Do you own an Android phone with a battery that is not reliable? If you are someone who always needs to plug their device regularly, you might have experienced the aggravation of having a poor battery life. A great deal of your daily activities is influenced by how well or worse your gadget’s battery performs, whether it is keeping in touch with people or simply having fun with various applications. However, most of the time, problems related to battery life can be fixed by making some minor modifications. This expansive guide will take you through 10 most common causes of android devices battery drain and give comprehensive remedies for getting back those precious hours.
Understanding Android Battery Drain
During the last decade, smartphones became more than just luxury goods; they are now essential tools for business, leisure and communication purposes. As such, longer-lasting batteries have become mandatory. Since it powers majority of these devices through its operating system (Android), one must learn about optimizing his or her devices’ batteries to make maximum use of them.
Android phones, like any other electrical device, rely on chemical cells to provide power, and these cells degrade over time. It is also normal for a battery’s capacity to diminish through charge cycles—after all, they are consumable parts of your device. We often overlook how our interaction with the phone can directly relate to battery drain.
Why is Battery Optimization Important?
Battery optimization is about managing and monitoring your phone’s activity to ensure you’re not wasting precious power on unnecessary tasks. A well-optimized battery can accomplish several goals:
- Prolong the time between charges
- Extend the overall battery lifespan
- Improve system performance
- Reduce the chance of system crashes or malfunctions due to poor power conditions
- Save money on phone replacements or expensive battery-replacement services
- Contribute to a more sustainable and eco-friendly use of technology
Understanding the common pitfalls that lead to battery drain is the first step in mastering your Android battery’s life. Below, we outline the top 10 causes of battery drain and provide detailed strategies to fix them.
Common Causes and their Consequences
Before we address each of these issues in detail, it’s important to recognize the variety of factors that can affect battery life on your Android device. Here are the top 10 culprits that could be draining your battery:
- Screen Brightness
- Background Apps
- Location Services
- Push Notifications
- Battery-Intensive Apps
- Excessive Location Usage by Apps
- Keeping the Screen On Too Long
- Outdated OS and Apps
- Extreme Temperatures and Battery Health
- Physical Battery Life Span
By addressing these issues head-on, you’ll not only save power but also reduce the risks of overuse, overheating, and still enjoy what you love about your Android device.
Top 10 Causes of Android Battery Drain in Detail
Each of the causes of battery drain is a piece in a larger puzzle. It’s important to consider the overall picture and how each factor may be contributing to your particular issue. Here’s a closer look at each of the 10 causes and how they can dent your battery life.
1. High Screen Brightness
Many of us crank up the screen brightness to counteract glare or make our devices more readable in direct sunlight. But keeping the brightness higher than necessary can sap the battery quicker than most other functions because the lighting system in your Android device is power-hungry.
2. Background Running Apps
When you press the home button, it’s tempting to assume the app you were just in has closed down. Often, that’s not the case. Many apps persistently run in the background, listening for updates, new messages, and other notifications. And the more apps doing this, the faster your battery will drain.
3. Location Services
Location services can be incredibly useful for keeping track of your device, navigating, and even finding local recommendations. However, this constant use of GPS data can be a major drain on your battery, especially when multiple apps are utilizing this function simultaneously.
4. Push Notifications
Push notifications ensure you’re always up-to-date with the latest information from your favorite apps. Yet, too many of these can turn your phone into a buzzing, chiming, and battery-draining machine.
5. Battery-Intensive Apps
Some apps are designed to handle intense tasks that require a lot of processing power and, consequently, a lot of battery power. Games are a prime example, as they often push your device’s CPU and graphics capabilities to the limit.
6. Excessive Location Usage by Apps
On top of the location services, some apps can go overboard and use location data far more frequently than necessary or even when the app isn’t currently in use. These rogue apps can be hard to spot but can drain your battery surprisingly fast.
7. Prolonged Screen-On Time
Each time you wake your device, it sips from the battery supply. The longer your screen stays on for any reason — be it active screen time, screen time for notifications, or even screen time while charging — the more battery it will use.
8. Outdated Operating System and Apps
New technology and processes often come hand-in-hand with improved efficiency and battery life. Using an outdated OS or apps might mean that you’re missing out on important optimizations designed to keep your device running smoothly and efficiently.
9. Extreme Temperatures and Battery Health
Your surroundings have a significant impact on your device’s battery. Extreme temperatures can perturb the battery’s chemical processes and lead to accelerated discharge, especially in extreme cold.
10. Physical Battery Life Span
The physical limitations of the battery cannot be overstated. All batteries have a finite number of charge cycles before their capacity degrades irreversibly, meaning that it holds less and less charge.
10 Detailed Ways to Fix Android Battery Drain
Now that we’ve diagnosed the ten likely suspects contributing to your battery drain, it’s time to administer the fixes. Each of the following sections will provide you with a detailed step-by-step plan to tackle these issues head-on and restore your Android’s battery life to its former glory.
1. Adjust Screen Brightness
High screen brightness level isn’t always necessary. Adjusting it can save significant battery life, especially in indoor or low-light settings. In essence, your screen brightness should match your surroundings, not be the standout feature of your battery management plan.
Why Fix This?:
High screen brightness is one of the most significant contributors to battery drain. By making this simple adjustment, you can save several hours of battery life over the course of a day.
How to Adjust Screen Brightness
To adjust your screen brightness, follow these steps:
- Swipe down from the top of the screen to open the Notification Shade.
- Find the brightness slider and lower it to a comfortable level that still allows you to read.
- Consider enabling ‘Adaptive brightness’ to allow your device to regulate brightness based on ambient light.
2. Manage Background Apps
It’s time to take control of the silent assassins sapping your battery life. By managing which apps have permission to run in the background, you can limit their power consumption and keep more charge in reserve for when you need it most.
Why Fix This?:
Background apps use system resources, including the battery, to keep running. By proactively managing these, you can reclaim valuable power and performance for tasks you’re using actively.
How to Manage Background Apps
To manage background apps, do the following:
- Go to “Settings” > “Apps”.
- Tap on the app you want to manage.
- Look for the “Battery” or “Power” section and you should have the option to “Force stop” or “Put to sleep”.
- For system apps, tap the three dots in the upper-right corner and select “Show system”, then repeat the previous steps.
3. Disable Location Services
When your apps are constantly checking up on your location, your battery is paying the price. Turning off location services can result in dramatic improvements in your device’s battery life.
Why Fix This?:
Location services require a phone to constantly communicate with satellites, which can drain a battery quickly. By turning these off for non-essential apps, you can see a notable increase in battery life.
How to Turn Off Location Services
To disable location services, follow these steps:
- Navigate to “Settings” > “Location”.
- Turn off the switch at the top to disable location services altogether, or tap on individual apps to control their location permissions.
4. Control Push Notifications
Push notifications can be helpful, but only when they come from the most important apps. By controlling which apps can push notifications, you can cut down on battery consumption without missing out on essential updates.
Why Fix This?:
Minimizing these notifications means fewer times your screen lights up for something less important, saving both battery life and your attention for what really matters.
How to Control Push Notifications
To control push notifications, take these steps:
- Go to “Settings” > “Apps & notifications” > “Notifications”.
- Tap on “See all n notifications” and adjust settings for each app.
- Disable notifications for apps that don’t need to alert you to every little thing.
5. Remove Battery-Intensive Apps
It’s time to declutter your device of those apps that scream ‘power eater’. Not only will this help your battery life, but it will also free up space and potentially speed up your device.
Why Fix This?:
Removing or finding alternatives for these apps can reduce the overall drain on your battery, especially if they’re not regularly used or needed.
How to Uninstall Battery-Intensive Apps
To remove battery-intensive apps, perform the following:
- Navigate to “Settings” > “Apps”.
- Find the app you want to remove and tap on it.
- Tap “Uninstall” or “Disable” if the app came pre-installed and can’t be uninstalled.
6. Activate Battery Saver Mode
Battery Saver Mode is like a guardian angel for your remaining charge. It kicks in automatically when your battery hits a certain level, but you can also activate it manually to start saving power earlier.
Why Fix This?:
Battery Saver Mode can significantly prolong battery life by disabling non-essential features and cutting down on background activity.
How to Activate Battery Saver Mode
To activate Battery Saver Mode, simply:
- Go to “Settings” > “Battery”.
- Tap “Battery Saver”.
- Turn it on either “Now” or for “Automatic” activation at a specified percentage.
7. Update Apps and OS
Keeping your apps and operating system up to date is often overlooked but is possibly the most crucial step. Developers release updates not just for new features, but often to improve performance and fix battery-draining bugs.
Why Fix This?:
Staying up-to-date ensures your phone is running the latest version of Android with the latest battery-saving features. App updates often improve energy efficiency, as well.
How to Update Apps and OS
To update your apps and OS:
- Go to the Google Play Store and tap on the three horizontal lines in the top-left corner.
- Select “My apps & games” to update your apps.
- For the OS, go to “Settings” > “System” > “Advanced” > “System update” to check for and install updates.
8. Adjust your screen timeout settings
The time it takes for your screen to time out and shut off can be crucial for battery conservation. Setting a shorter timeout can save power every time you forget to lock your screen.
Why Fix This?:
Reducing screen-on time means less power is wasted on display when you’re not actively using your phone, leading to longer lasting battery life.
How to Adjust Screen Timeout
To change your screen timeout settings:
- Navigate to “Settings” > “Display”.
- Select “Advanced” > “Screen timeout”.
- Choose a shorter duration, say 30 seconds or 1 minute.
9. Utilize Dark Mode
If your device offers a Dark Mode, enabling it can save significant battery life. Dark Mode uses less white and light colors, which means less power is required to light up the pixels on your device.
Why Fix This?:
With many apps and the system itself offering a dark mode, using this option can lead to significant savings in power consumption throughout the day.
How to Enable Dark Mode
To enable Dark Mode, perform the following:
- Go to “Settings” > “Display”.
- Look for “Dark theme” and switch it on.
- Enjoy the battery savings and the stylish new look of your device.
10. Monitor Battery Usage
Sometimes the cause of battery drain is subtle, and it helps to monitor your usage to detect any standout apps. Android devices offer tools to track which apps are using the most power, providing valuable insights into your battery’s behavior.
Why Fix This?:
Understanding how your battery charge is used can help you make informed decisions on how to optimize usage for better battery life.
How to Monitor Battery Usage
To monitor your battery usage, follow these steps:
- Navigate to “Settings” > “Battery”.
- Here you’ll find a list of apps and how much power they’ve consumed in a given time frame.
- Pay special attention to apps that use an excessive amount of battery while running in the background or that you don’t use often.
Consider Battery Replacement if necessary
If none of the above fixes make a significant improvement, it may be time to consider replacing your battery. Over time, all batteries degrade and lose their charge-holding capacity. For older devices, a new battery can be a game-changer in extending the useful life of your device before you need to invest in something new.
How to Replace the Battery
To replace the battery of your Android device:
- Contact your device manufacturer or a certified service center for assistance.
- If you’re feeling particularly handy, look for guides specific to your device online, but proceed with caution as this can be a delicate operation.
By following this comprehensive battery-saving guide, you’re not just prolonging the life of your Android device, you’re also taking proactive steps towards more sustainable energy consumption. With patience and a little bit of digital spring cleaning, you can enjoy a well-behaved battery that’s ready for action whenever you need it.
Precautionary Steps for Optimal Battery Health
To an extent, effective battery life management also requires understanding and implementing best practices in battery care. Here are some additional tips to maintain your battery’s health and extend its life:
Charge your Device Correctly
- Avoid extreme full discharges and charges whenever possible.
- Keep your device cool while charging to prolong battery lifespan.
- If you’re storing a device for a prolonged period, charge it to around 50% first.
Use the Right Charger
- Use the charger provided by the manufacturer or a reputable third-party alternative.
- Fast chargers can impose stress on the battery, particularly if used for every charge.
- Avoid using counterfeit or cheaply made chargers that can damage your battery or device over time.
Storage and Environmental Considerations
- Store your device and batteries at room temperature for optimal performance.
- If you need to put a device into long-term storage, charge it to 50% every six months to maintain an adequate charge level.
- Keep your device protected from extremely cold or hot conditions, which can adversely affect your battery.
Regular Maintenance and Health Checks
- Periodically check your battery’s health using diagnostic tools if your Android device has them available.
- If you notice significant, unexplained drops in battery performance after ruling out software issues, consider reaching out to a professional for a battery diagnosis.
By implementing these precautionary measures, in conjunction with the detailed fixes for battery drain, you’ll ensure that your Android device remains reliably powered for the long haul.
Conclusion
In conclusion, understanding and effectively dealing with battery drain on your Android device is an essential part of the smartphone user experience. By implementing the 10 fixes outlined in this guide, you can not only extend your phone’s battery life but also ensure its long-term health and performance.
We covered a range of strategies to tackle battery drain, each with its own unique benefits. Whether it’s more conscious display management, smarter app behavior, or making the most of your phone’s features, every step you take will contribute to a more efficient and satisfying user experience.
For all Android users, optimizing battery life should be a priority. Not only does it enhance the practical use of your device, it also ensures that your smartphone investment is a sustainable one. A few simple changes can lead to significant improvements, both economically and environmentally.
Now that you are equipped with the knowledge and steps to fix Android battery drain issues, it’s time to put these into practice and enjoy a longer-lasting, more reliable smartphone experience.