Greg Chaffins An iPhone is a powerful tool to have in your pocket, and the battery life on these (and other) devices just keep getting better. But over time even the best designed battery power systems naturally wear down. Luckily smart habits can help you get the most out of every charge and extend your device’s working runtime. There are things you can do daily that will help with battery life, and charging habits that can help. First, let’s look at daily habits that can help your device go the distance.
Daily Habits for Longer Battery Life
1. Optimize Screen Brightness
Your display is one of the biggest power drains. Use Auto-Brightness or adjust your screen manually to a comfortable but lower level. Turning on Dark Mode can also save energy, especially on OLED displays (like the iPhone X and newer).
2. Enable Low Power Mode
When your battery is running low, turn on Low Power Mode (Settings > Battery). This reduces background activity like automatic downloads and mail fetching, buying you extra time before needing a charge.
3. Manage Background App Refresh
Some apps run in the background even when you’re not using them. Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh and turn it off for apps that don’t need constant updating.
4. Reduce Location Services
GPS tracking consumes power. In Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services, allow apps to access your location only while using the app instead of always.
5. Limit Push Notifications
Every buzz and pop-up uses energy. Disable non-essential notifications or switch some apps to deliver updates quietly.
Next, let’s look at charging strategies and habits that can help your iPhone maintain a healthy battery life.
Charging Tips for Long-Term Battery Health
6. Avoid Extreme Temperatures
iPhone batteries perform best between 62°F and 72°F (16°C to 22°C). Heat, in particular, can permanently damage battery capacity, so don’t leave your phone in a hot car or in direct sunlight.
7. Don’t Always Charge to 100%
Lithium-ion batteries last longer when they’re kept between 20% and 80%. Frequent full charges and complete drains can shorten overall battery health.
8. Use Optimized Battery Charging
Apple’s Optimized Battery Charging (enabled by default) learns your routine and delays charging past 80% until you need it – helping reduce wear on the battery.
9. Stick With Certified Chargers
Cheap or uncertified chargers can damage your battery over time. Always use Apple-certified (MFi) charging cables and adapters.
Monitoring Battery Health
In Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging, you can check your battery’s maximum capacity (compared to when it was new). If it drops significantly – usually below 80% – you might notice shorter usage times, and a battery replacement could help restore performance.
Making it Last
You really can’t stop a modern battery from aging, but you can slow the deterioration. By managing brightness, cutting down on unnecessary background activity, and practicing smart charging habits, you’ll get more life out of every charge. And hopefully extend the lifespan of your iPhone for years to come.
