It’s surprisingly easy to drain your iPhone’s battery without even realizing it. From background activity to screen settings you may have never touched, small things can quietly chip away at your battery life throughout the day. A few quick adjustments can make a noticeable difference. Staying on top of your iPhone’s settings is one of the simplest ways to extend battery life—and there are a few standout features that are especially worth your attention. Raise to Wake, Always-On Display, and Auto-Brightness may seem harmless, but they can be major battery drainers if left unchecked. Here’s what you need to know about each one — and how to keep them from quietly zapping your phone’s power.
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1. Raise to Wake
Raise to Wake is a convenient feature that allows your iPhone screen to light up automatically every time you lift your phone — but it can be a sneaky battery drainer. Every time the phone is moved, even just slightly in a bag or your pocket, it may light up unnecessarily, using energy several times a day without you realizing it. If you frequently pick up your phone or move around with it, those moments can really add up. To save battery, go to Settings > Display & Brightness and switch off Raise to Wake so your screen only turns on when you intentionally wake it.
2. Always-On Display
Always-On Display is available on certain newer iPhones (like the iPhone 14 Pro and later), and while it looks sleek and can keep your time, widgets, and wallpaper visible even when the phone is locked, it also consumes battery all day long. Keeping parts of the screen active all day still uses more energy than a fully dark screen. To reduce battery drain, go to Settings > Display & Brightness > Always-On Display, and toggle it off for a more battery-friendly lock screen.
3. Auto-Brightness
Auto-Brightness adjusts your screen’s brightness based on surrounding light, which sounds helpful, but it doesn’t always get it right. Often, your screen can be brighter than necessary, leading to unnecessary battery use. A screen that’s constantly adjusting or staying brighter than needed can quietly drain your power faster than you think. To lessen the effect it can have on your battery, go to Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size, scroll to the bottom, and turn Auto-Brightness off. Then manually set your screen brightness to a comfortable low-to-mid level when indoors.
