The Invisible Power Drain
By default, iOS allows installed applications to constantly run in the background. A feature called “Background App Refresh” permits your email client, social media feeds, and news readers to silently wake up, connect to the cellular network, and download new data even when your phone is locked and sitting in your pocket. This invisible downloading is the single largest cause of rapid battery drain on an iPhone. If you are struggling to make your battery last through the afternoon, you must completely terminate this background downloading engine.
How to Turn Off Background App Refresh Globally
You can permanently sever all background internet connections via the General settings.
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Scroll down and tap on General.
- Tap on Background App Refresh.
- At the very top of the screen, tap the master Background App Refresh menu item.
- Change the setting from “Wi-Fi & Cellular Data” to Off.
On-Demand Updates Only
The change takes effect instantly. The iPhone will completely shut down the background scheduling daemon. Your installed applications will no longer be allowed to wake up and download data while your screen is off. To conserve maximum battery power, data will now strictly load “on demand.” This means your Instagram feed or weather app will only consume battery power to download new images at the exact physical moment you tap the app icon to open it.