How to Fix iPhone 14 Battery Draining After Software Update

It’s very frustrating when your iPhone 14’s battery life decreases significantly after installing a major iOS update. Rapid battery drain immediately after updating indicates the new software needs optimizing. Don’t worry – there are steps you can take to improve battery performance.

iphone14 battery draining after software update

It’s not uncommon for major iOS updates to cause temporary battery drain as the iPhone re-indexes and optimizes itself for the new operating system. This drain typically resolves within a few days as the system adjusts. If battery life remains poor, some additional troubleshooting will get your iPhone 14 to last long again.

Common Causes of Battery Drain After iOS Update

There are a few reasons you may experience battery draining faster after updating your iPhone:

  • The system needs time to re-index and optimize for the new OS. This puts extra temporary strain on the battery.
  • New software bugs or glitches may affect battery efficiency until a patch is released.
  • Certain features or apps may need updates to integrate with the latest iOS fully.
  • Older iPhones with worn batteries may need help with new power demands.
  • Unoptimized apps continuing processes in the background can use more power.
  • The new software may have tighter battery management reducing idle time.
  • Updating resets all settings, which may turn off previous power savings.
  • Indexing photos and data on the first runs after updating uses an extra battery.

Solutions for iPhone 14 Battery Draining after Software Update

If your iPhone 14 has rapid battery drain after installing an iOS update, there are some troubleshooting steps you can take.

Allow Time for Re-Indexing

When you update your iPhone’s operating system, it goes through a process of re-indexing and optimization in the background. This can temporarily cause your battery to drain faster than usual. 

To avoid this, it’s recommended that you give your phone a few days to complete this process before using it extensively. This will allow the system to adjust to the new OS architecture and ensure that your battery life returns to normal.

Here’s how to allow your iPhone system to optimize:

  1. Charge the phone fully overnight
  2. Allow 1-3 days after updating
  3. Monitor battery over this period
Monitor iPhone Battery

Update Apps to the Latest Versions

Updating your apps is important because new iOS versions may introduce changes to the system that require developers to optimize their apps accordingly. 

By updating your apps, you ensure that they work seamlessly with the latest version of iOS and take advantage of any new features or improvements. 

Additionally, updating your apps can also improve their overall performance and fix any bugs or issues that may have been present in previous versions. 

Here’s how to update all apps on your iPhone 14:

  1. Go to App Store
  2. Tap profile icon
  3. Check for app updates
  4. Update all apps needing a new version

It is recommended to check for updates regularly and install them as soon as they become available to ensure maximum compatibility and functionality.

Disable Background App Refresh

Having apps refresh content in the background is more taxing on battery after major updates. To rule this out, temporarily disable Background App Refresh in Settings for non-essential apps.

Here’s how to restrict background activity on your iPhone 14:

  1. Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh
  2. Turn off selected apps

Overall, disabling Background App Refresh for non-essential apps can help reduce the amount of battery drain.

Adjust Screen Brightness

Bright screen settings use more power if left unchanged after updating. Consider turning down brightness or disabling auto-brightness temporarily to conserve energy.

Here’s how to lower screen brightness on your iPhone 14:

  1. Open Control Center
  2. Adjust the brightness slider to 50% or lower
  3. Turn off auto-brightness

Keeping this setting will help restrain your iPhone’s battery.

Turn Off Location Services

Constant location tracking via GPS also drains the battery if not needed. Only enable location access for apps that require your precise location information.

Here’s how to manage location access on your iPhone 14:

  1. Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services
  2. Select only essential apps

Disable Unneeded Features

Check Settings to see if any power-hungry options like Bluetooth, mobile hotspot, or always-on display were unintentionally activated after updating. Turn them off if not being used.

Here’s how to disable battery-draining features on your iPhone 14:

  1. Go to Settings
  2. Turn off Bluetooth
  3. Disable Hotspot
  4. Turn off Always On Display

Reset All Settings

Resetting all settings in Settings > General > Reset can help calibrate battery performance and drain after major iOS changes. This will disable any problematic customized settings.

Here’s how to reset all settings on your iPhone 14:

  1. Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset
  2. Tap Reset All Settings
  3. Enter passcode if prompted
  4. Confirm reset

Check Battery Health

An older battery with reduced capacity will struggle more after software updates. Check battery health in Settings, and get a battery replacement if capacity is below 80%.

Here’s how to verify the battery condition on your iPhone 14:

  1. Go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health
  2. Review maximum capacity metrics
  3. Consider replacing the battery if worn out

Following these troubleshooting steps should help resolve battery life issues after updating to a major new iOS release. Allow the system several days to optimize itself fully before drawing conclusions. Monitor drain over time.

FAQs

  1. Why does my iPhone 14 battery seem to drain faster after installing a major iOS update?

    Major iOS updates require your iPhone to re-index and optimize itself for the new operating system, which causes temporary battery drain. Allow 1-3 days after updating for it to adjust and stabilize battery usage. Also, update all your apps and monitor their impact.

  2. How long should it take for my iPhone 14 battery life to improve after updating to iOS?

    Give your iPhone at least 1-3 days on the new iOS version to complete all background recalibration and optimization that cause heavier battery usage. If battery life hasn’t improved after a week, further troubleshooting, like app adjustments and resetting settings, may be required.

  3. What causes an iPhone 14 battery to get hot and drain quickly after updating?

    The increased processing demands during re-indexing and optimizing major iOS updates generate more heat and battery usage. Also, monitor if any apps become glitchy or drain the battery after updating, as they may need further optimization for full compatibility.

  4. Why doesn’t Low Power Mode help with battery drain issues after iOS updates?

    Low Power Mode mainly limits background activity, but the post-update drain is often caused by necessary optimization processes managed directly by iOS. Allow time for system recalibration, then re-enable Low Power Mode for savings. Update apps too.

  5. Should I avoid installing major iOS updates if I’m worried about battery drain on my iPhone 14?

    No, it’s important to keep your iPhone updated to the latest iOS version. Major updates aim to improve battery efficiency once fully optimized. Allow 1-3 days after installing, disable unneeded features temporarily, update apps, and troubleshoot if battery life remains low.