This post highlights potential solutions to the rapid battery draining problem on the new Apple iPhone 13, following the most recent iOS update rollout. Read on to learn how to deal with quick battery drain on iPhone 13 after iOS 15.2 update.
Post-Update iPhone Battery Drain
Rapid battery drain emerges among a widespread issue transpiring in various smartphones following a software upgrade. Even the high-end devices like Apple’s latest iPhone 13 series are also not exempted.
Oftentimes, post-update battery drain is inflicted by outdated third-party apps that have gone rogue from the recent update. Aside from rogue apps, a software bug is also a potential trigger.
The underlying cause is generally software-related unless some damaged component like a defective battery is present.
To give you some input on how to deal with a similar issue on your new iPhone 13 after installing the latest iOS version, I’ve mapped out some potential solutions including a few helpful tips to improve your device’s battery life.
Troubleshooting Quick Battery Drain on iPhone 13 after iOS 15.2 Update
The outlined procedures will help eliminate software-related factors that might have caused your iPhone 13 battery to drain so quickly after the iOS 15.2 update.
These methods are also applicable when resolving the same issue on other iPhone devices that have the same iOS version with the iPhone 13 series.
However, the actual interface in every device may differ given that screens and menu options vary between device models and carriers.
Important note:
This is going to be a trial-and-error approach considering that the root cause of the problem is yet to be determined.
Solution #1: Reboot your iPhone.
A simple reboot can help fix various types of software issues including those that are triggered by an update bug. Should this be just among other random post-update flaws, then rebooting the iPhone will likely fix it. Thus, reboot your iPhone or do a soft reset if you haven’t already.
Here’s how:
- Press and hold the Power/Side button and either Volume buttons for a few seconds and then release when the Power off slider appears.
- Then, drag the slider to turn your iPhone completely off.
- After 30 seconds, press and hold the Side button again until the Apple logo appears.
Aside from clearing system cache, rebooting also ends all background apps including those that are acting up after the update.
Solution #2: Install pending app updates.
As mentioned earlier, outdated apps are more likely to misbehave from a system revamp as some of the system requirements for these apps to work on the device are no longer met.
Thus, installing any pending app updates on the App Store may likewise correct whatever apps that are draining the battery.
To manually check, download and install pending app updates on the iPhone 13, just follow these steps:
- Go to your iPhone Home screen or App library and then long-press the App Store icon.
- Select Updates to continue to the App Store menu.
- If multiple app updates are available, tap Update All. Otherwise, tap Update next to each app to install new app updates individually.
After updating apps, reboot your iPhone to refresh the apps and apply the recent software changes.
Solution #3: Offload or reinstall suspected apps.
Checking your iPhone’s battery health can also help you determine which from your apps has an unusually high power consumption.
Thus, try to check battery usage on your iPhone. If you see any app that’s posting unusual power usage, then that app might be the culprit. In this case, you can either offload the app and reinstall manually to give it a clean fresh start or enable the Offload unused app feature on your device to automatically remove unused apps including those that caused conflicts to the iOS power system resulting in massive power drain.
To enable Offload unused apps, just follow these steps:
- Go to the Home screen and then tap Settings to launch the Settings app.
- Tap App Store or iTunes and App Store.
- On the succeeding menu, tap to enable or turn on the switch next to Offload Unused Apps.
To manually offload individual errant apps, follow these steps:
- Open the Settings app by tapping on the Settings icon from Home.
- On the succeeding menu, tap General.
- Then, tap iPhone Storage.
- Tap to select the app that you’d like to offload then tap the command to Offload App.
- If prompted, enter your passcode and tap Offload App again to confirm.
Offloading doesn’t delete the app data so you can always retrieve them after reinstalling the app via Play Store.
Solution #4: Reset all settings.
Some updates automatically override your current settings, which could likewise result in some conflicts. To clear this out, restoring the default values and options will help. And this is when resetting all settings come in handy.
Unlike a factory reset, this does not affect any saved data from the internal storage so you won’t lose important contents.
Just follow these steps:
- Go to your Home screen and then open the Settings app.
- Scroll to and tap General.
- Tap Transfer or Reset iPhone to proceed.
- Then tap on Reset.
- On the succeeding menu, tap Reset all settings from the given options.
- Enter your device passcode if prompted.
- Tap the option to confirm all system settings reset on your iPhone.
After the reset, your iPhone reboots automatically and then loads up all default values and options. This means the need for you to re-enable individual features to use them again on your phone.
App preferences and permissions must also be set like the first time.
Solution #5: Restore factory defaults (Factory reset).
Performing a factory reset can be deemed among the last resorts if the battery draining issue continues after applying all prior solutions.
This reset will likely fix the problem if fatal system errors affecting the iOS battery system are to blame. However, creating a backup beforehand is highly recommended. Failure to do so will result in permanent data loss because this reset will wipe everything from your iPhone system. As a result, your iPhone will return to its factory state.
Should you wish to proceed, back up all important files from your iPhone to iCloud or iTunes and then do the factory reset via settings with these steps:
- Go to your Home screen and then open the Settings app.
- Scroll to and tap General.
- Tap Transfer or Reset iPhone to proceed.
- Tap Reset and then select Erase all Content and Settings option.
- If prompted, confirm that you’d like to erase your device.
- Wait for the phone to finish resetting and then restore all default values and options.
After the reset, you can set up your iPhone as new.
Alternatively, you can use iTunes to restore your iPhone 13 to its factory state or from a previous iOS backup on your computer.
More Advanced iOS Restore
Restoring the iPhone in recovery mode or DFU mode can also be deemed among the last options.
These restore methods are usually carried out when dealing with complex iOS problems including those attributed to stubborn iOS bugs.
But the main downside from both restore methods is permanent data loss. Just like a factory reset, performing a recovery and DFU mode restore will wipe everything from your iPhone system and restore the device to its factory state.
Should you wish to proceed and give these two last resorts a shot, then you would need to use iTunes on a Windows or Mac computer.
Is your iPhone battery still draining so fast?
Adjusting some settings can also help preserve battery life on your device. Among the settings that you should consider adjusting are the following:
1. Background App Refresh. Turning this feature off allows apps to automatically refresh contents when connected to the internet and this is going to be a background process. The more apps are refreshing contents, the more power will be consumed.
This therefore results in your iPhone battery draining faster than usual. That said, turning Background app refresh on your iPhone 13 may help preserve battery life.
2. Screen brightness. Lower the screen brightness can also help slow down battery consumption and extends battery life. The brighter the screen, the more power it consumes so better keep it in a tolerable lower level.
3. Wallpaper selection. The use of animated or moving wallpapers is also one factor that can cause your iPhone battery to drain faster. Thus, setting a still wallpaper is recommended.
4. Automatic app downloads and updates. Turning off automatic apps and downloads can also help as it prevents your device from constantly connecting to various servers to check for new updates available for download. As a result, your iPhone’s battery life is preserved.
5. Wireless features. Disabling Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Hotspot and Cellular/mobile data when not in use can also help preserve the battery. Turning the Airplane mode feature on is also recommended especially if you’re using your iPhone in an area with poor reception. This will prevent the device from constantly trying to access the network base or search for available signals and thereby reduce battery usage.
6. Enable Low power mode. Activating the built-in Low Power Mode feature can also be deemed a temporary solution to battery drain. Putting the device in low power mode can also help slow down or reduce battery usage if you really need to use your device while the battery is low. Some features and services will be limited while on low power mode and so this will make your iPhone’s battery life last a little longer.
Repair Options
If your iPhone battery is still draining rapidly after applying all the aforementioned procedures, chances are that something from the hardware system is more likely causing the problem. Perhaps your iPhone battery is already depreciating or worse damaged and the symptoms had just coincidentally occurred after installing the recent iOS update.
Should this be the case, taking your device to the nearest Apple service center is recommended. That way you can have an authorized technician scrutinize your device and figure out what exactly is causing the battery to drain so fast.
Escalate the problem
Reporting the issue to Apple Support is also a good idea considering that the problem instigated from an iOS 15.2 update. Should this be found to be a widespread issue among iPhone 13 users, then Apple would be obliged to develop a patch to get rid of the iOS 15.2 battery bug.
In the meantime, just resort to any means possible to save battery or better yet keep your iPhone charger handy so you can just plug your device whenever it needs a recharge.
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