If your iPhone started losing battery faster than usual after updating to iOS 13.5, you’re not alone. Many users have reported sudden drops in battery performance. While we wait for Apple to release a patch, there are some things you can do now to extend your battery life.
1. Check Battery Usage
Start by checking which apps are using the most power.
- Go to Settings > Battery.
- Review the list under Battery Usage by App.
If a certain app is draining too much, try updating it or deleting and reinstalling it. If it’s one you rarely use, consider uninstalling it altogether.
2. Enable Low Power Mode
Low Power Mode reduces background activity and visual effects to conserve energy.
- Go to Settings > Battery.
- Toggle Low Power Mode ON.
You can also quickly enable it from Control Center (add it under Settings > Control Center > Customize Controls).
3. Turn Off Background App Refresh
Apps running in the background can eat up battery fast.
- Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh.
- Tap Off to disable it entirely, or Wi-Fi to limit activity.
4. Disable Location Services for Unnecessary Apps
Some apps constantly track your location, draining power.
- Go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services.
- Review and set each app to While Using or Never, especially apps that don’t need location access all the time.
5. Reduce Push Notifications
Too many notifications can wake your screen and run processes in the background.
- Go to Settings > Notifications.
- Disable alerts for apps that aren’t important.
6. Lower Screen Brightness and Auto-Lock Time
- Go to Settings > Display & Brightness and reduce the Brightness slider.
- Set Auto-Lock to 30 seconds under Settings > Display & Brightness > Auto-Lock.
7. Turn Off Raise to Wake
- Go to Settings > Display & Brightness.
- Toggle Raise to Wake OFF.
This prevents your phone from waking up every time you lift it.
8. Disable Unused Features Temporarily
While troubleshooting, consider disabling:
- Bluetooth
- AirDrop
- Siri Suggestions
- Handoff
Turn them off via Settings if you don’t need them right now.
9. Reset All Settings
If all else fails:
- Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset.
- Tap Reset All Settings.
This won’t delete your data, but it will reset things like Wi-Fi passwords, preferences, etc.
10. Set Up as New (Optional but Effective)
If your battery issues persist and you’re desperate, you can back up your data and reset your iPhone completely:
- Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings.
- Set up your iPhone as new — don’t restore the backup right away.
- Test battery life on a clean slate.
If the drain stops, the problem likely lies in corrupted settings or apps.