Skip to main content
Bill Gates arriving at the 12th Annual Breakthrough Prize Ceremony.
Stylish pillbox organizer for vitamins and supplements.
Doctor discussing GLP-1 treatments in a clinical setting.

Tech

Once And For All, Does Removing Apps From Your iPhone Save Battery Life?

March 21, 2019 by Lisa Cupido
shefinds | Tech
Featured image

Many iPhone owners wonder at some point: why is my iPhone always running out of battery power so fast — and what can I do about it?

That last question has more than a few answers, as well as a myth or two that still follows it around. One of the assumptions is that you can restore your battery power by deleting apps that you’ve accumulated. Once and for all, does removing apps from your iPhone save battery life?

house unit img
Women Are Swapping Their Boring Water For This Ice Pop Electrolyte Mix!
iphone battery

If your iPhone battery struggles to make it past mid-day, the problem could very well be the battery itself (as well as a range of other possibilities). And, yes, according to sources like Macworld, running certain apps on your phone may just be one of the culprits behind your battery problem.

iphone

The worst apps that are killing your battery right now include Facebook and other social media apps — but, if you’re looking to make just one change, deleting the Facebook app and using Facebook in your Safari browser could be a game changer.

According to Macworld: “A quick look in your Battery Usage log (Settings > Battery) will reveal how much battery life Facebook is guzzling. Ours has used 26% of our iPhone's charge in the last 24 hours.

Facebook was also accused of allowing battery drain to occur even if iPhone owners have background app refresh disabled in Settings > General > Background App Refresh. Facebook admitted the fault and then fixed it, but battery drain issues are still plaguing users.”

iphone

Deleting certain apps can help restore your battery power. But there’s a popular app myth that continues to roam unchecked — and it’s one that won’t do a thing to help with battery.

iphone

One tip you’ll hear often is that if you close all of your apps it will save you a great deal of battery power.


The truth, according to Business Insider, is that it won’t do a single thing to help with your power.


“Last year, Apple fan Caleb sent an email to CEO Tim Cook asking, ‘Do you quit your iOS multitasking apps frequently and is this necessary for battery life?’ Craig Federighi, the head of software development at Apple, replied: ‘No and No. :-).’”

iphone

While you’re swiping to close out your apps, thinking what a necessary pain it is to do, former Apple technician and MartianCraft CEO Kyle Richter actually wrote out an explanation for why closing out apps is even worse for your battery, reports Business Insider.


According to Richter:


“The very process of quitting an app will use up a measurable amount of battery life. There are times when the device may need those resources and it will quit the app on your behalf, which will drain the battery in the same fashion.”

iphone

By all means, delete your Facebook app and save some battery power on your iPhone. But before you bother closing out apps or deleting even more apps, it would be more worth your time to take simple steps like lowering the brightness level of your screen, disabling WiFi when you’re in a place with a bad connection, and turning on Low Power Mode.

 

Author:

Lisa Fogarty is a lifestyle writer and reporter based in New York who covers health, wellness, relationships, sex, beauty, and parenting.

Close-up of Android phone showcasing app interface.
New iPhone 17 showcasing sleek design and features.
Woman working on laptop in a modern workspace.
Smartphone charging with a power adapter connected.
Display of popular apps on an iPhone screen.
Close-up of hands holding an iPhone 17 Pro Max.
Individual using an iPhone for various tasks.
Person holding iPhone displaying multiple apps.
Woman texting on her smartphone with focus.
Android phone showcasing diverse applications.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 smartphone in use.
Woman enjoying a fresh summer salad outdoors.
Holding an Android phone with app interface visible.
iPhone 14 displaying a variety of installed apps.
iPhone indicating low battery and charging settings.
Sony headphones and iPad being used with laptop.
Individual engaging with an iPhone for communication.
iPhone screen filled with various app icons.
Alert showing iPhone storage is full.
Person holding an iPhone in a casual setting.
Close-up of Android phone showcasing app interface.
New iPhone 17 showcasing sleek design and features.
Woman working on laptop in a modern workspace.
Smartphone charging with a power adapter connected.
Display of popular apps on an iPhone screen.
Close-up of hands holding an iPhone 17 Pro Max.
Individual using an iPhone for various tasks.
Person holding iPhone displaying multiple apps.
Woman texting on her smartphone with focus.
Android phone showcasing diverse applications.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 smartphone in use.
Woman enjoying a fresh summer salad outdoors.
Holding an Android phone with app interface visible.
iPhone 14 displaying a variety of installed apps.
iPhone indicating low battery and charging settings.
Sony headphones and iPad being used with laptop.
Individual engaging with an iPhone for communication.
iPhone screen filled with various app icons.
Alert showing iPhone storage is full.
Person holding an iPhone in a casual setting.