The short answer
Open Settings › Battery to see which apps use the most power, then limit or update them. Lower screen brightness, turn on Low Power Mode when needed, and check Settings › Battery › Battery Health & Charging. If maximum capacity is low, the battery itself may need replacing.
If your iPhone used to last all day and now struggles to reach the afternoon, the cause is usually a specific app, a setting, or an ageing battery. Here’s how to tell which, and what to do about it.
Step 1: Check which apps use the most battery
- Open Settings › Battery.
- Look at the charts for the Last 24 Hours and Last 10 Days.
- Scroll down to the list of apps, sorted by battery use. Tap Show Activity to see screen-on versus background time.
If one app uses a lot of battery in the background, open Settings › General › Background App Refresh and turn it off for that app. Also check for an app update in the App Store.
Step 2: Check battery health
- Go to Settings › Battery › Battery Health & Charging (on some models, Battery Health).
- Look at Maximum Capacity. This compares your battery to when it was new.
Batteries are consumable and wear down over time. If you see a service recommendation, a battery replacement will make the biggest difference.
Step 3: Adjust the screen
The display is usually the biggest power user.
- Lower brightness in Control Center, or turn on Auto-Brightness in Settings › Accessibility › Display & Text Size.
- Set Settings › Display & Brightness › Auto-Lock to 30 seconds or 1 minute.
- Use Dark Mode on iPhone models with OLED screens.
Step 4: Use Low Power Mode
Turn on Low Power Mode in Settings › Battery or from Control Center. It reduces background activity, like mail fetch and some visual effects, until you charge again.
Step 5: Review location and notifications
- In Settings › Privacy & Security › Location Services, set apps to While Using instead of Always unless they truly need it.
- In Settings › Notifications, turn off notifications you don’t need. Every notification wakes the screen.
Step 6: Update iOS
Apple includes battery and performance fixes in software updates. Go to Settings › General › Software Update. See our guide on how to update your iPhone.
Step 7: Keep it at a comfortable temperature
Apple says iPhones work best between 0° and 35° C (32° to 95° F). Heat in particular can permanently reduce battery capacity. Don’t leave your phone in a hot car, and remove thick cases if your phone gets hot while charging.
Step 8: Restart
A simple restart clears stuck processes that can drain power in the background.
Related guides
Updates often include battery fixes, so update your iPhone. If your iPhone won’t charge at all, see what to do when an iPhone is not charging.
The bottom line
Check Settings › Battery first: it usually points straight to the problem. Fix the app or setting it shows, then check battery health. If the battery itself has worn out, a replacement brings back all-day life.
Frequently asked questions
Is it normal for battery life to be worse after an iOS update?
For a day or two, yes. After a major update, your iPhone re-indexes photos and data in the background. Battery life usually returns to normal once that finishes.
Should I close apps in the App Switcher to save battery?
Generally no. iOS manages background apps itself. Force-closing apps you'll reopen soon can use more power, because they have to start from scratch.
When should I replace my iPhone battery?
Apple's batteries are designed to keep a large share of their original capacity for hundreds of charge cycles. If Battery Health shows a service message or a low maximum capacity, contact Apple or an authorized provider about a replacement.
Why you can trust this guide
- Based on official sources. The steps here are checked against the 2 official sources listed below, such as the help pages of the companies involved.
- Checked and dated. Last checked on November 10, 2026. We update guides when software or advice changes.
- Independent. No company paid for or reviewed this guide. We don't sell products, and ads never influence our advice.
- Open to corrections. Spotted an error? Tell us and we'll fix it. Read how we research.
Sources
This guide is general information. Menus and features can change with software updates, and steps may differ on your device or version. Back up important data before making big changes. Read our disclaimer.
