How to Fix iOS 18 Draining the iPhone 16 Battery Fast

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Keeping apps updated ensures they are fully optimized for iOS 18, reducing battery drain caused by outdated software, inefficient code, or compatibility issues.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:

• Social Media Apps (e.g., Facebook, Instagram, X): These apps often experience bugs due to frequent feature updates and heavy background activity.
• Messaging Apps (e.g., WhatsApp, Messenger): Bugs can cause battery drain, app crashes, or sync issues.
• Streaming Apps (e.g., Netflix, YouTube): Frequent updates optimize streaming performance and fix memory-related bugs.
• Utility Apps (e.g., Maps, Weather): They often require updates to fix location service glitches or data syncing issues.

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.

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.