How to Fix iOS 18 Draining the iPhone 16 Battery Fast
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Lesezeit 8 min
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Lesezeit 8 min
The iPhone 16 lineup joined the newest smartphone scene in early September 2024. Along with the devices, a few innovations were introduced, including the newest software, iOS 18, and Apple Intelligence, which we can expect to experience sometime in October in the iPhone 16 series and iPhone 15 Pros.
There are certainly a lot of things to catch up, whether you’re a new or old iPhone user. One of them is the new software update to iOS 18 packed with customizations, shortcuts, and more.
Let’s dive into how these factors affect your iPhone 16 battery draining fast.
The top cause of your iPhone battery draining faster than usual after a software update is often due to increased CPU use. When iOS updates are installed, background processes like re-indexing, app optimization, or syncing can put a strain on the CPU, leading to your device feeling “buggy.” This explains why the iOS 18 update might seem like 'ruining' your iPhone's battery life.
These activities typically calm down after a few days, but during that period, your battery can drain more quickly. Additionally, bugs in new updates can also cause battery issues, making it essential to check for further fixes or updates from Apple.
There are a few more reasons that cause your iPhone battery to drain fast:
Background App Activity: Apps running in the background can consume power, especially those that refresh frequently.
Location Services: Constant GPS use drains the battery, especially for apps that don’t need location access.
Push Notifications: Excessive notifications can keep the phone awake.
Screen Brightness and Display Settings: High brightness and screen-on time quickly deplete the battery.
Outdated Software: Older iOS versions may have bugs that affect battery life.
Battery Health: Over time, battery capacity naturally degrades
The recent iOS 18 download caused dismay and a little bit of panic from users, not helping the situation at all. But here are some initial observations from @pbeisel on X.
iPhone 16 Pro / iOS 18 initial observations
— phil beisel (@pbeisel) September 22, 2024
1. Battery drain at stasis worse than iOS 17 (on iPhone 15 Pro). This is nothing new, every "out of the gate" iOS drains the battery faster, it takes one or two releases to fix these CPU use problems. Complain if you want but that… pic.twitter.com/fg7FzeGZqP
🔑 Key Takeaways:
Software updates often fix bugs that cause battery drain—make sure your iPhone 16 is running the latest version of iOS.
Force restarting your iPhone can help refresh the system and clear minor glitches.
Update apps to ensure they’re optimized for iOS 18.
Manage background app activity and disable location services to reduce battery strain.
Using Low Power Mode and setting static wallpapers can significantly extend battery life.
If your iPhone 16 battery seems to drain faster than you’d like, you’re not alone. Many users notice battery issues, especially when their device is new or after an iOS update.
Here’s a simple guide to help you fix this issue and keep your iPhone 16 running longer between charges.
Apple often releases updates to fix bugs, improve performance, and optimize battery life. Dutifully update the software that comes after iOS 18 to fix bugs. If you haven’t updated your iPhone 16 to the latest iOS 18.1 version, this could be a quick fix.
To do this:
Step 1: Go to Settings.
Step 2: Click General.
Step 3: Check for Software Update.
Future software updates address known bugs that impact battery performance, ensuring your iPhone runs efficiently with fewer power-hungry processes.
A simple restart can usually clear minor glitches and refresh the system, often improving battery performance.
Keeping apps updated ensures they are fully optimized for iOS 18, reducing battery drain caused by outdated software, inefficient code, or compatibility issues.
Apps running in the background can drain your battery even when you’re not actively using them. Disabling Background App Refresh for non-essential apps can make a noticeable difference.
To do this:
Step 1: Go to Settings.
Step 2: Click General.
Step 3: Select Background App Refresh.
From here, either turn it off entirely or choose “Wi-Fi” instead of “Wi-Fi & Cellular Data” for select apps.
Live or animated wallpapers require extra processing power. Using static images from your library or default options reduces CPU use and extends battery life.
Some apps consume more battery due to bugs or inefficient background processes. Deleting or reinstalling them often clears out data corruption or glitches.
Here are some iPhone apps that typically need updating to fix bugs or glitches:
Regular updates for these apps can improve performance and battery efficiency.
Location services are notorious for eating up battery life. You can limit which apps have access to your location to save power.
To do this:
Step 1: Go to Settings.
Step 2: Click Privacy & Security.
Step 3: Select Location Services.
Switch off location for apps that don’t need it, or set them to “While Using.”
Constantly fetching emails from your inbox can keep your iPhone 16 awake and consume battery power. Switching to manual email fetching can help.
To do this:
Step 1: Go to Settings.
Step 2: Select Mail.
Step 3: Go to Accounts > Fetch New Data.
Set it to “Manually” or increase the fetch interval to reduce power consumption.
Your iPhone 16’s OLED screen can consume significant battery life, especially at higher brightness levels. Adjusting a few settings can help.
Lower Brightness: Swipe down to open Control Center, and drag the brightness slider to a lower level.
Auto-Lock: Go to Settings > Display & Brightness > Auto-Lock. Set it to 30 seconds or 1 minute to save energy.
Dark Mode: OLED screens use less power in dark mode, so switch it on by going to Settings > Display & Brightness > Dark.
Low Power Mode is a built-in feature that can temporarily reduce background activity and help extend battery life. You can do this through Settings or enable it through Control Center.
Your iPhone 16 comes with a Battery Health tool that shows how well your battery is performing. If your battery capacity is significantly reduced, it might be time to replace it.
Go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging.
If the Maximum Capacity is below 80%, you might notice faster battery drain, and replacing your battery could be the best option.
Constant notifications keep your screen lighting up, draining your battery little by little. You can manage app notifications to cut down on this unnecessary power drain.
Go to Settings > Notifications , and turn off notifications for apps you don’t need to hear from all the time.
Widgets on your home screen and lock screen update frequently and can be battery hogs. Reducing or removing widgets can help.
Press and hold a widget, tap “Remove,” and cut down to only the essential ones.
High temperatures can affect your battery life. Avoid leaving your iPhone 16 in direct sunlight or in hot environments for extended periods.
There have been complaints that the iOS 18 update led some devices to heat faster, but this should be natural during the initial setup. Your phone is basically moving tons of data into the right place. And whether you like it or not, it’s a necessary process to have your iPhone up and running.
✅ Pro Tip: Use iPhone 16 series cases that dissipate heat well especially when MagSafe charging. Using a MagSafe case from Thinborne eliminates this issue while maximizing charging efficiency and minimizing wasted energy during wireless charging sessions.
Its precise fitment prevents overworking the phone’s charging system, which could otherwise generate excess heat—another factor that leads to battery drain.
This step will restore your iPhone’s settings to their factory defaults without erasing personal data and may fix any settings misconfigurations contributing to battery drain.
With these steps, you should see an improvement in your iPhone 16’s battery life. This also applies to other generations of iPhones compatible with the iOS 18 software update. From simple fixes to more long-term solutions, there are plenty of ways to keep your iPhone running longer. If you’ve tried everything and your battery is still draining fast, it might be worth visiting an Apple store for a more in-depth diagnosis.
During initial setup after an update, the iPhone runs background processes like re-indexing and syncing, which can temporarily cause overheating.
Modern iPhones have optimized charging to reduce wear, so overnight charging won’t damage the battery. However, excess heat can still reduce long-term battery health.
Yes, some apps running in the background, especially those using location services or refreshing content frequently, can drain your battery.
Yes, iOS 18 supports fast charging with the right charger and cable. However, always ensure you’re using Apple-certified products for optimal performance.
You can check this by going to Settings > Battery, where you’ll find a breakdown of battery usage by app.