With iOS 18 out in the wild, Apple has packed in many exciting new features that can make your iPhone even better.
However, some of these updates can drain your battery life, leaving you scrambling for a charger by midday.
But don’t worry. With just a few tweaks, you can easily extend your iPhone’s battery life and keep it running smoothly from morning to night.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know to get the most out of your battery on iOS 18. Let’s get started.
Turn Off Unnecessary Features
iOS 18 introduces some cool features, but not all are essential for everyday use. Features like Siri Suggestions, Face ID Attention Awareness, and even Hey Siri can quietly drain power in the background.
If you don’t use these often, try turning them off to save some juice. You can always re-enable them later if you miss them.
Keep Your Apps Updated
First, ensure all of your apps are up to date. Developers often release updates when a new version of iOS comes out to fix bugs and improve compatibility, which can help reduce battery drain.
Head to the App Store, tap your profile in the top-right corner and hit “Update All” to ensure your apps are optimized for iOS 18.
Set Charging Limits to Prolong Battery Health
One of the smartest new features in iOS 18 is the ability to limit how much your iPhone charges.
You can set a cap at 80%, which helps extend your battery’s overall lifespan by reducing wear and tear.
To take advantage of this feature, go to Settings > Battery > Charging and toggle on Optimized Battery Charging.
Manage Location Services
As you probably already know, location tracking is one of the most battery-draining features.
Many apps request location access, and this constant tracking can drain your battery hard. Review which apps really need location data and set them to “While Using” or even “Never.”
Go the extra mile by disabling unnecessary system services, like Location-Based Apple Ads or Popular Near Me, which can also drain your battery in the background.
Tweak Your 5G and Data Settings
If you’re using a 5G iPhone, be aware that 5G can drain your battery faster, especially in areas with poor 5G coverage. Switch to 5G Auto or even 4G to save some power.
Go to Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Options > Voice & Data. Then, switch to 5G Auto or even 4G to save some power.
You can also adjust the Data Mode in iOS 18 to limit the amount of data apps can use in the background, reducing battery drain.
Remember to turn off iCloud sync over cellular when you don’t need it. This alone can be a huge battery saver.
Reduce Widget Use
Widgets are fantastic for quickly checking the weather or your latest messages, but they’re constantly refreshing in the background, which can hurt battery life.
I’d stick to only the most essential widgets and avoid using ones that frequently update, such as stock market or news widgets.
Disable Music Haptics
Apple has released Music Haptics, a new feature in iOS 18, to improve accessibility for users with hearing impairments.
If you’re not deaf or hard of hearing, you might want to turn off this feature, as it can also reduce your battery life.
If you’re more focused on preserving power than feeling those rhythms, turn off this feature in Settings > Accessibility > Music Haptics.
Control Background App Refresh
Apps that update in the background can quickly drain your battery. Consider limiting Background App Refresh to Wi-Fi only or turning it off entirely for non-essential apps.
You can do this by going to Settings > General > Background App Refresh and customizing it to your needs.
Fine-tune Display Settings
Your display is one of the biggest battery hogs. To save battery on your iPhone, you can make a few key adjustments to your display settings.
First, set Auto-Lock to 30 seconds or 1 minute of inactivity, reducing the time your screen stays on and conserving power.
If your iPhone has an OLED screen, enabling Dark Mode is another great way to save energy since black pixels don’t need to light up, resulting in less power consumption.
Additionally, while True Tone helps your display adjust to ambient lighting for a more comfortable viewing experience, it also uses an extra battery. So consider turning it off to extend your phone’s battery life further.
If your iPhone supports Always-On Display, reducing the brightness or turning it off entirely will also help.
Adjust Mail Fetch Settings
Switching from Push to Fetch can save a lot of power if you use the Mail app.
Instead of constantly checking for new emails, you can set it to fetch emails every 30 minutes or even hourly.
To adjust these settings, go to Settings > Mail > Accounts > Fetch New Data.
Use Low Power Mode When You Need It
Low Power Mode is your best friend if you’re running low on battery and far from a charger.
This feature reduces background tasks, dims your display, and even cuts down on some visual effects to keep your iPhone alive longer.
You can activate it in Settings > Battery or by asking Siri to “Turn on Low Power Mode.”
Turn Off Safari Preload Top Hit
Safari’s Preload Top Hit automatically loads the top search result whenever you enter a query.
It’s convenient but can be unnecessary if you’re simply browsing. To save some battery, disable this feature in the Safari settings.
Stay Updated on iOS Patches
Apple frequently releases software updates to fix bugs and improve battery performance.
Always keep your iPhone up to date by checking Settings > General > Software Update. These updates can include tweaks that optimize battery life.
Wrapping It Up
With iOS 18, you can significantly improve your iPhone’s battery life by making small tweaks.
From turning off unnecessary features to optimizing your settings, these tips will help you get more out of your device without constantly hunting for a charger.
Everyone’s usage is a little different, so feel free to experiment with these suggestions to find the perfect balance between enjoying iOS 18’s new features and keeping your battery going strong.
If you know any other battery-saving tips that can significantly improve battery life, please share them in the comments.
