Battery life is the weakest link in any smartphone, and it’s bound to deteriorate as time goes by. But thankfully, there are some smart hacks that can extend your phone’s charge life.
A TIKTOK star revealed how to make your Android battery last longer by turning off background refresh for all the relevant apps on your device. It’s a simple tip and one that could save you from a power crisis!
1. Reduce screen brightness
Screen brightness can be a big battery drain on your smartphone. By reducing the screen’s brightness, you can save a lot of juice and extend the battery life of your device.
Most phones and laptops use LCD or AMOLED display technology, which control the amount of power sent to individual pixels. High nits can make it easier to see a display in sunlight, but this can also cause eye strain and fatigue.
2. Turn off background refresh
Apps that refresh in the background can eat up battery and data at an alarming rate of 3-5MB per hour. This is why it’s a good idea to turn off background refresh for apps you don’t use often or at all.
In Settings, you can change how your iPhone handles this function. Tap Off to disable it for all apps, or select Wi-Fi only or Wi-Fi & Cellular Data to limit it to Wi-Fi networks alone.
3. Turn off auto app updates
Whenever apps are updated on Android, it can cause them to consume significant amounts of data. This can be particularly problematic if you have a limited mobile data plan, so it’s a good idea to turn off automatic app updates on your smartphone.
Besides saving your mobile data, disabling automatic app updates also helps you avoid installing buggy updates that could affect your device. It’s best to update your apps manually, at least occasionally.
4. Turn off auto-lock
The screen on your iPhone or iPad is one of the most battery consuming parts of your device. Extending the screen lock time is a great way to reduce your battery drain.
However, there are times when you don’t want to have to unlock your iPhone. For example, if you’re reading a book or uploading files to Google Drive, you might not want your display to dim and lock every few seconds.
5. Turn off auto-sync
Syncing keeps your phone’s data up to date with the cloud or a service server. This can be a big drain on battery life, so it’s best to turn off auto-sync if you don’t need it.
Likewise, apps that constantly refresh themselves in the background can also drain your phone’s battery. To avoid this, make sure to turn off notifications that aren’t important.
6. Turn off GPS
If you’re looking to save some power, one of the best things you can do is turn off GPS. Whether you’re a business owner, outdoor enthusiast, or just need to conserve your phone’s battery life for when you need it most, disabling this feature can help.
However, be aware that if you’re using GPS services, it will still drain your battery even if you turn it off. So be sure to disable it only when you need it!
7. Turn off Bluetooth
If you’re looking for ways to improve battery life on your smartphone, turning off Bluetooth is one of the best options. Bluetooth is a wireless technology that lets you connect devices like speakers, headphones, and cameras to your phone.
Luckily, modern smartphones put their Bluetooth radios to sleep when not in use. That means they don’t drain your battery when you leave them on overnight or if you forget to turn them off.
8. Turn off Wi-Fi
It may seem counterintuitive, but turning off Wi-Fi while you’re out can help with your battery life. Your smartphone’s antennae are constantly scanning for available WiFi networks, which drains your battery.
You can turn off Wi-Fi in the Settings menu or by opening Control Center and tapping WiFi (swipe down from the top right for iPhone X and later, swipe up from the bottom for iPhone SE, iPhone 8 and earlier).
9. Turn off Bluetooth speakers
Bluetooth speakers are a great way to enjoy audio anywhere, but they can also drain your smartphone’s battery. Here are a few hacks to help you get more use out of your Bluetooth speaker while saving power at the same time.
The first thing to try is to turn off the standby mode on your Bluetooth speaker. This will save power and help you keep it on longer.
10. Turn off location services
GPS on your smartphone is a big battery drainer. Fortunately, you can disable location services to save power and enhance your privacy.
In Settings, you can turn off location services globally or for individual apps. The best option is to set it to Never, since this will prevent apps from ever accessing your location.