12 Settings That Make Your Phone Battery Last Longer

Where your battery actually goes

The screen, the radios (cellular, Wi-Fi, GPS) and apps working in the background use most of your battery. The settings below target those three. You don't need to change all twelve; pick the ones that fit how you use your phone. Menu names vary a little by model and software version, so if a path doesn't match exactly, search for the setting name in your Settings app.

Screen settings

1. Turn on auto-brightness and lower the ceiling

A bright screen is one of the biggest drains. Auto-brightness adjusts to the room so you're not running full brightness indoors. On iPhone, it's under Settings › Accessibility › Display & Text Size › Auto-Brightness. On Android, look for Adaptive brightness in Display settings.

2. Shorten the screen timeout

Every extra second the screen stays on after you put the phone down costs battery. On iPhone, set Settings › Display & Brightness › Auto-Lock to 30 seconds or 1 minute. On Android, change Screen timeout in Display settings.

3. Lower the refresh rate

Many phones refresh the screen up to 120 times a second for smoother scrolling. Lowering it helps battery. On Samsung, go to Settings › Display › Motion smoothness and choose Standard. On a Pixel, turn off Smooth Display in Display settings. On iPhones with a ProMotion display, Settings › Accessibility › Motion › Limit Frame Rate caps it at 60.

4. Turn off Always-On Display

If your phone shows the time and notifications on a dimmed screen while locked, that feature uses some power all day. On iPhone models that have it, it's in Display & Brightness. On Galaxy phones, look under Lock screen and AOD.

5. Use dark mode (on OLED screens)

On OLED screens, black pixels are switched off, so dark mode can save some power, especially at higher brightness. Most recent iPhones, Galaxy S phones and Pixels use OLED. On older LCD phones, like the iPhone 11 or iPhone SE, it makes little difference to battery.

Background activity

6. Limit Background App Refresh

Apps refreshing in the background use data and battery. On iPhone, go to Settings › General › Background App Refresh and turn it off for apps that don't need it. On Galaxy phones, Background usage limits in Battery settings can put rarely used apps to sleep. On Pixel, you can restrict an app's battery use from its App info screen.

7. Trim location access

GPS is a heavy user of power. On iPhone, open Settings › Privacy & Security › Location Services and set most apps to "While Using" or "Never". On Android, review app location permissions in Location settings. Weather and shopping apps rarely need "Always".

8. Cut down notifications

Each notification can light up the screen and wake the phone. Turn off notifications from apps that don't need your attention, like games and shopping apps. Keep messages, calendar and anything work-critical.

9. Turn on Adaptive Battery (Android)

Android learns which apps you use most and limits the rest. On a Pixel, look for Adaptive Battery under Battery settings. On a Galaxy, a similar option is in the battery settings menu. It's usually on by default, but worth checking.

Connections

10. Manage 5G in weak coverage

Phones work harder in areas where the signal is weak. If you're often in spotty coverage, you can tell your phone to prefer LTE. On iPhone, look in Cellular (or Mobile Data) settings under Voice & Data, where 5G Auto balances speed and battery. On Android, check Preferred network type in your SIM or mobile network settings.

11. Use Wi-Fi when you can, airplane mode when you can't

Wi-Fi typically uses less power than a weak cellular connection. In a basement, a rural dead zone or on a flight, turn on airplane mode so the phone stops searching for a signal. You can turn Wi-Fi back on while in airplane mode.

The big switch

12. Use Low Power Mode or Power saving

When you need to stretch a charge, turn on Low Power Mode on iPhone (Settings › Battery), Battery Saver on a Pixel, or Power saving on a Galaxy. These reduce background activity, visual effects and some features until you charge. You can add a shortcut to Control Centre or Quick Settings.

Quick checklist

• Auto-brightness on, and a short screen timeout
• Lower refresh rate and Always-On Display off
• Dark mode on, if your screen is OLED
• Background App Refresh and location access trimmed
• Fewer notifications, Adaptive Battery on (Android)
• 5G Auto or LTE in weak coverage, airplane mode in dead zones
• Low Power Mode or Power saving when you need to stretch a charge

When settings aren't enough

If your battery still drains fast after these changes, the battery itself may be worn. Lithium-ion batteries lose capacity as they age. On iPhone, check Settings › Battery › Battery Health; a maximum capacity reading below 80% generally means the battery has worn significantly. Other signs include sudden shutdowns at a decent charge, especially in the cold. Our phone battery guide covers how to check health on other phones and when replacement makes sense.

Need a hand?

If your phone won't last the day no matter what you change, a new battery may be the fix. Woman Wireless On The Go sends a certified woman technician to your home, workplace or parked car anywhere in our service area. She'll check your battery, give you a free quote before any work starts, and replace it on the spot. Call or WhatsApp (365) 351-4247, see our battery replacement page, or book online.

Frequently asked questions

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