Is your phone’s battery not holding a charge like it used to? This is a common issue, actually. If you’re like most people, you probably use your smartphone all day long. From checking email and social media to using GPS and listening to music, our phones are constantly in use. And because they’re so important to our daily lives, it’s frustrating when our phone’s battery doesn’t last as long as we’d like.
In this blog post, we’ll discuss some reasons why your phone isn’t holding its charge and also some tips for how to improve your phone’s battery life. Keep reading for more information!
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Why Isn’t My Phone Battery Holding its Charge?
If your phone’s battery isn’t holding a charge like it used to, you’re not alone. In fact, this is a problem that has been plaguing many Android and iOS users for years. The battery just doesn’t have the capacity to make it through all the daily activities, oftentimes.
There are several things you can do to try and fix the issue, however!
But before we get into that, let’s take a look at some of the reasons why your phone’s battery might not be performing as well as it should.
1. You Have Too Many Apps Running in the Background
This is a common problem, especially for Android phones. It seems that everything uses an app these days, but when you have too many apps running in the background of your device, it can take a toll on your phone’s battery life.
To fix this, click on your settings icon and check which apps are running in the background. Then, either close them or force them to stop.
2. Your Screen Brightness is Turned Up Too High
If your phone’s screen brightness is turned up too high, it can also drain your battery life quickly. To fix this, go into your phone’s settings and lower the brightness level. Alternatively, you can turn on auto-brightness’ feature so that your phone automatically adjusts the screen brightness based on the lighting conditions.
And if you look at your screen for long periods of time, it’s better for your eyes anyway to have a slightly dimmer screen, so adaptive brightness is the way to go!
3. You Have Location Services Turned On
If you have location services turned on, it can also drain your battery life. This is because your phone is constantly searching for a GPS signal.
This is an easy fix, fortunately. First, go into your phone’s settings and turn off location services. Alternatively, you can choose to only use location services when you’re using specific apps that need it.
4. You Have Too Many Apps with Push Notifications Turned On
If you have too many apps with push notifications turned on, it can also drain your battery life. This is because your phone is constantly checking for new notifications and then displaying them on your screen.
While it is sometimes nice to have new notifications appear on your phone, you likely don’t need all of them. Let’s be honest – how many of these notifications do you actually act on and how many of them do you ignore anyway?
To turn off the ones you generally ignore anyway, enter into your phone’s settings and turn off push notifications for some of your apps.
5. You’re Using an Older Phone
Lastly, your smartphone may not be getting battery drain from anything it’s doing, per se. It may just be old!
If you’re using an older phone, it’s likely that the battery simply isn’t as good as it used to be. If this is the case, then all of these tactics we’ve mentioned so far won’t help much. You might just consider upgrading to a newer phone.
6. Your Phone’s Charger is Dying
If you’ve tried all of the tactics we’ve mentioned so far and you’re still having battery issues, there’s one more thing you can check – your phone’s charger.
Over time, chargers tend to wear out. The cords get frayed, the plugs get bent, and the overall quality just deteriorates. If your charger is starting to show signs of wear, it might not be able to charge your phone as effectively as it used to.
This means that even if you plug your phone in for a full charge, it might only charge up partially. As a result, your battery life will suffer.
To fix this, simply buy a new charger. It’s an easy and relatively inexpensive fix that could potentially make a huge difference.
How to Improve Your Phone’s Battery Life
It seems like every other day, a new phone is released with a longer-lasting battery. So what’s the deal with our old phones? Why do they seem to struggle to hold a charge for more than a few hours?
To improve your phone’s battery life, there are several things you can do. Here are some tips:
1. Use Power Saving Mode
If your phone has a power saving mode, use it! This will help to extend your battery life by reducing your screen brightness, turning off unnecessary features, and more. It’s worth it!
2. Charge Your Phone Regularly
It’s important to charge your phone regularly, even if it’s not fully depleted. This will help to keep your battery healthy and extend its life. Phone batteries actually work well when they are partially charged.
3. Keep Your Phone Clean
This may go without saying, but if your phone is full of dust and dirt, it can affect the battery life. This is because particles get into the charging port, or other similar places, and cause the power source not to be as effective in charging to the phone to maximum capacity.
To clean your phone, use a soft cloth or brush to remove any debris from the charging port and other areas. For hard to reach areas, use a Q-tip, or forced air from a can, or a toothpick if you’re really in a pinch.
4. Update Your Apps Regularly
If you don’t update your apps regularly, they can start to drain your battery life. To fix this, go into the app store and update all of your apps to their latest versions.
5. Use Other Battery Saving Features
Many phones come with battery saving features that can help to extend your battery life. For example, as we mentioned, some phones have an auto-brightness feature that lowers the screen brightness when you don’t need it.
Or some phones allow you to put the Google search engine in Dark Mode on your phone browser to save your battery’s health.
6. Restart Your Phone Regularly
If your phone is having battery issues, giving your phone a reboot could possibly help. This can sometimes clear any background apps that might be draining your battery, de-bug any kinks in the operating system, and give your phone a fresh start.
To do so, simply hold down the power button until it turns off. Then wait a few minutes and hold it down again until the phone starts up.
7. Check for Software Updates
If there are any software updates available for your phone, install them. These updates can often improve battery life by fixing bugs and improving performance.
8. Get a New Battery
If you’ve tried all of the above tips and your battery life is still bad, you might need to put in a new battery. This is usually only necessary if your battery is old or damaged, but it is certainly a reasonable solution.
Frequently Asked Questions About Phone Batteries
Now that we’ve gone over some tips for improving your phone’s battery life, let’s answer some common questions about phone batteries.
What is a power bank?
A power bank is a portable charger that you can use to charge your phone when you’re on the go. They are great for long days out, or if you know you won’t have access to a power outlet for a while.
How do I know if my battery is damaged?
If your battery is having trouble holding a charge, or it drains very quickly, it might be damaged. Another sign of damage is if your phone gets very hot when you’re charging it. If you think your battery might be damaged, take it to a professional to have it checked out.
What is a battery case?
A battery case is a phone case that has an extra battery built in. This can give you some extra power to work with when your battery is running low.
Can I replace my own battery?
In some cases, you can replace your own battery. However, it’s generally best to leave this to a professional, as it can be difficult to do and you might end up damaging your phone if you’re not careful.
In Conclusion
There you go! Several things to try when your battery is not holding a charge.
There are several issues that can cause your phone’s battery life to decrease. However, there are also several ways you can try to improve it. By following the tips in this article, you can do all that’s in your power to extend your battery life and keep your phone running strong.
Do you have any other tips for improving battery life? Let us know in the comments below!