It can be frustrating when your iPhone 14’s battery level rapidly depletes during phone calls. Excessive battery usage while calling is typically caused by poor cellular signal, background app activity, software issues, or a degrading battery needing replacement. With the right troubleshooting, you can identify and resolve the true cause of call battery drain.
We all rely on our iPhones to stay connected on the go, so it’s understandable to be annoyed when calls suddenly start noticeably draining your battery. Don’t stress too much just yet – a few targeted tweaks to your settings, usage habits, and phone maintenance can significantly extend your 14’s battery life during calls. Identify and optimize the specific factors draining power unnecessarily.
Common Causes
Some common reasons an iPhone 14’s battery may drain faster during phone calls:
- Weak cellular signal forcing the phone to work harder.
- Background apps using data and battery in the background.
- Failing battery no longer able to power phone functions efficiently.
- Software bugs or performance issues affecting battery optimization.
- Processor and network usage spiking from overheating issues.
- Debris in Lightning port interfering with charging function.
- Leaving the display at maximum brightness during calls.
Troubleshooting Procedures
Here are effective ways to troubleshoot excessive battery drain during iPhone 14 calls:
Check Cellular Signal Strength
If your phone has weak cellular reception, it may consume extra battery as it tries to amplify transmission power. This happens because a poor signal from your carrier forces your iPhone to work harder to maintain a connection, which can drain the battery faster. Make sure to check your signal strength in problem areas to avoid this issue.
To optimize signal:
- Monitor the cellular bars when making calls in different locations.
- Make a note of problem spots with only 1-2 bars of reception.
- Avoid making lengthy calls in known dead zones to conserve battery.
- Contact carrier if issues are widespread for possible cell tower issues.
Disable Background App Refresh
When you have background app refresh enabled, apps will continue to update and refresh their content even when you’re not actively using them. This can consume a lot of battery and data, especially if you have many apps running at the same time. By disabling background app refresh for nonessential apps, you can save battery and data usage and ensure that your phone is running efficiently.
To turn off for apps:
- Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh.
- Review the list of apps – turn off for any you don’t need updating in the background.
- Toggle the main switch off to disable for all apps, then only enable for essentials.
Lower Screen Brightness
Dim the display brightness when on long calls to conserve battery power. The screen at max brightness uses a lot of battery when active for calls. Turn down the brightness to optimize power usage.
To lower brightness:
- Use the volume buttons to access brightness controls during a call.
- Drag the brightness slider to around 50% or lower to save battery life.
- Enable Auto-Brightness so the screen further optimizes brightness based on ambient light.
Update Software
Install iOS updates which include battery management improvements. Apple releases update to fix bugs affecting battery performance. Updating provides important optimizations.
To update your software:
- Go to Settings > General > Software Update.
- Download and install the latest iOS version available.
- Check battery usage during calls after updating to observe improvements.
- Perform updates routinely as they become available for continual enhancements.
With consistent optimization best practices, you can maximize your iPhone 14’s call time per charge. Be proactive about maintaining a strong cellular signal, limiting background activity, keeping software updated, and replacing batteries around the 18-24 month mark when power capacity begins degrading.
FAQs
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Why does my iPhone 14 battery drain so fast when I’m on phone calls?
Excessive battery drain during iPhone calls is typically caused by poor cellular reception forcing the phone to work harder, background app refresh and activity using data, software bugs affecting battery optimization, overheating components, high screen brightness, and lithium-ion battery degradation over time reducing capacity.
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How can I stop my iPhone 14 battery from draining so quickly when I’m making long phone calls?
To optimize iPhone 14 battery life on calls, ensure you have a strong cellular signal during calls, disable Background App Refresh, keep the software updated, lower screen brightness, disable Bluetooth/WiFi when not needed, use a battery case, switch out old batteries after 18 months, and avoid exposing your iPhone to high heat which accelerates power drain.
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Why does my iPhone battery die faster on phone calls than on normal usage?
The increased power drain from phone calls is caused by the processor and cellular radio transmitting at maximum capacity to sustain the call connection and screen activity. This high-power usage taxes the battery more than everyday browsing or music playback, resulting in faster depletion.
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How can I tell if my iPhone 14 battery needs to be replaced to stop call drain issues?
Signs your iPhone battery can no longer power calls efficiently and needs replacement include call times dropping to under 2 hours, rapid standby drain between calls, unexpected shutdowns during calls, and battery capacity/health showing below 80% in Settings or via a battery app. An old lithium-ion battery has reduced capacity.
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What is the best way to care for my iPhone 14 battery when making frequent phone calls?
To optimize battery lifespan with heavy calling, keep iOS updated, avoid exposing your iPhone to high heat, limit screen brightness, disable Background App Refresh, use a case to prevent damage, charge to only 80% overnight, replace the battery after 18 months, and avoid fully discharging the battery which accelerates degradation.