Battery draining fast after iOS 26? Here’s what to do

⚡ Fast fix

• Restart your iPhone to clear temporary background tasks. 
• Disable the Background App Refresh for non-essential apps. 
• Turn on Low Power Mode by tapping Settings > Battery > Power Mode. 
• Charge your phone overnight, so iOS can finish indexing your apps and data after an update.

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iOS® 26 adds all sorts of nifty features to your iPhone®, including the shimmery Liquid Glass and a custom emoji maker. But after you update to iOS 26, you may notice that your battery isn't lasting as long. Suddenly, you have to tote around a charger or cut back on TikTok so you don't run out of juice. 

Asurion Experts know how much you rely on your phone, and we can help you keep it working its best. Whether you're comparing iPhone 17 vs older iPhones or researching tech protection, we've got answers. Here's our quick guide to fixing iOS 26 battery drain issues. 

Understand why battery drain happens after iOS 26

It's normal for iOS 26 to temporarily increase power consumption. After you install an update, your phone re-optimizes the system and re-indexes all your apps and files. This behind-the-scenes tidying makes your phone work harder for a few days until everything gets put in the right place. 

New iOS features can also cause more background activity for a few days. For example, Liquid Glass updates all your widgets by adding animations and making them more translucent. Another recent addition is the "limit precise location" setting, which adjusts your privacy settings. 

The battery usage for your iPhone should stabilize after a few days. If it doesn't, a glitch or your iOS battery settings may be the culprit. 

Adjust settings to reduce ongoing battery drain

Experiencing iPhone battery drain after an update can be frustrating, especially if you're itching to try out those new features. Try these tips to fix iOS update battery problems. 

Turn off Background App Refresh 

As the name suggests, Background App Refresh keeps syncing data when you're not using apps. That's convenient for essential apps like iMessage® and your email, but you probably don't need it for random games. 

Here's how to disable background refresh in iOS: 

1. Open the Settings app and tap General. 
2. Turn off Background App Refresh. 

This may fix your iOS 26 beta battery-drain issues, especially if you have a large app collection. 

Adjust location services

If your phone keeps checking your location at random times, it can add to the iOS system's battery drain. Follow these steps to turn off location checks for apps that you don't use often: 

1. In the Settings app, tap Privacy & Security. 
2. Tap Location Services and choose non-essential apps from the list. 
3. Choose When I Share > Always While Using App. 

Disable visual effects 

iPhone 17 models and other iOS devices often feature fancy animations and other effects. These features are nice to look at, but they use more power than traditional backgrounds. Here's how to turn them off: 

1. In the Settings app, tap Accessibility > Motion. 
2. Turn on Reduce Motion. 
3. Switch on Reduce Transparency. 

While you can't disable Liquid Glass completely, these small tweaks could help improve your iOS 26 battery-draining issue. 

Tweak your display 

A brighter screen uses up the battery faster, especially if you leave your phone unlocked all the time. Add these simple adjustments to your iPhone battery optimization checklist: 

1. Tap Settings > Display & Brightness. 
2. Use the slider to decrease the brightness. 
3. Tap Auto-Lock and choose how long it takes your screen to automatically turn off and lock. 

While unlocking your screen might feel a bit tedious, this habit could help reduce battery drain for iPhone. 

When to take additional steps or contact support

Maybe you've tried all the steps in this iPhone battery troubleshooting guide, but you're still reaching for your charger more often. If these additional tips don't help, it may be time to reach out for support.

Wait 

If you recently installed iOS 26, consider waiting a few days to see if your battery usage goes back to normal. Sometimes, background activity temporarily increases energy consumption, or an update patch may fix the problem.

Check your iPhone's battery health

To give your battery a quick checkup, tap Settings > Battery > Battery Health. If the maximum capacity isn't close to 100%, consider replacing the battery.

Look for abnormal app behavior 

Is an app sneakily working in the background and sucking up power? Here's how to check: 

1. Open Settings and tap Battery. 
2. Skim the list of apps to see which ones use the most power. 
3. Tap All Battery Usage to see how much total power you've used in the last eight days. 

If an app stands out, updating or uninstalling it may fix iOS battery drain. 

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FAQ

What are "Liquid Glass" settings, and do they drain battery?

Yes. These new visual effects increase GPU load. To save power, go to Settings > Accessibility > Motion and turn on Reduce Motion. Read more about how to manage Liquid Glass settings.

Will a restart help my battery life?

Absolutely. A force restart clears glitched background processes from the update. Quickly press Volume Up, then Volume Down, and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears.

Is my battery permanently damaged?

Unlikely. If your Battery Health is above 80%, the drain is likely a software bug. Check for an iOS 26.1 update, which usually includes specific battery fixes.