Sometimes a single app is behind a fast-draining battery. Rather than guessing which app is responsible, you can use the battery usage tools built into your phone.
Handy Gear suggests starting there before making changes or removing apps.
Check Battery Usage on an iPhone
You can get a breakdown of battery activity in iOS right in Settings. See your recent battery use in Settings > Battery. For more detail, tap Show Activity to see each day and determine which apps or system activities have been draining your battery.
Tap on an app in the list to view more details of the app’s activity. iPhone can differentiate between on-screen and background activity, which will help you know if the app was used or performing tasks when it wasn’t on screen.
You can also review Settings > General > Background App Refresh to control which apps can refresh content in the background.
Other factors that Apple considers and can affect battery consumption include cellular coverage and notifications. Using an app where the cell signal is weak can drain more battery.
Find Battery-Hungry Apps on Android
There are several menus, depending on the phone manufacturer and software version, but the instructions for Google’s Pixel phones are a simple example.
To see how much battery each app uses on a Pixel phone, head to Settings > Battery > Battery usage. Tap any app to see its details and adjust its battery settings.
Google recommends leaving the Optimized setting as is for Apps, unless you have a specific reason to change it. Battery settings can also be viewed in Settings > Apps > App battery usage.
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Look Beyond the Top Percentage
The top battery-percentage app isn’t necessarily a problem. If you use an app for video, navigation, or gaming, you should expect it to use a lot of power.
Rather, check for an app with unusually high background activity or battery consumption that you don’t normally use. For the Apple iPhone, Apple’s battery screen should show activity details to help explain why it consumes more.
What to Do About a Problem App
Start with updates. If an app you use every day is draining a lot of battery, check whether a newer version is available. When troubleshooting battery-drain issues, Google advises checking for Android and app updates.
Google also offers the ability to limit background battery consumption on Pixel phones or to forcibly stop an app. But Google warns that some essential apps or services may not work correctly if they’re force-stopped.
Another option is to uninstall an app if it’s no longer needed. Don’t remove an app just because it’s at the top of the battery usage list; think about how much you use it before deleting it.
Check Before Changing Everything
There is no need to install a third-party battery-saving application to find out which applications are using battery. Your phone’s own battery data will show you which apps are the problem.
If every app seems to be draining your battery quickly, check Settings > Battery > Battery Health. The battery itself may be worn.
If your battery drains faster than normal, go to Settings > Battery first. Identify apps that consume the most power, check background activity, and then make an informed decision about whether an app update, setting change, or removal is needed.
