iOS 17.2 was released in October 2023 with new features like improved Siri accuracy, customizable lock screens, and enhancements to Apple Maps. However, some users have reported excessive battery drain after updating to iOS 17.2. If you are experiencing shorter battery life on iOS 17.2, there are several troubleshooting steps you can try to restore normal battery performance.
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Enable Low Power Mode
Enabling Low Power Mode is an easy way to extend battery life when power is running low. Low Power Mode temporarily reduces background activity, some visual effects, and performance to save power.
To enable Low Power Mode on iOS 17.2:
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap on “Battery”.
- Toggle on “Low Power Mode”.
You’ll see a yellow battery icon in the status bar indicating Low Power Mode is on. With reduced background activity and performance, your battery should drain slower. Keep Low Power Mode enabled until Apple releases an iOS update to address battery issues.
Update Apps to Latest Versions
Outdated apps can sometimes cause excess battery drain on iOS devices. Developers frequently release updates to optimize app performance and battery usage.
To ensure all apps are updated to their latest iOS 17.2 compatible versions:
- Go to the App Store.
- Tap your profile icon in the top right.
- Scroll down and tap “Check for Updates”.
- Install any available app updates.
Updating apps can resolve buggy behavior from outdated code that contributes to battery drain. After updating apps, monitor your battery life over the next few days.
Check iPhone Battery Health
As iPhone batteries chemically age through charge cycles, their maximum capacity decreases leading to shorter battery life. iOS includes a battery health monitoring tool to identify when your battery may need to be replaced.
To check battery health on iOS 17.2:
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap “Battery” then “Battery Health”.
- The “Maximum Capacity” percentage indicates your battery’s current wear level.
Apple suggests the battery be replaced when capacity falls below 80%. If your battery capacity is significantly below 80%, then replacing your iPhone’s old battery with a new one should restore normal battery life on iOS 17.2.
Temporarily Downgrade iOS
Although not ideal, downgrading your OS can buy you time if iOS 17.2 battery drain makes your iPhone unusable. Follow these steps:
- Backup your device through iTunes or iCloud.
- Download the iOS 16 IPSW file for your iPhone model.
- In iTunes or Finder, hold Option (Mac) or Shift (Windows) and click Restore to select the IPSW file.
- Restore to iOS 16 via iTunes or Finder.
After downgrading, battery life should improve on iOS 16 until Apple releases an update to fix the issues in iOS 17.2. When the next version after 17.2 is available, you can upgrade back to that.
For iPad – Force Restart
iPads running iOS 17.2 suffering from severe battery drain may benefit from a forced restart. This procedure powers down the device and boots it back up to discharge any lingering glitches.
To force restart an iPad:
- Hold down the Top button and either Volume button at the same time.
- When powered off, release the buttons.
- After a few moments, the Apple logo will appear as the iPad restarts.
Once your iPad boots back up, test if battery performance has improved in 17.2. If not, try some of the other troubleshooting suggestions.
Conclusion
iOS 17.2 delivers helpful features but seems to have come at the cost of faster battery drain for some users’ devices. Hopefully, Apple promptly issues an update to squash these battery bugs. In the meantime, enabling Low Power mode, updating apps, checking battery health, downgrading iOS, and if necessary iPad force restarts can help provide temporary relief. Pay attention to any newly released iOS incremental updates that mention bug fixes and install them right away.
Table 1: Summary of iOS 17.2 Battery Drain Fixes
| Fix | Details | Benefits | Things to Note |
| Enable Low Power Mode | Reduces background activity and performance | Extends battery life | Temporary fix until permanent update |
| Update Apps | Install latest iOS compatible app versions | Resolves outdated buggy code | Requires user to manually update apps |
| Check Battery Health | Identify batteries needing replacement | Improves battery if worn out | Replacing battery has a cost if iPhone not under warranty |
| Downgrade iOS | Go back to the previous iOS 16 version | Should restore battery function | Inconvenient to backtrack OS, temporary solution |
| For iPad – Force Restart | Reboots iPad to clear any glitches | May fix severe iPad battery issues | Just a reset, not a full solution |
