Introduction
Battery life is a crucial factor for any smartphone user. With iOS 17, some users have reported rapid battery drain after updating their iPhones. If you are facing this issue, don’t worry – there are several fixes you can try to improve your iPhone’s battery life on iOS 17. In this guide, we will go over the top solutions to resolve battery drain problems on iOS 17.
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Confirm It’s an iOS 17 Issue
Before trying any fixes, first confirm that the battery drain is specifically due to iOS 17. Battery life naturally degrades over time, so if your iPhone is older, the issues may not lie with the software update. You can take these steps to determine if iOS 17 is the culprit:
- Check if the battery drain occurs only after updating to iOS 17. If your iPhone battery drained normally on iOS 16, then it likely is an iOS 17 problem.
- See if the battery drains faster in iOS 17 safe mode. Safe mode prevents third-party apps from running, so if the drain persists, it indicates a system-level problem.
- Check the Battery Usage stats in Settings. If any system apps like Home & Lock Screen show high usage, it’s likely an iOS issue.
If your investigation confirms rapid drain only after getting iOS 17, you can move onto the next steps for resolving it.
1. Enable Low Power Mode
The first option to try for improving battery life in iOS 17 is enabling Low Power Mode. This feature reduces background activity and various visual effects to conserve power. To use it:
- Open Settings and tap on Battery.
- Toggle on Low Power Mode – your battery icon will turn yellow when enabled.
Low Power Mode can give you 1-2 hours of extra battery life. Keep it on whenever you need to squeeze more juice from your iPhone’s battery.
2. Update Apps to Latest Versions
Outdated third-party apps can sometimes cause battery drain after an iOS update. Developers often release compatibility updates after new iOS versions.
To ensure all your apps are running properly on iOS 17, you should update them to their latest versions. Here’s how:
- Go to App Store > Tap your profile icon > Check for Updates.
- Alternatively, you can search for updates manually by going through all your installed apps.
Updating apps can optimize their performance for iOS 17 and stop unnecessary battery drain. Delete any unused apps as well.
3. Reset All Settings
Resetting all settings on your iPhone will clear any corrupted files or problematic settings that may be decreasing battery life on iOS 17. Here are the steps:
- Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone.
- Tap on Reset > Reset All Settings.
- Enter your passcode if prompted.
This will reset all settings to default without erasing your data. Make sure to set up Face ID, Touch ID, Wi-Fi networks, and other preferences again after resetting.
4. Identify Battery-Draining Apps
Sometimes a specific third-party app may act up and consume excess battery after an iOS update. iOS has a built-in tool to help you find such problematic apps.
- Go to Settings > Battery > Battery Usage and wait for usage data to load.
- Check the list to see which apps are using the most battery.
- Tap on the app to see its usage and background activity.
If a particular app stands out for high usage, force quit the app, delete and reinstall if needed. This can fix any bugs causing battery drain.
5. Update iPhone Firmware
Apple will provide firmware updates after the initial iOS 17 release to fix any bugs. If you skipped an available firmware update, install it to see if it improves battery life.
- Go to Settings > General > Software Update.
- Download and install any iOS update shown.
Firmware updates bring critical bug and security fixes. Keep your iPhone’s firmware updated to resolve battery issues caused by iOS bugs.
6. Perform a Hard Reset
If all else fails, performing a hard reset can wipe any residual files that may be plaguing your battery life. Note that you’ll need to set up your iPhone from scratch after resetting.
- Back up your iPhone data via iCloud or iTunes.
- Turn off your iPhone.
- Press and release the Volume Up button, press and release the Volume Down button, then press and hold the Side button until you see the recovery mode screen.
- Select Erase All Content and Settings to perform the hard reset.
This will completely wipe your device and install a clean version of iOS 17 for a fresh start. Test the battery after setup to see if it resolves excess drain.
7. Disable Background App Refresh
Background App Refresh allows apps to refresh their content in the background when not in use. Turning it off can improve battery life if you don’t need constant updates.
- Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh.
- Tap Background App Refresh and select Off.
With this feature disabled, your apps will only refresh when you open them, which requires less battery power.
8. Reduce Screen Brightness and Auto-Lock Time
Dimming your iPhone’s screen brightness and shortening the auto-lock timeout can provide marginal battery life gains.
- Go to Settings > Display & Brightness and drag the brightness slider left.
- Under Auto-Lock, select a shorter time interval like 30 seconds or 1 minute.
Use Control Center to quickly adjust brightness when needed. Keep Auto-Lock at a short duration to have the screen turn off sooner.
9. Disable Unnecessary Features
Several iOS features like Bluetooth, Location Services, Notifications, and widgets can drain battery when not needed. Turn them off under Settings or Control Center.
Disable Background App Refresh, Handoff, Hey Siri, and Share My Location under Settings to reduce power consumption. Being selective about active features can optimize battery usage.
10. Repair iOS System Files
If all basic troubleshooting steps don’t work, your battery drain may be due to deeper system-level problems with iOS files and settings. A good solution for this is UltFone iOS System Repair.
It can fix iOS 17 system problems without deleting data. To use it:
- Download and install UltFone iOS System Repair on a Windows or Mac computer.
- Connect your iPhone to the computer via USB.
- Click Start and wait for the repair process to complete.
The tool will scan your device, repair system files, and optimize performance. Test the battery after the repair to see if the drain issue is fixed.
11. Get Your iPhone Battery Replaced
If your iPhone’s battery health has degraded, no amount of software troubleshooting can fix the drain. Batteries naturally wear out with time and usage.
Check your battery’s maximum capacity under Settings > Battery > Battery Health. Apple suggests replacing your battery if the maximum capacity is under 80%.
You can get a battery replacement done at an Apple Store, Apple Authorized Service Provider, or third-party repair shop. This will give your iPhone’s battery like-new capacity.
Conclusion
Rapid battery drain after updating to iOS 17 can dampen your experience, but there are many ways to troubleshoot and fix the issue. Start with simpler steps like enabling Low Power Mode, resetting all settings, and identifying problematic apps.
For advanced issues, restore your iPhone or use system repair tools. Getting a battery replacement can also give your iPhone new life if the battery health is degraded. With some diligent investigation and troubleshooting, you should be able to resolve iOS 17 battery drain problems and reclaim normal battery life.