Your iPhone might be tough, but its battery definitely has limits, especially when it comes to temperature. Whether it’s freezing cold or you’re in the middle of a heat wave, extreme temperatures can put serious stress on your phone’s battery, causing it to drain faster, perform poorly, or even shut down unexpectedly. Apple actually recommends keeping your iPhone in settings between 32°F and 95°F (0°C to 35°C) for best performance, and going outside that range too often can shorten your battery’s lifespan over time.
While you can’t always control the weather, there’s one super common (and totally avoidable) mistake that could be making your iPhone heat up even more than it needs to: keeping your phone on its highest brightness setting at all times. Here’s what you need to know about this under-the-radar mistake that can easily be avoided.
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How Does a Too-Bright Phone Affect Your Battery?
Keeping your iPhone screen too bright might make everything look sharp and vivid, but it can take a real toll on your battery. The display is one of the most power-hungry parts of your phone, and when it’s constantly set to maximum brightness — especially in well-lit environments or outdoors — it drains your battery much faster than necessary. You might not notice it right away, but over time, that extra screen glow adds up and can leave you reaching for your charger more often. Lowering your brightness manually or using auto-brightness wisely can make a big difference in preserving your phone’s energy throughout the day.
How to Lower Your Screen Brightness
Lowering your iPhone’s screen brightness is super easy and can really help stretch your battery life. To adjust it manually, swipe down from the top-right corner of your screen (on Face ID models) or up from the bottom (on Touch ID models) to open the Control Center—then slide the brightness bar down to a level that’s comfortable for your eyes. If you’d rather let your phone adjust it for you automatically, go to Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size, scroll down, and turn on Auto-Brightness. This lets your iPhone use its ambient light sensor to dim or brighten the screen based on your surroundings, which can save power without you having to think about it.
