Can you imagine your life without a mobile phone? People are so used to having it by their side, whether they’re at work, studying, in the kitchen — in fact, some use it even in the bathroom! Given our dependence on it, wouldn’t it be convenient to have a fully charged phone all day, all year long?
Some phones, especially certain Android models, can have weak batteries, which may mean you can’t go more than a few hours without plugging them in. You may already have a portable charger or a power bank, but they, too, have a limited lifespan.
Your phone’s battery power could be draining quickly for several reasons. Some of the most common reasons for poor battery health include too many push notifications, too many apps running in the background, or leaving the screen brightness set to maximum. What is the solution to it?
Here are some simple tricks you can try to extend your battery life much longer than your usual time.
Limit Your Push Notifications
From news updates to food delivery apps, notifications keep you connected and in the know. But too many active alerts can drain your Android battery. To turn off push notifications from an app, follow these simple steps:
-
- Go to Settings > Notifications (or App notifications) > App notifications. A list of apps will appear.
- Select the app for which you would like to limit notifications.
- Toggle off the switch beside the app name. You can also click each app to customize notification settings even further (for example, you can allow Instagram to send you notifications for new comments but turn them off for new followers).
Adjust Your Location Services Settings
Apps like Waze and Google Maps help you get around using your phone’s location services feature. But if these apps are still running in the background even when you aren’t on the go, location services can still drain your battery. To adjust this:
-
- Go to Settings > Location.
- Disable location setting services by turning off the switch at the top of the screen. You can also tap App permissions to see which apps use location services and turn off each app individually. On a Google Pixel, tap Apps, Notifications> Advanced > Permission manager > Location to adjust this setting.
Lower Background Activity
Apps like Facebook and Instagram can still run in the background, checking for updates, refreshing content, and pushing notifications even after you’ve closed them, which can drain your phone battery. Here’s how to use your phone’s power-saving feature to lower background app refresh:
-
- Go to Settings.
- Tap Battery.
- Toggle the Power saving (also called Battery Saver) button. You can also go a
Step further and click on “background usage limits”, then turn on “Put unused apps to sleep” to help limit battery usage.
Adjust Your Screen Brightness
Next, try turning down your screen brightness to save energy and prevent your battery from draining quickly. It also helps prevent burn-in on your screen, which can cause permanent damage. To adjust your screen brightness:
-
- Go to Settings.
- Tap Display.
- Adjust the Brightness slider to a level you are comfortable with.
You can also try turning on Dark mode, which uses a dark background to save pixels and battery life, or adaptive brightness, which automatically adjusts your screen based on ambient light.
Adjust Your Screen Timeout Settings
Another setting worth adjusting is your screen timeout, which determines how long it takes for your screen to go to sleep. Since your phone uses energy to stay lit, shorter intervals between sleep cycles are recommended to save battery life. To adjust your screen timeout settings:
-
- Go to Settings.
- Tap Display > Screen timeout.
- A list of time intervals will appear. It is recommended to set your timeout interval to 30 seconds to one minute.
Protect Your Phone From Extreme Temperatures
Whether you are on the go or staying in, avoid leaving your phone in very hot or cold environments. Extreme temperatures can not only drain your phone battery but also cause it to overheat and, in rare cases, explode! Consequently, exposure to extreme temperatures won’t just drain your phone’s battery; it can also cause bodily harm. For ideal conditions, your phone must be stored in an area between 68° and 86° Fahrenheit.
Make Sure Your Phone Has Service
While this may seem like a no-brainer, it’s essential to double-check that your phone has service. If your Android is constantly searching for a signal, it can drain your battery quickly. If you don’t have service and aren’t sure why, look up an online troubleshooting guide to find the issue.
Check Whether Your Battery Is At The End Of Its Life Cycle
If none of the above steps work, it could be because your Android phone’s battery is on its way out. Stop by your nearest service center for a diagnostic check (most authorized dealers offer them for free) and a fast battery replacement if needed.
