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Here we go again with yet another iOS 16 update. But after the unveiling of iOS 17 at WWDC 2023, it’s getting close to being the last.
But that doesn’t stop some iPhone owners from complaining that they are once again experiencing battery issues.
The iOS 16.5.1 update (there’s also an iOS 15.7.7 for iPhones running the older version) contained a bunch of security fixes for vulnerabilities that are being actively exploited in the wild, so giving it a miss is off the table. But what should you do if you’re finding that it degrades battery life?
Also: The best iPhones right now
I’ve been keeping an eye on social media and Apple’s support forums, and opinions are, as always, mixed. Some say this update is a big improvement and that it fixes the overheating issue found in iOS 16.5 (I would say that I’ve definitely seen an improvement here). Others say it’s abysmal, claiming not only that they are getting less battery runtime, but also that their battery health also plummeted. If you’re curious — or concerned — about battery health, I suggest reading “Here’s what Apple doesn’t want you to know about your iPhone’s battery.”
If you’re experiencing better battery life, good for you. You can stop reading here and get on with your day. However, if you are one of those people having battery issues, I have some tips and tricks to help you make it through the day.
7 tips if you’re having battery issues
It might seem strange to recommend a reboot since the update process reboots the iPhone, but it actually helps. And remember, that reboot that happens following an update triggers a raft of post-update actions, from updating indexes to recalibrating the battery.
Also: The best MagSafe battery pack for your iPhone
If the iPhone is burning through the battery after the update, then a reboot might bring things under control. It’s worked for me, and it’s worked for several other people I’ve recommended.
And it doesn’t cost you anything beyond a couple of minutes.
The problem might not be an iOS issue but more a problem with an app that has gone rogue, especially when new versions of iOS have been released. That means it’s a good idea to make sure all your apps are updated before you go spending a lot of time trying to diagnose what’s going on.
Also: My iPhone’s battery doesn’t stay at 100% for as long as it used to. Is there a problem?
Fire up the App Store app and tap your profile icon in the corner, then scroll down to Available Updates to look for updates (I like to pull down this screen to refresh it, so I see all the latest updates).
OK, so updating iOS and your apps hasn’t solved the issue, and your battery is showing as fine. What else could it be? It could be a rogue app that’s draining the battery. And fortunately, iOS offers you the tools you need to track down misbehaving apps.
Also: How to turn off Clean Energy Charging on the iPhone
Head over to Settings > Battery, and here you will see a lot of data, including Battery Usage By App. Tapping on it also allows you to switch to Activity By App, which shows a breakdown of how much power the app is using while on the screen and how much it is using when in the background.
You can use this information to diagnose battery drain issues. Here are some other things you can use this information for:
- An app going berserk in the background will show lots of activity in the background compared with screen activity (try disabling background activity for that app and see if that helps).
- You can spot charging problems (Was the battery actually charging when you thought it was?).
- You can also spot poor battery performance (look for battery charge falling rapidly).
Analyzing battery drain in iOS. Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
Is your iPhone getting on a bit?
If it’s four years or older, then the battery might be getting old and needs replacing.
Tap on Settings and head to Battery > Battery Health & Charging and check what the Maximum Capacity of the battery is listed as. If this is below 80% then this indicates a worn battery and that it’s time for a replacement.
Don’t get into a competition to see how hot you can get your iPhone. That’s a path that leads to hardware damage. A stressed, hot battery is an unhappy battery, and that can lead to premature wear and performance issues.
So, if it’s overheating, remove it from a hot window and don’t keep it in a hot car. I also recommend temporarily taking it out of any case it’s in.
Also: Is your iPhone overheating and crashing since installing iOS 16.4.1? Here’s what to do
If you came across an app that was going berserk in the background in step four, then you might have found your problem. Deleting that app (or reinstalling it) or revoking its background refresh privileges (go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh and flip the toggle on the app in question) do the job. Otherwise, the problem is very likely an iOS bug.
Bugs do slip through the net, and sometimes all you can do is wait for Apple to fix the problem and roll out a new update.
Apple is getting much better about fixing issues like this, although you do have to wait for the fix and take a gamble that the new update does indeed fix the problem and not cause more chaos.
Also: iPhone or Android slow or buggy? Do this one simple thing every week
That said, given that pretty much every update Apple rolls out nowadays is packed with iOS security updates, I recommend installing updates because not doing this can leave your iPhone vulnerable to attack.
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