iOS 18, along with the iPad counterpart iPadOS 18, is out and beaming its way onto hundreds of millions of devices the world over.
As with every iOS release, people are divided. Some iPhone and iPad users are impressed that their battery life has gone through the roof, while others describe the update’s impact as abysmal, saying that not only are they getting less battery runtime, but that their battery health has plummeted, too.
Also: 8 ways I’m preparing my iPhone for iOS 18 – and I recommend you do too
If you’ve noticed your battery health has dropped off following the software update, I suggest reading this article on what Apple doesn’t want you to know about your iPhone’s battery.
Then keep reading, as I’m going to show you what the likely culprit is, what you can do, and what other factors could be behind the sudden battery drain.
It’s completely normal to notice a drop in battery life after installing a new iOS update. This happens because your iPhone is busy performing a bunch of background tasks that require extra power.
With iOS 18, Apple has made it easier to see what’s going on behind the scenes. If you head over to Settings > Battery, you might spot an entry under Activity labeled Device Setup & Updates. This indicates that your phone is running additional processes that can temporarily drain your battery.
Also: iOS 17.7 rolls out this week – here’s why it might be a safer bet than iOS 18
Don’t worry, though — your battery life should return to normal once these tasks are completed. It’s just a matter of giving your device a little time to settle down.
The additional background activities following an update put more load on the battery.
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
While you’re waiting for your iPhone to finish its post-update tasks, here are a few tips that might help extend your battery life:
- Turn Down Screen Brightness: Lowering your screen brightness can significantly reduce battery consumption.
- Disable Wi-Fi Assist: This feature uses cellular data when your Wi-Fi connection is weak, which can drain your battery. To turn it off, go to Settings > Cellular, then scroll down and switch off Wi-Fi Assist.
- Reset Network Settings: Although it’s not entirely clear why, many people have found that resetting network settings can dramatically improve battery life. You can do this by going to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone, then tapping on Reset and selecting Reset Network Settings.
- Use Dark Mode: Enabling Dark Mode can make a noticeable difference in battery life, especially on OLED screens.
Sometimes, the issue with battery life or performance might not be due to iOS itself but rather apps that haven’t been updated to work with the latest version. When Apple releases a new iOS version, it’s crucial to ensure all your apps are up-to-date before diving into troubleshooting.
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To update your apps, open the App Store app and tap your profile icon in the corner. Then, scroll down to Available Updates. I like to pull down on this screen to refresh it, ensuring I see all the latest updates available.
If you’ve tried all the previous steps and your battery issues persist, it might be due to a rogue app consuming more power than it should. Fortunately, iOS provides tools to help you track down these misbehaving apps.
Go to Settings > Battery: Here, you’ll find a wealth of information, including Battery Usage By App. This section shows you which apps are using the most power.
Switch to Activity By App: By tapping on this, you can see a breakdown of how much power each app is using while on the screen and in the background.
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You can use this information to diagnose battery drain issues. Here are some other things you can use this information for:
- Identify Background Activity: If an app shows a lot of background activity compared to screen activity, it might be running excessively in the background. You can try disabling background activity for that app by going to Settings > General > Background App Refresh and turning it off for the problematic app.
- Spot Charging Issues: This data can also help you determine if your phone was actually charging when you thought it was.
- Detect Poor Battery Performance: Look for instances where the battery charge drops rapidly, which might indicate a problem.
These insights can help you diagnose and address battery drain issues effectively.
The Battery tab can tell you a lot about how the iPhone, such as show you when it’s charging and when it isn’t.
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
Is your iPhone feeling a bit old? If your device is three years or older, it might be time to consider replacing the battery.
Go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging, and from here, you can check your battery’s Maximum Capacity.
If the level is below 80%, it indicates that your battery is worn out and might need a replacement.
Keeping an eye on your battery health can ensure your iPhone continues to perform well.
Sometimes, bugs can slip through the cracks, and all you can do is wait for Apple to address the issue with a new update. Apple has been improving its response to fixing these problems, but it does require some patience. There’s always a bit of a gamble involved, as you hope the new update resolves the issue without introducing new ones.
Also: I downloaded iOS 18 on my iPhone 14, and it made content creation so much easier
Despite the occasional bugs, it’s important to keep your iPhone updated. Each update typically includes important iOS security fixes, which help protect your device from vulnerabilities and potential attacks. So, even if you’re hesitant about new updates, it’s generally a good idea to install them to keep your iPhone secure.
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