Dealing with an unexpectedly dead battery on iOS 11 is a common frustration for many iPhone users. Whether you are updating apps in the background or simply checking the time, the operating system introduced in 2017 sometimes struggled to manage power efficiently. This guide provides a detailed look at the specific steps you can take to resolve iOS 11 battery drain issues.
Identifying the Culprits Behind Battery Drain
Before applying fixes, it is essential to understand what iOS 11 does that consumes so much energy. The update brought new features like background app refresh and intelligent tracking, which require significant processing power. If these services are not managed correctly, they can prevent your device from entering a low-power state.
Background App Activity
One of the primary reasons for battery drain is the background activity of applications. iOS 11 allows apps to fetch content and update constantly, even when you are not using them. This continuous wake cycle prevents the processor from sleeping, leading to a rapid discharge of your battery. Checking which apps are using your battery in the background is the first step to diagnosing the problem.
Update to the Latest Software Version
Apple frequently releases software updates that address bugs and optimize performance. iOS 1.1 and subsequent patches contained specific fixes for battery life that were not present in the initial release of iOS 11. Ensuring you are running the latest available version of the software is the easiest and most effective troubleshooting step.
How to Update
To update, navigate to Settings, then General, and select Software Update. Connecting to Wi-Fi during this process is recommended to avoid using cellular data for a large download. Installing the update often resolves discrepancies between the operating system and the hardware, allowing the power management system to function as intended.
Managing Location Services
The GPS module is one of the most power-hungry components in any smartphone. In iOS 11, the precision of location services was expanded, which inadvertently caused some devices to ping the satellites more frequently than necessary. This results in a significant drop in battery life, particularly in areas with weak cellular signals.
Adjusting Accuracy
You can mitigate this by adjusting the location settings. Instead of allowing "Always" access for multiple apps, switching to "While Using the App" or disabling location services entirely for specific applications can conserve a substantial amount of energy. Navigate to Settings > Privacy > Location Services to review and restrict these permissions.
Optimizing Background App Refresh
Background App Refresh is a feature designed to keep your content updated, but it is often the biggest contributor to idle battery drain. In iOS 11, this setting is enabled by default for most native and third-party apps, causing them to wake the network and CPU regularly.
Strategic Disabling
You do not need to disable this feature entirely to see benefits. Review the list of apps under Settings > General > Background App Refresh and turn it off for apps that do not need real-time updates. Social media and news apps are common culprits that do not require constant refreshing to function effectively.
Handling Mail Fetching
If you use the Mail app, the fetch setting can drastically impact your battery. The "Fetch New Data" option determines how often your phone checks for new emails. An "Push" setting ensures immediate delivery but keeps the connection active constantly, which is taxing on the battery.
