Engadget guide reveals how to find iPhone battery-draining apps

Apple has said the iPhone battery is designed to last a full day, the guide notes, but actual usage can drain it much faster. Some apps consume battery without users noticing. iOS provides built-in tools to monitor usage, and changing a few settings can help the phone last until the end of the day.

The first step is to open the Settings app and locate the Battery menu, identified by a green icon. A detailed chart shows usage over time. Tapping View All Battery Usage opens a fuller list of apps responsible for battery drain. The feature has been available since iOS 8, so even older handsets have access.

The list ranks apps by consumption, with the ones used most often at the top. Users can also inspect Background time separately from On Screen time. An app can use location or refresh content in the background; weather and map apps are common examples, as are streaming apps that play audio with the screen off.

To curb unnecessary drain, the guide suggests disabling Background App Refresh in the General section of Settings, either for selected apps or entirely. It also recommends limiting Location Services under Privacy and Security by switching apps to While Using the App. Users should not turn off Location Services completely, as that would affect features like Find My.

Finally, the guide advises checking battery health. If the battery is in poor condition, setting changes will not help much, and a battery replacement may be the best course.