iPhone 5S Battery Draining Fast? Here Are 10 Easy Fixes to Extend Battery Life

If your iPhone 5S battery doesn’t last nearly as long as it used to, you’re not alone. As iPhones age, their batteries naturally degrade — but there are still plenty of things you can do to squeeze more life out of your device.

Here are 10 proven ways to improve battery life on your iPhone 5S — even if it’s getting old.

1. Check Your Battery Health

Before anything else, check how much life your battery has left.

Go to:
Settings > Battery > Battery Health

Maximum Capacity: If this is below 80%, your battery is worn and likely needs replacing.
Peak Performance Capability: If performance management is enabled, it means iOS is throttling your phone to prevent crashes.

🟠 If your battery says “Service Recommended,” it’s time to consider a replacement.

2. Update Your iPhone to the Latest iOS Version

Even older iPhones like the 5S benefit from the latest available iOS updates (iOS 12.5.7 is the last supported version).

To update:
Go to Settings > General > Software Update

Install any available updates to fix bugs or performance issues that might be draining your battery.

3. Disable Background App Refresh

Apps updating in the background can quietly kill your battery.

To turn it off:
Settings > General > Background App Refresh

Select Off to disable for all apps
Or toggle individual apps off

This change can drastically reduce battery and data usage.

4. Reduce Screen Brightness

The display is a major power drain — lower it to preserve battery.

Option A: Control Center
Swipe up from the bottom (or down from top-right) and drag the brightness slider down.

Option B: Settings
Settings > Display & Brightness and adjust the slider.

5. Turn Off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth When Not in Use

Idle connections still consume power.

To disable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth:

Open Control Center, tap both icons to disable
Or go to Settings > Wi-Fi and Settings > Bluetooth

Only turn them on when needed.

6. Use Low Power Mode

This iOS feature limits background activity to extend battery life.

Turn it on:
Settings > Battery > Low Power Mode

You can also add it to Control Center for quick access.

🟢 Perfect for when you’re running low on power but still need your phone active.

7. Uninstall Unused Apps

Some apps run processes even when you don’t use them. Free up space and save battery by deleting them.

To uninstall apps:

Tap and hold an app icon
Tap the “X” and confirm
Or go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage to manage apps by size

8. Disable Location Services for Unnecessary Apps

GPS and location tracking can drain your battery fast.

Go to:
Settings > Privacy > Location Services

Tap each app and set to Never or While Using the App

Avoid using Always unless truly necessary.

9. Limit Push Notifications

Every alert wakes up your screen — and your battery.

To manage notifications:
Settings > Notifications

Tap each app and toggle off Sounds, Badges, or Lock Screen previews as needed
Set Show Previews to When Unlocked or Never

10. Restart Your iPhone Regularly

A fresh restart clears out temporary glitches and processes that may be draining your battery.

Soft Restart:

Hold Sleep/Wake, slide to power off, then turn it back on

Hard Restart (if frozen):

Hold Home + Sleep/Wake until you see the Apple logo

Bonus Tips

Avoid using your iPhone in extreme hot or cold environments
Don’t let your battery go all the way to 0% frequently
Use Apple-certified chargers to maintain battery health
If nothing helps, consider a battery replacement from Apple or an authorized repair center