Fix Fast Battery Drain on iPhone After iOS 18 Update

After updating to iOS 18, some iPhone users notice faster battery drain — especially during the first few days. This is normal while the system reindexes files and updates background processes. However, if the issue persists, follow these steps to restore normal battery life.

Step 1: Check Battery Usage by App

Go to Settings > Battery and review which apps consume the most power. Tap each app name to see if it’s running frequently in the background. If an app shows high usage but you rarely use it, disable its background activity.

Step 2: Turn Off Background App Refresh

Navigate to Settings > General > Background App Refresh and choose Off or Wi-Fi only. This prevents apps from constantly updating while you’re not using them.

Step 3: Recalibrate Battery Health

Fully charge your iPhone to 100%, then let it drain to 0% until it shuts down. Recharge it back to 100% without interruption. This helps iOS recalibrate its battery statistics for more accurate health reporting.

Step 4: Re-enable Optimized Battery Charging

Head to Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging and make sure Optimized Battery Charging is ON. This feature delays charging past 80% until just before you typically unplug your phone. Learn more in our related guide: Optimize Battery Charging on iOS 18 Automatically.

Step 5: Update All Apps

Outdated apps can misbehave with new iOS versions. Open App Store > Account > Update All to ensure every app is optimized for iOS 18’s energy management system.

Step 6: Reset System Settings (Optional)

If you still experience excessive drain, go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset All Settings. This doesn’t delete your data but restores power-related configurations that may have become corrupted after the update.

For advanced power-saving strategies, visit Battery & Power Management.

To boost overall performance and background efficiency, explore Performance & System Optimization.

OnePlus Tip

After a major iOS update, give your device 48 hours to stabilize. Avoid using your phone while charging and disable Always-On Display if supported. For the best results, enable Low Power Mode under Settings > Battery when you’re below 20% — this can extend runtime by up to 25% on iOS 18 devices.

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