iPhone 8 Plus Battery Draining Fast After iOS Update? Here’s How to Fix It

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Just updated your iPhone 8 Plus and now the battery’s dropping way faster than usual? You’re not the only one. It’s a common issue that tends to crop up after big iOS updates—usually caused by software bugs, rogue apps, or background processes running wild. The good news? You can usually fix it yourself without needing to visit Apple.

Here are all the best ways to troubleshoot rapid battery drain on your iPhone 8 Plus.

1. Soft Reset Your iPhone

A soft reset clears out minor glitches that may be eating up your battery.

How to do it:

  1. Press and hold the Side (Power) button.
  2. When “Slide to Power Off” appears, drag the slider to turn off the phone.
  3. Wait about 30 seconds, then press and hold the Side button again until the Apple logo appears.

It’s quick, easy, and won’t erase any data.

2. Close Background Apps

Apps running in the background can quietly eat up your battery—even if you’re not using them.

To close them:

  1. Double-press the Home button to bring up the app switcher.
  2. Swipe up on each app preview to close it.

Do this regularly, especially after using resource-heavy apps like games or navigation.

3. Check for Battery-Hogging Apps

Some apps go rogue after an update and start consuming way more power than they should.

To check battery usage:

  1. Go to Settings > Battery.
  2. Scroll through the list and look for any app using an unusually high percentage.

If you spot one:

  • Update it via the App Store
  • Or delete it if it’s not essential

To update apps:

  1. Open the App Store.
  2. Tap your profile icon in the top right.
  3. Scroll down and tap Update All.

Restart your iPhone after updating.

4. Reset All Settings

Some iOS updates can mess with system settings. Resetting everything back to default often fixes hidden bugs that cause battery issues.

Here’s how:

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

This doesn’t delete your data—just resets things like Wi-Fi networks, preferences, and settings.

5. Restore Using iTunes (Recovery Mode)

If nothing else has worked, a full restore can clear out deeper software bugs that came with the iOS update.

What to do:

  1. Back up your iPhone to iCloud or your computer first.
  2. Connect your iPhone to your computer and open iTunes (or Finder on macOS Catalina and later).
  3. Force restart your iPhone:
    • Press and release Volume Up
    • Press and release Volume Down
    • Hold the Side button until the recovery screen appears.
  4. On your computer, choose Restore when prompted.

Let the restore finish, then go through the setup process again.

6. DFU Restore (If All Else Fails)

DFU (Device Firmware Update) mode is the deepest type of restore and bypasses the iPhone’s regular boot process entirely. Use this only if the battery issue still isn’t fixed.

Steps to enter DFU mode on iPhone 8 Plus:

  1. Connect your iPhone to your computer.
  2. Quickly press and release Volume Up, then Volume Down.
  3. Hold the Side button until the screen turns black.
  4. Once black, hold the Volume Down button while continuing to hold the Side button for 5 seconds.
  5. Let go of the Side button but keep holding Volume Down until iTunes or Finder recognizes the device.

If successful, your screen stays black and you can now restore your iPhone through iTunes.

Still Having Issues? It Might Be the Battery

If none of these fixes worked, your battery itself might be the problem—especially if your iPhone is a few years old. Visit an Apple Store or authorized service provider to get the battery health checked. If it’s below 80% maximum capacity, a replacement might be your best option.

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