We’ve all been in this scenario: Your phone hits 20% in the middle of the day, and you panic because you left your charger at home. Most people are reliant on their phones for work and personal communication. The average person spends over four hours a day on their phone! So it’s a real pain when the battery doesn’t work how it’s supposed to. If only someone could invent a device that doesn’t require batteries! Luckily, there are several helpful approaches on how to extend the battery life of an iPhone and Android, making sure that your device remains effectively powered all day.
Key Takeaways:
- How phone batteries work
- Signs your battery isn’t healthy
- Adjusting your settings to preserve your battery
- How to manage your apps for battery life
- Changing your phone habits
- How your environment impacts battery life
- Always do software updates!
- Signs it’s time to replace your phone battery
Understand Your Battery
It’s important to understand how your battery works to know how to extend the battery life of an iPhone or Android device.
Most modern smartphones use lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries, which are lightweight, rechargeable, and capable of storing a large amount of energy in a small space.
When you plug in your phone, energy moves into the battery, “filling it up.” When you use your phone, the battery releases that energy to keep everything running.
Every time you charge and use your phone, it goes through that cycle. Over time, the battery holds less energy and lasts less.
Adjust Your Settings
Sometimes, a simple adjustment in your settings can greatly improve your phone battery life. Try these tips and see if they help your phone hold its charge longer.
Screen and Display
One of the biggest and most common ways to deplete your battery is screen brightness. By decreasing the screen brightness or turning on the automatic feature, you can significantly extend your battery’s life. Most phones have a “Night Mode” or “Dark Theme” that doesn’t strain your eyes and can also conserve energy.
Disable Unused Connectivity Features
Features such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and NFC (Near Field Communication, which allows users to make secure transactions, exchange digital content, and connect electronic devices with a touch) can strain battery life when enabled.
Try turning these features off when they’re not being used. Likewise, if data isn’t being used, switch to airplane mode in low-signal areas to save on power.
Battery-Saving Modes
Many smartphones are equipped with a battery saver mode that can help prolong battery life. This feature usually lowers performance and restricts all background activity. It can be turned on when the battery is low, or set to automatically activate when the battery reaches a specific percentage.
Manage Your Apps
Apps take up a lot of storage space and a lot of battery when used. Some apps come pre-installed, and there’s not much you can do about them. Other times, you have a lot of apps installed and running in the background, even if you don’t use them often.
Close or Restrict Apps Running in the Background
A lot of apps are constantly operating in the background. This drains battery life even when they’re not in use. To fix this, go to your phone settings to reduce any background activity for apps that don’t need to be upgraded regularly. For example, apps like social media or news can be limited from refreshing in the background.
Uninstall or Disable Apps You Don’t Use
Apps that you haven’t used for a while can take up real estate. They can also run background processes that drain your battery. Look over your apps regularly and either uninstall or inactivate the ones you don’t use. This saves on battery life and also gives you more storage space.
Check for Battery-Draining Apps
Many smartphones offer a thorough battery usage summary in settings. Look over this to see which apps use the most battery life, and consider other options. If an app is constantly draining battery life, it may be time to uninstall it and download a different one.
Manage Location Services
GPS and location services (Google Maps, Life360, and others) can also drain battery life. Go to location settings and change them to “While Using” instead of “Always” for apps that don’t always need to know where you are. In addition, you can turn off location services altogether for apps that don’t need it.
Reduce Notifications
Notifications from apps can pop up when your phone’s screen is in dark mode, using power and draining the battery. Reduce notifications from apps you don’t need, or group notifications together to minimize interruptions.
Charging Habits
Are your charging habits affecting battery health? They might be! See if you’re accidentally killing your battery.
Avoid Extreme Battery Levels
Keeping your battery at 0% or 100% puts extra strain on its chemistry, reducing the battery’s ability to hold a full charge over time. Staying in the middle range (20–80%) helps it last longer.
Avoid Overnight Charging If Possible
Leaving your phone plugged in all night keeps it at 100% for hours. This prolonged full charge creates heat and accelerates battery wear. Charging in shorter sessions protects the battery’s lifespan.
Use the Right Charger and Cable
It may also be helpful to use the factory charger and cable. Sometimes third-party accessories aren’t as effective, even if they are cheaper.
Don’t Use Your Phone While It’s Charging
Using your phone while it charges generates extra heat. Heat stresses the battery and can cause faster degradation. Letting it charge undisturbed keeps it cooler and healthier.
Don’t Let It Die
The method you use to charge your phone can significantly affect your phone’s long-term battery health. Avoid the habit of allowing the battery to completely drain before plugging it in. Instead, keep it between 20% and 80% for ideal battery strength.
Temperature and Environment
Temperature plays a big role in the health of your phone battery. Keeping your phone in moderate conditions helps maintain battery health so it lasts longer.
Avoid Extreme Heat or Cold
We’ve probably all seen that notification saying our phone is too hot and needs to cool down before we can use it again. Maybe we left it in the summer heat or in a hot car.
High temperatures can damage the battery’s internal components, and cold temperatures can temporarily reduce battery performance. Keep your phone in moderate conditions as much as possible.
Remove Heavy Cases During Charging if Your Phone Heats Up
Thick or heavy cases can trap heat during charging, and as we know, extra heat increases stress on the battery and reduces its lifespan. Removing the case helps the battery stay cool and charge safely.
Store Phones at Moderate Temperatures When Not in Use
Storing your phone in very hot or cold places can weaken the battery over time. Keeping it in a moderate, room-temperature environment preserves its health.
Software Updates and Maintenance
Keeping your phone’s software up to date ensures it runs efficiently and fixes bugs that could drain your battery. Regular maintenance keeps the battery working at its best.
Keep Your Phone Updated
Updating your apps and operating system makes sure that the latest improvements and bug fixes are installed. App creators constantly issue updates that can help with battery life, so updating your apps is very important.
Restart Your Phone Regularly
Background apps and processes can slowly drain the battery. Restarting your phone closes these processes and resets memory, helping your battery last longer between charges.
When It’s Time for a Battery Replacement
Sometimes a battery simply needs to be replaced without replacing the entire phone. Here are a few key signs that your phone needs a new battery:
- It drains too fast (loses more than 20% in under an hour of idle time)
- Sudden shutdowns, even with battery left
- The battery percentage jumps up and down
- Your phone feels hot, even when idle
- The batter swells or lifts the screen
- Slow or inconsistent charging
- The phone only works while plugged in
- Swollen back or screen separation
- Battery health reading below 80%
- The device lags or freezes
- The battery doesn’t hold a charge overnight
- Your phone has a manufacturing age of over two years
- The phone fails to power on after charging
These signs indicate your phone battery needs to be replaced. At IDR Tech, our technicians replace batteries using premium components, ensuring safe installation and long-term performance. Whether it’s an iPhone, Samsung, or Android model, we help you restore reliability before total failure happens.
If you’re seeing any of these warning signs, schedule a repair.
Tips for How to Extend the Battery Life of an iPhone or Android
Increasing a phone’s battery life isn’t really complex. By applying these basic methods, you can greatly enhance your phone’s performance and endurance. With some awareness and a few setting adjustments, you can ensure your device stays charged and ready for your day.
Try adopting just one of these habits and see how much longer your battery lasts throughout the day. Say goodbye to dead batteries!
FAQs About Making Your Phone Battery Last Longer
Does charging overnight ruin my battery?
Not exactly, but it can slightly reduce battery lifespan over time. Modern smartphones stop drawing power once fully charged, but keeping your phone at 100% for hours can create heat and stress the battery. If possible, unplug once it hits full.
Can closing apps really save battery?
Most of the time, no. Smartphones are designed to manage background apps efficiently. Force-closing apps constantly can actually use more battery when you reopen them. Focus on limiting apps that run in the background, such as GPS, social media, or streaming apps.
Why shouldn’t you charge your phone to 100%?
Charging to 100% and keeping it there stresses the battery over time. Lithium-ion batteries last longest when kept between roughly 20% and 80%. Staying in the upper range too long can accelerate wear.
Does repeated charging reduce battery life?
Every battery has a limited number of charge cycles. Frequent full charges (0–100%) contribute more to degradation than topping off in smaller increments. Short, partial charges are gentler
on your battery.
Is it bad if I charge my phone every day?
Nope! Daily charging is fine, especially if you top off your battery gradually. Modern batteries are designed for frequent use, and partial daily charges can actually prolong battery lifespan compared to waiting until it’s almost dead.