Published on October 30th, 2023
As smartphones continually advance in speed, each new update introduces a plethora of innovative features designed to enhance your daily life.
However, this ever-evolving technology can also lead to increased battery consumption, which can be quite frustrating.
If you’ve noticed that your Android device is depleting its battery more rapidly than usual, there’s no need to worry.
At Asurion, our team of experts assists countless customers in addressing common phone repair concerns like this on a daily basis, offering straightforward solutions.
In this guide, they share insights into the factors responsible for Android battery drain and provide effective remedies.
Why Is My Android Phone Losing Battery Power Quickly?
The rapid depletion of your Samsung Galaxy® or Google Pixel® battery can be attributed to various factors. Here are some prevalent culprits:
- Excessive push notifications and alerts are consuming the battery.
- Numerous apps are utilizing location services simultaneously.
- Many apps are running in the background, draining power.
- The screen brightness is set too high.
- The screen remains active for extended periods before entering sleep mode.
- Poor or no cellular service can strain the battery.
- An outdated operating system could be contributing to battery drain.
- Drastic temperature fluctuations may affect your phone and battery.
- The battery itself may have reached the end of its life cycle.
How To Extend Your Phone Battery Life
If you find yourself asking, “Why is my phone losing battery so quickly?” then this guide is tailored to your needs.
Discover how to ensure your Android device remains charged and optimized for extended daily use.
Please note that these solutions were tested on a Samsung phone running Android 13, and steps may differ slightly for other Android devices.
1. Minimize Push Notifications
From breaking news to updates on food deliveries, notifications are vital for staying connected and informed.
However, an excessive number of active alerts can deplete your Android’s battery. To disable push notifications from a specific app, follow these steps:
- Navigate to Settings.
- Select “Notifications” (or “Apps & notifications” in some Android versions).
- A list of installed apps will be displayed.
- Choose the app for which you wish to restrict notifications.
- Toggle the switch next to the app’s name to the off position. Additionally, many apps allow further customization of notification settings. For instance, you can enable notifications for new comments in Instagram® while disabling them for new followers.
In Android 13, apps do not send notifications by default. However, if you’ve upgraded from Android 12 to Android 13, your notification settings are retained. If you wish to disable them, please follow the previous instructions.
2. Fine-Tune Location Services
Applications such as Waze and Google Maps rely on your phone’s location services to aid navigation.
However, when these apps run in the background while you’re not actively using them, it can lead to unnecessary battery drain. To address this issue, follow these steps:
- Open your phone’s Settings.
- Navigate to the “Location” section.
At the top of the screen, you’ll find a switch to enable or disable location services. Turn it off to conserve battery life.
Additionally, you can manage location access for individual apps by selecting “App permissions.”
Here, you can review which apps are utilizing location services and turn off access for each app separately.
On a Google Pixel device, the process may vary slightly:
- Access “Apps & notifications” in your Settings.
- Proceed to “Advanced” and then “Permission manager.”
- Locate the “Location” option and adjust the settings as needed.
3. Reduce Background Activity
Applications like Facebook® and Instagram have the tendency to continue operating in the background, persistently checking for updates, refreshing content, and delivering notifications, even after you’ve closed them.
This persistent background activity can significantly deplete your phone’s battery. To mitigate this issue, utilize your phone’s battery optimization feature with the following steps:
- Access your phone’s Settings.
- Choose “Battery and device care” (or simply “Battery” on certain devices).
- Look for the “Optimize Now” button and select it. On some Android devices, you may encounter a list of apps with warning messages beside those that are excessively draining your battery. For each message, tap it, then select “Restrict” to reduce their background activity.
4. Optimize Screen Brightness
Another effective strategy is to reduce your screen brightness, conserving energy and preventing rapid battery depletion.
Lowering the brightness level also helps prevent screen burn-in, which can lead to permanent damage. To modify your screen brightness settings, follow these steps:
- Access your phone’s Settings.
- Select “Display” (or “Display > Brightness level” on some devices).
- Utilize the Brightness slider to set a comfortable brightness level.
You can further enhance battery life by enabling Dark mode (or Dark theme), which employs a dark background to save pixels and reduce power consumption.
Additionally, consider using Adaptive brightness, an option that automatically adjusts your screen brightness based on the ambient light conditions.
5. Adjust Screen Timeout Settings
Another crucial setting to tweak is your screen timeout, which determines the duration before your screen enters sleep mode.
Given that your phone consumes power when the screen is active, it’s wise to opt for shorter time intervals to preserve your battery life.
To configure your screen timeout settings, follow these steps:
- Access your phone’s Settings.
- Select “Display” and then “Screen timeout” (or “Display > Advanced > Screen timeout” on some devices).
- You’ll be presented with a list of time intervals. We recommend setting your screen timeout to 30 seconds to one minute for optimal battery conservation.
6. Update Your Operating System
Operating your phone on an outdated operating system can contribute to accelerated battery drain.
Keeping your Android operating system up to date not only enhances its efficiency but also ensures that you receive essential security updates.
To check for the latest version of your operating system, follow these steps:
- Go to Settings.
- Find “Software update” and select it. On some Android devices, you may need to navigate to “Settings > System > Advanced > System update > Check for update.”
- A prompt will appear; tap “OK.”
If your operating system is already up to date, you will see the message “Current software is up to date.” If a newer update is available, follow the provided instructions to install it.
7. Shield Your Phone From Extreme Temperatures
Regardless of whether you’re out and about or at home, it’s essential to steer clear of subjecting your phone to extremely hot or cold surroundings.
Exposure to extreme temperatures not only accelerates battery drainage but also poses a risk of overheating and potential device damage.
It’s advisable to keep your phone in a location with a temperature range between 68°F and 86°F to maintain both its performance and your safety.
8. Ensure Adequate Network Service
Although it may seem obvious, it’s always a good practice to verify that your phone has a strong cellular signal.
When your Android is persistently searching for a signal, it can lead to rapid battery depletion.
9. Activate Battery Saver Mode
In situations where your phone is running low on battery and you need a quick solution, activating Battery Saver mode is your go-to option.
While it may temporarily reduce performance, it extends the time between charges. To enable Battery Saver mode, follow these steps:
- Access your phone’s Settings.
- Navigate to “Battery and device care,” then select “Battery” (or simply go to “Settings > Battery > Battery Saver”).
- Activate “Power saving” (or tap “Turn on now”) to initiate Battery Saver mode.
10. Assess Battery Health And Lifecycle
If none of the previously mentioned solutions resolve your issue, it’s possible that your Android phone‘s battery is reaching the end of its lifespan.
Consider visiting your nearest Phone Repair Solutions store for a complimentary device diagnostic, and they can promptly replace the battery if necessary.
Feature Image Source: Tyler Lastovich
