iOS 18 has just been released, and as with every major update, many users are experiencing battery drain issues.
In this article, I will give you some great tips for Save your battery a lot on iOS 18.
1. Update your apps
The first step to saving battery life is to check for updates to your apps.
For that, follow these simple steps:
- First, open the App Store, then click on your profile picture in the upper right corner.
- Scroll down until you see a spinning wheel. This means you are checking for updates.
- If you have multiple updates available (eg 34 like on my iPhone), it is essential to install them.
Apps must be compatible with the new version of iOS, and outdated apps can affect battery life.
Once the updates are done, you will see a significant improvement in thebattery life.
2. Beware of Apple Intelligence
If you have access to theApple Intelligence on your iPhone, be aware that it can also drain your battery.
New features like writing tools,call recording or transcription are very useful, but they are still in beta and require a lot of resources from your device.
Each task is performed on your iPhone, which uses your processing power and therefore your battery. So it's good to keep in mind that using these features can increase your battery consumption.
3. Turn off music haptics
Another new feature in iOS 18 is music haptics. When you listen to music on Apple Music, your iPhone vibrates with the rhythm.
While this may be nice, it does drain battery life.
To disable this feature, open the Settings, search for " music haptics » and turn it off to save energy.
4. Limit your battery charge
A new section in iOS 18 lets you choose a charging limit for your device. Previously, you could only choose to charge the battery in an optimized way.
Now you can decide up to what percentage you want to charge your battery, for example 80%. This will extend the battery life in the long term, even if it does not immediately reduce battery consumption.
Here's how to limit your battery charge on iOS 18: Go to Settings > Battery > Charging optimization, then activate Limit of 80% .
If your model doesn't offer this option, continue using the Optimized Charging feature, which will keep your battery at 80% for as long as possible before increasing to 100%.
5. Be careful with widgets
Widgets have also evolved in iOS 18 and are now easier to manage. However, it is crucial to note that some widgets can drain your battery, especially those that are constantly updating, such as stock market widgets.
If you want to save energy, try reducing the use of widgets and go back to using classic apps.
6. Check your 5G cellular data
Go to settings to review your cellular data options. Check if you are using 5G.
In fact, using 5G can significantly reduce your battery life compared to 4G or Wi-Fi.
Turn off standalone 5G and switch to 5G auto or 4G tosave battery.
To do this, go to Settings > Cellular Data > Options or Settings > Mobile Data > Options. Choose 5g auto or 4G.
Apple also recommends using these settings to optimize your battery life.
7. Set the data mode
It is also important to configure the data mode.
You have three options:
- allow more data on 5G,
- Normal
- and low data mode.
To save your battery, choose as in the previous screenshot, “Normal” or “Low Data Mode”, which reduces your mobile data usage.
8. Turn off iCloud Drive and iCloud Backup
Next, pay attention to iCloud Drive and iCloud backup. If you allow backup via cellular data, your iPhone will perform backups without Wi-Fi, which can be bad for your battery.
Turn off iCloud Backup if you have Wi-Fi at home or at the office, and also consider turning off iCloud Drive on cellular to avoid unnecessary downloads that could drain your battery.
To do this, go to the app Settings, touch your name > iCloud > ICloud backup, then deactivate Backup via cell phone.
9. Turn on dark mode
I have mentioned this many times before, but it is always good to remember: the Dark mode actually saves your battery.
The iPhones equipped with OLED screens reduce the amount of light emitted when using dark mode. In contrast, in light mode, the screen lights up completely. It's that simple! However, this will only save battery life if you have a iPhone with OLED display.
Most iPhoneToday's cars are equipped with them. If you have a iPhone 12 or newer, it has an OLED display.
If you have a iPhone older, like theiPhone 11 Pro, XS or X, you will also benefit from this feature. The other models do not have an OLED screen and therefore will not benefit from this energy saving.
Then, to enable dark mode, go to Settings > Brightness and display, then activate the Dark Mode.
Not only will you save battery life, but your screen will also be more pleasant to look at in low-light environments.
10. Disable True Tone
Let's now move on to true Tone. This feature makes the display a little more yellow to match the ambient lighting. It may not make much difference in an environment like this, where the light is white, but generally it will make your screen look yellowish.
This feature consumes battery because it constantly uses the light sensor to adjust the brightness and color of your display, so I recommend turning this feature off.
Go to Settings > Brightness and Display , and deactivate true Tone. You'll notice that your screen looks more uniform, and your battery will thank you.
11. Adjust auto-lock
Next, let's talk about the automatic locking. The way I use it on my iPhone is the least effective.
I recommend setting this option to 1 or 2 minutes. It is very common to forget our iPhone on a table or sofa and leave the room, leaving the screen on for long minutes or even hours.
So, I suggest choosing a delay of one to two minutes before the screen automatically turns off when you're not using it.
In Settings > Brightness and display > Automatic locking, choose a duration of 30 seconds. This ensures that your screen does not remain on when not in use.
12. Adjust location services
The first thing to check is to make sure that apps aren't using your location all the time. In iOS 18, it's very easy to check this.
Go to Location Services and check which apps are set to “Always”. I recommend choosing “When the app is active” or “Never” to save your battery.
If you have any apps set to “Always,” check and adjust them.
For example, I have a weather app set to "Always" so it can give me the weather in my current location. For other apps, if you don't see the point in them using your location, feel free to set it to "Never."
To individually control which apps and system services access Location Services data, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services.
Also scroll down to access the system services. You can turn off some options like Apple Pay alerts and merchant identification that aren't necessary.
You also don't need to share your location to help Apple improve its products, so turn that off. Finally, turn off the significant places. This feature allows Apple to store where you spend the most time, which consumes battery. If you don't use the optimized charging feature, I recommend turning this off.
13. Limit background app refresh
Let's go back to settings next, go to General and search for Refresh in plan.
I advise you to select the “Wi-Fi” or “No” options.
If you leave this feature enabled, all your apps will download and update their data in the background, even if you're not using them.
This can drain your battery, so I recommend turning it off or limiting it to Wi-Fi to save your battery.
14. Optimize the use of the Mail application
In settings, go to the app Mail. By default, the function of retrieving new data is set to “Push”.
This means that your device is constantly checking mail servers (like Gmail or iCloud) for new emails.
This consumes a lot of battery. I recommend you to disable the "Push" function and choose the option Retrieve.
You can then select how often your accounts will check for new messages, for example, manually or every 30 minutes.
This will save you a significant amount of battery.
15. Safari and Preloading Results
Search for the feature Preload the best result in Safari. If you do a Google search, the first site that comes up will be preloaded in the background, which consumes battery.
I advise you to disable this feature to avoid wasting energy and data.
16. Software update
See you in General then in Software update. It is crucial to check for iOS updates regularly.
Make sure your device is up to date, as new versions often fix battery issues.
If you have an older version of iOS, update it as soon as possible.
17. Power Saving Mode
Finally, don't forget to use the energy saving mode. This is a very useful option, especially in the first days after a major update. This mode will not damage your iPhone and can extend your battery life.
To enable power saving mode, go to Settings > Battery and activate Energy saving mode.
By applying these simple tips, you can significantly improve the battery life of your iPhone.
Remember to check your settings regularly and adjust your usage habits to get the most out of your device.
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