KIM KOMANDO

Get more life out of your dying phone battery with these tips

Nov 21, 2021, 5:00 AM

(Unsplash Photo)...

(Unsplash Photo)

(Unsplash Photo)

When was the last time you left the house without your phone? Me neither.

The moment your phone goes missing, panic sets in. Tap or click for a method to find your phone, even if it’s buried somewhere you can’t hear the ringer.

When you’re out and about and realize your battery life is low, what can you do? Keep reading for a few solid options.

There’s a mode for that

Both Apple and Android have a handy setting specifically for the times you’re running out of juice, and it’s relatively easy to turn on. These low-power modes temporarily disable the apps, features, and processes that drain the most battery.

You can turn it on manually, and it will automatically turn off when your phone is charged up again.

A word of warning: your phone won’t be at its best in this mode. For starters, if your phone is on 5G, it reverts to 4G. Your phone won’t check email or update news, weather, and other apps as frequently.

“Hey Siri” and “OK Google” doesn’t work. Your notes, photos, and appointments also won’t be synced to the cloud until you’re at least 80% charged back up. Still, it is helpful in a pinch.

Apps are one of the biggest battery killers. Tap or click here to find out which apps drain your phone’s battery and storage the most.

Enabling Low Power Mode on iPhone:

● Open Settings > Battery.
● Slide the toggle next to Low Power Mode to the right to enable it.

In iOS 9 and above, you’ll receive notifications when your battery level hits 20 percent and 10 percent. You will get an option to enable Low Power Mode with a single tap.

Enabling Power saving mode on Android:

Android’s version of this battery-saving mode is called Power saving mode, available on Android 5.0 OS and above.

For Samsung Galaxy:

● Open Settings > Select Battery and device care.
● Select Power saving mode.
● Slide the toggle next to Power saving mode to the right to enable it.

There are many Android manufacturers out there, all with their own steps and processes. Your model’s steps could be different.

Don’t have a user manual? No worries. Tap or click here for thousands of free online user manuals or do a Google search for “your phone model + power saving mode.”

Other ways to extend battery life

While these battery-saving modes will save the most juice, they disable some functions that you may want to use. Try these tips to save battery power but don’t want to jump straight to Low Power Mode.

Lower the brightness: The brighter the screen, the more battery you use. Dim the screen down to save a bit of juice.

To lower the brightness on an iPhone, open Settings and select Display & Brightness. Slide the toggle under Brightness to the left to lower it. If you want to make it brighter, slide the toggle to the right.

For Android, open Settings and select Display. Slide the toggle to the left to lower brightness or to the right to raise it.

Curb notifications: The constant dings, pings, and data fetching use a lot of battery. Turn off notifications for unnecessary apps to give yourself more time.

You can turn off notifications for a specific app on an iPhone right from your home screen or lock screen. Pull down the notification screen on your iPhone to see a list of recent ones.

Tap and hold a notification, then tap the three dots in the upper-right corner. You’ll get a popup with a few options. Choose Turn Off to stop them altogether.

You can follow the same steps on an Android phone. Swipe down on the notification panel to see a list of your notifications. Press and hold on the one you want to turn off and tap Turn off notifications.

You can also long-press a notification as it happens, then tap the settings cog to go directly to notification settings.

Turn off nonessential features: Every extra feature you use, like Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, drains your battery. Turn them off if you aren’t using them.

Try Airplane mode: This setting switches off your phone’s cellular and wireless connections. When you need to save battery, turn it on and then off again to call or send a message.

Control the temperature: Keep your phone’s temperature steady. If you’re in the car and your phone is sitting on the passenger seat in a sunbeam, you’ll notice how much faster your battery drains.

Be prepared next time: I always keep a portable battery in my bag. You can charge up a power bank at home and take it with you. Anker’s slim portable charger is slim, affordable and just plain works.

What digital lifestyle questions do you have? Call Kim’s national radio show and tap or click here to find it on your local radio station. You can listen to or watch The Kim Komando Show on your phone, tablet, television or computer. Or tap or click here for Kim’s free podcasts.

Kim Komando

Child and youth safety online tips for 2024, 2025...

Kim Komando

How to (kindly) ask people not to post your kids on social media

Any parent concerned about the general topic of child and youth safety online should use these privacy tips from Kim Komando.

4 days ago

free ai trip planner technology tips travel...

Kim Komando

Use AI as a free travel planner when writing your next itinerary

Anyone daydreaming about a vacation should know they can use a free AI trip planner in order to streamline their itinerary writing. It's easy!

11 days ago

7 things Arizona techies should never share online...

Kim Komando

7 dangerous things to post online

Kim Komando says Arizona technology lovers should be safer when sharing their relationship status and vacation plans online. It can be dangerous!

18 days ago

How to protect your SSN from being used on the Dark Web....

Kim Komando

Here’s how to protect your SSN from the dark web

Your Social Security number is one of the most sensitive pieces of personal information you own. Too bad yours has likely been leaked and sold on the Dark Web.

25 days ago

smart speaker Amazon Echo technology Kim Komando...

Kim Komando

Set up your smart speaker for emergencies

Got a smart speaker in your residence? Follow these technology tips and tricks Kim Komando has planned in case of emergencies.

1 month ago

Kim Komando has tips on avoiding pig-butchering scams....

Kim Komando

The clever tech powering a wave of pig-butchering scams

Pig-butchering scams are getting more sophisticated — and more costly — by the day. Kim Komando has tips to help you avoid them.

1 month ago

Sponsored Articles

...

The UPS Store

How The UPS Store is giving back to the community

PHOENIX -- As 2024 nears a close, The UPS Store is looking to give back to the Arizona community with the holiday season approaching.

...

Day & Night Air Conditioning, Heating and Plumbing

Why a Heating Tune-Up is Essential Before Winter

PHOENIX, AZ — With cooler weather on the horizon, making sure your heating system is prepped and ready can make all the difference in staying comfortable this winter.

...

Collins Comfort Masters

Collins Comfort Masters: Leading the Way in HVAC and Plumbing Services in Arizona

Tempe, AZ – Since its inception in 1985, Collins Comfort Masters has been a cornerstone in the HVAC and plumbing industry in Phoenix and the surrounding Valley.

Get more life out of your dying phone battery with these tips