Does the new iOS 10 drain your battery? Here are 7 ways to fix it

While higher-capacity batteries and more energy-efficient components have been introduced, your smartphone’s battery technology has not developed quite as quickly as the rest of your device has.

And with Apple’s new software updates, especially the recent iOS 10, battery life is often an issue. While initial battery tests are positive on older devices, there are still a few steps you can take to help your iPhone last longer.

One of the primary reasons you encounter a reduced battery life has to do with an index of new data, more specifically if Apple unveils additional features. The iOS 10’s Photos app is also required to do a ton of work when you first upgrade. It scans your entire library, browsing for faces and recognizable scenes and objects. While this only occurs when your phone is plugged in, the added processor drain causes your device to charge more slowly than usual.

According to reports, the iOS 10 is marginally better on all devices except the iPhone 5S and SE. So what it most likely comes down to is optimizing the OS. Here’s what you can do to fix poor battery life:

Turn off widgets

The new iOS 10 moves widgets from the Notification Center to the home and lock screens. When you first upgrade, many of them are enabled by default, which means more processing power, additional requests for data, and increased battery drainage.

You can turn off any you don’t need by scrolling to the bottom of the list and tapping Edit. Many update in the background, such as Apple’s News widget; some rely on data stored on your iPhone (like calendar); and others are app shortcuts, such as Shazam and Evernote. Eliminate ones you don’t need, such as duplicate weather widgets or core iOS services you don’t use.

Cut back on notifications

For quite some time, notifications have drained batteries. The more push requests your iPhone receives, the more data is used, which can lead to severe battery drainage throughout the day. iOS 10 has made notifications use even more power by introducing real-time data. Some features are useful, such as the ability to see where Uber is without actually launching the app, but others are not so much.

To manage your Notifications, go to Settings > Notifications and disable any unnecessary ones by using the Allow Notifications toggle.

Battery drain & display

For those who have an iPhone 6S, SE, or new 7 variants, then you have access to a feature called Raise to Wake. The feature turns on the screen when movement is detected. As a result, your screen may wake up more often than you’d like. To disable this feature, go to Settings > Display & Brightness > turn off Raise to Wake.

Another feature to take advantage of is the Facedown Detection feature introduced with the iOS 9. By leaving your device face down on a surface, the screen won’t light up when you receive a notification.

Check your usage

Go to Settings > Battery to view a breakdown of your iPhone’s battery usage by application and service. If you’re experiencing drain, a third-party app may be to blame. While reinstalling a complicated app can sometimes help, other times it may just be power-hungry.

Additionally, background activity may be causing unnecessary drainage. To deny any apps access to background activity, head over to Settings > General > Background App Refresh.

Standard fixes

New iOS 10 users can also utilize some battery-saving tips previously mentioned:

Low-Power Mode — Go to Settings > Battery to enable it. The feature reduces the frequency of mail fetch and background app refresh to save battery.

Fetch Mail Less Frequently — This can be adjusted in Settings > Mail > Accounts. Less frequent mail is better and uses less data and background processes.

Reduce GPS Usage — Don’t grant access to any apps that don’t need GPS by heading to Settings > Privacy > Location services.

Dim Your Screen — Swipe up to reveal the Control Center and adjust your screen’s brightness manually.

Ditch Dynamic Wallpapers — Choose a static wallpaper under Settings > Wallpaper in order to save power.

Update iOS — Be sure you’re running the latest version of iOS under Settings > General > Software Update to ensure that the most recent bugs are fixed.

Consider a fresh start

If you’ve tried everything and are willing to take a more drastic step, wiping the slate clean may help. Reset everything by going to Settings > General > Reset and use the Reset All Settings option. If you wish to go even a step further, you can restore iOS using iTunes by connecting your iPhone to a Mac or Windows PC and selecting Back Up Now. Once that is complete, use the Restore Backup option to restore your device.

Contact Apple

If you’ve done all you could and believe your device is truly acting up, consider contacting Apple or making an appointment at your local Apple Store. If your device is under warranty or you purchased AppleCare+, you may be entitled to a new battery. If not, Apple will test your battery and offer to replace it for a fee of $79.

Source: MakeUseOf