- Update All Apps
- Open the App Store > Your Profile > Update All.
- Outdated apps may not be optimized for the latest iOS.
- Restart Your iPhone
- A simple restart can clear glitches causing excessive battery usage.
- Reset All Settings
- Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset All Settings.
- This keeps your data but resets system settings that might be causing battery issues.
- Reinstall iOS via Finder or iTunes
- Backup your iPhone, then reinstall iOS using a Mac or PC. This can fix deeper software bugs.
- Wait 48 Hours Post-Update
- iOS performs background indexing after updates. Battery usage may normalize after a day or two.
Pro Tips & Workflow Improvements
- Use Dark Mode: Saves battery on OLED screens (iPhone X and newer).
- Disable Push Mail: Set to manual fetch under Settings > Mail > Accounts > Fetch New Data.
- Reduce Motion: Turn off parallax effects via Settings > Accessibility > Motion.
- Use Wi-Fi Instead of Cellular: Wi-Fi consumes less power for data.
- Turn Off Unused Widgets: Long-press home screen > Edit Home Screen > Tap “-” to remove widgets.
Advanced Use Case
Automate Low Power Mode with Shortcuts
- Use the Shortcuts app to create an automation that turns on Low Power Mode at a set battery percentage or time of day.
- This keeps you from manually enabling it every time.
Troubleshooting & Common Mistakes
- Battery Drains Overnight: Check for rogue apps in Settings > Battery.
- iPhone Feels Hot: Background activity may be running. Try a restart or force quit apps.
- No Battery Improvement: Try reinstalling iOS or booking a Genius Bar appointment.
- Location Always On: Some apps may keep GPS active. Revisit Location Services settings.
- Widgets & Live Activities: These can constantly refresh. Remove unnecessary ones.
Conclusion
If your iPhone battery is draining fast after an iOS update, don’t panic. By following these targeted steps, you can identify the cause and apply fixes that actually work. Practice these settings regularly and stay up-to-date on app and system updates.
