How to Make Your Battery Last Longer - Tips & Tricks

Does your battery die before noon and you spend all day hunting for outlets? You're not alone: 73% of smartphone users need to charge their phone more than once daily.

The problem isn't just the inconvenience. It's missing that crucial photo, getting stuck without GPS in traffic, or worse: not being able to pay with your banking app when you're out of cash. Battery life has become the Achilles' heel of our devices.

The good news? You can make your battery last up to 50% longer with simple changes you can implement right now. You don't need to be a tech expert or buy expensive accessories. These are practical adjustments based on how lithium-ion batteries actually work.

In this definitive guide, you'll discover the 15 most effective techniques to extend phone and laptop battery life, avoid premature replacements, and never get caught with a dead battery again.

Table of Contents

• Why Your Battery Dies So Fast
• The Golden 20-80 Rule: The Secret to Longevity
• Settings That Are Killing Your Battery Right Now
• Battery Saver Mode: How to Use It Correctly
• Android Phone Tips
• iPhone-Specific Tips
• How to Make Laptop Battery Last Longer
• Dangerous Battery Myths
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Conclusion

Why Your Battery Dies So Fast (And How to Fix It)

Your battery isn't faulty. What's happening is a combination of factors silently working against you. Understanding these culprits is the first step to taking control.

Lithium-ion batteries, used in 99% of modern devices, work through chemical reactions. Each time you charge and discharge, a small amount of capacity is permanently lost. This is inevitable, but can be drastically accelerated or slowed depending on your habits.

The 5 Biggest Battery Killers

There are five main factors that drain your battery faster than they should:

Maximum screen brightness: The screen consumes between 30% and 50% of all battery power. Keeping it always at maximum brightness is like driving a car with the pedal to the floor. It works, but wastes fuel unnecessarily.

Unnecessary active connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, mobile data, GPS, and NFC function like little energy vampires. Even when you're not using them, they keep searching for connections, consuming power constantly.

Background apps: Social media, messaging apps, and streaming services keep running even when you close them. They update content, download data, and process notifications constantly. A single poorly optimized app can consume 20% of daily battery.

Improper temperature: Heat is battery enemy number one. Above 95°F (35°C), internal chemical reactions accelerate permanent degradation. Leaving your phone in a hot car can shave months off battery lifespan.

Extreme charge cycles: Letting the battery completely drain or keeping it always at 100% forces the electrodes to work at maximum limits, accelerating internal chemical wear.

How to Identify Apps Stealing Power

Your smartphone has native tools to identify the culprits. On Android, go to Settings > Battery > Battery usage. On iPhone, access Settings > Battery and scroll down to see consumption by app.

Look for apps consuming more than 10% of battery, especially those you barely use. Social media apps, browsers, and games typically lead this list. Instagram and Facebook are notorious for running in the background.

If an app is consuming excessive battery, you have three options: uninstall it, restrict its background access, or replace it with a lighter version. Many popular apps have "Lite" versions that consume up to 70% less power.

For those who can't give up certain apps, check out our tech accessories guide which includes modern power banks as a backup solution.

The Golden 20-80 Rule: The Secret to Longevity

There's a simple technique that can double your battery's lifespan. Battery experts and manufacturers like Apple and Samsung unanimously recommend: keep charge between 20% and 80%.

Sounds counterintuitive, right? After all, who doesn't love seeing that 100% on the battery icon? But there's solid science behind this practice.

Why Extremes Are Harmful

Lithium-ion batteries work by moving ions between two electrodes. When you charge to 100%, you force one electrode to maximum capacity. When you discharge to 0%, you force the other electrode to its limit. These extremes cause mechanical and chemical stress that permanently degrades storage capacity.

Keeping the battery in the 20-80% range is like working in a comfort zone. The electrodes operate at intermediate levels, chemical reactions are more stable, and wear is minimized.

Studies show that batteries maintained in this range can complete up to 1,500 cycles before losing 20% capacity, compared to only 500 cycles when regularly charged from 0 to 100%.

How to Apply the 20-80 Rule Daily

Putting this into practice is simpler than it seems:

Set up custom alerts: Use apps like AccuBattery (Android) or activate native system warnings. Set an alert at 80% to unplug and another at 20% to plug in.

Charge in short sessions: You don't need to charge all at once. Charging 30 minutes in the morning and 30 minutes in the afternoon is better than one complete overnight charge.

Use native protection modes: iPhone 15 and newer have the option to limit charging at 80% in Settings > Battery > Charging. Samsung Galaxy offers "Battery Protection" mode that does the same in Settings > Device care > Battery.

Plan strategic recharges: Before leaving home, charge to 80%. During work, if it drops to 40%, give it a quick boost to 60%. At day's end, charge again to 80%.

Going on a long trip or need to use your phone all day without outlet access? It's okay to charge to 100% occasionally. The important thing is making the 20-80 rule your default habit, not the exception.

Settings That Are Killing Your Battery Right Now

There are factory-enabled settings on your smartphone that drain battery without you noticing. Many came turned on to offer the "best experience," but you can disable them and recover hours of battery life.

Auto Brightness: Friend or Foe?

Auto brightness is useful but not always efficient. In environments with many light variations, the sensor constantly adjusts the screen, consuming processing power and energy.

The solution: Keep auto brightness enabled but reduce the base level. On Android, go to Settings > Display > Brightness level and adjust the slider to about 40-50%. On iPhone, in Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size, you can reduce maximum brightness.

Indoors, 30-40% brightness is more than enough. Outdoors, let auto mode do the work.

Refresh Rate: Is 120Hz Worth It?

Modern smartphones come with 90Hz or 120Hz screens, making navigation smoother. But that smoothness has a price: up to 20% more battery consumption compared to 60Hz screens.

If your device allows it, configure to adaptive mode. Most models can automatically switch between 60Hz and 120Hz depending on what you're doing. You keep the fluidity in games and videos but save power browsing text.

On Android, go to Settings > Display > Refresh rate and choose "Adaptive" or "Standard (60Hz)". On iPhone, access Settings > Accessibility > Motion > Limit Frame Rate.

Connectivity: Turn Off What You're Not Using

Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, mobile data, NFC, and GPS are extremely convenient but don't need to be always active.

Bluetooth: Consumes about 5-8% of daily battery even with nothing connected, as it constantly searches for devices. Activate only when using headphones, smartwatch, or transferring files.

Wi-Fi and Mobile Data: If using Wi-Fi, disable mobile data. If in a location without reliable Wi-Fi, disable automatic search. On Android, turn off "Wi-Fi scanning" in Settings > Location > Location services > Wi-Fi scanning.

High-accuracy GPS: Apps like Instagram, Facebook, and Uber request constant location access. Configure to "Only while using app" instead of "Always". This can save up to 15% of daily battery.

NFC: Unless you use contactless payments daily, keep it off. Activate only when needed.

Feature	Estimated Usage	When to Disable
Bluetooth	5-8% per day	When not using headphones/smartwatch
High-accuracy GPS	10-15% per day	Background apps
5G Active	15-20% per day	Areas without 5G coverage
Wi-Fi Scanning	3-5% per day	When at home/work
NFC	2-3% per day	When not making payments

Notifications: The Silent Killer

Each notification that lights up the screen consumes energy. Getting dozens or hundreds per day? Do a radical cleanup.

Go to Settings > Notifications (Android) or Settings > Notifications (iPhone) and be ruthless. Keep only notifications from essential apps: messages, calls, calendar, and alarms. Everything else? Disable it.

Social media doesn't need to notify you for every like. Emails can wait for you to check manually. This simple change can save 10-15% of daily battery and also reduces distractions.

If you work in an organized home office, consider investing in accessories that optimize your productivity while preserving your devices' energy.

Battery Saver Mode: How to Use It Correctly for Extra Hours

Battery saver mode is your secret weapon when battery is low. But many people don't know you can and should use it preventively, not just in emergencies.

What Battery Saver Really Does

When activated, battery saver implements several simultaneous optimizations:

Reduces processor performance: The CPU runs at lower frequencies, reducing consumption but keeping basic functionality perfectly usable. You won't notice a difference browsing the web or using social media.

Limits background apps: Automatic syncing, content updates, and data processing stop. Apps only work when you open them.

Reduces visual effects: Animations, transitions, and graphic effects are reduced or disabled, saving graphics processing.

Lowers brightness and disables features: Brightness automatically drops, vibration is disabled, and features like AirDrop (iPhone) or Nearby Share (Android) stop working.

The result? You can gain 30% to 50% more usage time depending on your profile.

When to Activate Battery Saver

Most people only activate when battery is at 10-20%. Wrong! Use it strategically:

During long commutes: Going to work on public transit? Activate battery saver first thing in the morning. You'll arrive with much more battery for the day.

At events or trips: Concerts, festivals, plane trips. Situations where recharging is difficult or impossible. Activate preventively and enjoy the whole day.

When you don't need maximum performance: Just answering messages and browsing? Battery saver won't interfere at all and will double your battery life.

Scheduled automatically: Configure it to activate whenever battery reaches 30%. On Android, go to Settings > Battery > Battery saver. On iPhone, in Settings > Battery > Low Power Mode, you can add a shortcut in Control Center for quick activation.

Adaptive Battery: The Smart Technology

Both Android and iPhone have features that learn your usage patterns and automatically optimize power consumption.

On Android: Adaptive Battery uses AI to identify which apps you use most and at what times. Rarely used apps enter deep sleep automatically. Activate in Settings > Battery > Adaptive Battery.

On iPhone: Optimized Battery Charging learns when you usually charge and delays final charging to 100% until close to when you wake up. This keeps the battery at 80% during the night, preserving its lifespan. Activate in Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging.

These technologies work silently in the background and can easily add 1-2 extra hours of daily battery life.

Android Phone Tips: Specific Settings That Make a Difference

Android offers granular controls over practically everything. This means more power in your hands to optimize battery, but also more settings to adjust.

Dark Mode: Real Savings on OLED/AMOLED Screens

If your phone has an OLED or AMOLED screen (Samsung, Xiaomi, OnePlus, modern Motorola), dark mode truly saves up to 30% power. This is because black pixels on OLED screens are completely off, consuming no energy.

Activate in Settings > Display > Dark theme or Dark mode. Also configure it to activate automatically at sunset.

Important: On LCD screens (more basic models), dark mode has minimal benefit since backlight remains on.

Deep App Sleep

Modern Android has three sleep levels:

Never-sleeping apps: Continue running freely in the background. Reserve only for essential apps like WhatsApp, Phone, and Alarm.

Sleeping apps: Work normally when opened but stop in the background. Most apps should be here.

Deep sleeping apps: Are completely frozen and only wake when you manually open them. Perfect for rarely-used apps.

Configure in Settings > Battery > Background usage limits. Manually add rarely-used apps to deep sleep and see the difference.

Disable Unnecessary Google Services

Google services are useful but some drain battery unnecessarily:

Scanning and diagnostics: Constantly searches for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth networks to improve location. Disable in Settings > Location > Location services > Wi-Fi and Bluetooth scanning.

Location History: Google Maps records everywhere you go. If you don't use this history, disable in Google Settings > Personal data > Location settings > Location History.

Discover Feed: The Google news feed on the home screen consumes data and battery updating. If you don't use it, disable it in home screen settings.

Optimize Screen Timeout

How long does your screen stay on after you stop using it? Many phones come configured for 1 minute, which is excessive.

Reduce to 15 or 30 seconds in Settings > Display > Screen timeout. Seems short, but over a day with dozens of checks, you easily save 5-10% battery.

For those who work with technology daily, auxiliary equipment makes a difference. Check out our laptop guide for students and consider high-capacity power banks to never get caught short.

iPhone-Specific Tips: iOS Optimizations Few People Know

iPhone has a reputation for good battery management, but few users explore all available settings. Here are the secrets.

Disable Background App Refresh Selectively

By default, iPhone apps continue updating content even when closed. Instagram downloads new posts, emails arrive automatically, maps update traffic. All this consumes battery.

Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh and be strategic. Keep enabled only for apps that truly need real-time updates: messages, work email, calendar.

Disable for social media, games, news apps, and anything that doesn't require instant updating. This change alone can save 10-15% daily battery.

Advanced Low Power Mode

iPhone's Low Power Mode is more aggressive than many think. It:

• Reduces processor speed
• Turns off automatic downloads
• Pauses iCloud Photos
• Disables visual effects and animations
• Reduces email fetching

Activate in Settings > Battery > Low Power Mode. Add a shortcut in Control Center for quick access: Settings > Control Center and add "Low Power Mode".

For advanced users: you can create automations in Shortcuts to activate power saving automatically at specific times or when leaving home.

Limit Optimized Charging (iPhone 15+)

Newer models have a revolutionary feature: Charging Limit. You can configure iPhone to never charge beyond 80%.

Activate in Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging > Optimized Charging and choose 80% limit.

This is especially useful if you usually charge iPhone overnight and always wake up with 100%. With this setting, it stops at 80% and only charges to 100% close to when you wake (if you activate Optimized Charging together).

Location Services: The Hidden Villain

iPhone GPS is extremely accurate, but this accuracy has an energy cost. Many apps request "Always" location when they actually only need "While Using App".

Go to Settings > Privacy > Location and review ALL apps. Change from "Always" to "While Using App" in apps like:

• Social media (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter)
• Shopping apps (Amazon, Walmart, Target)
• Games
• Weather apps (they don't need to know your location every hour)

Keep "Always" only for critical apps like Find My iPhone and mobility apps you actively use.

Reduce Email Fetch

The Mail app checks for new emails constantly. Change from "Push" (checks instantly) to "Fetch" (checks at intervals) or "Manual" (only checks when you open the app).

Go to Settings > Mail > Accounts > Fetch New Data and choose "Manual" or configure an interval of 30 minutes or 1 hour. Non-urgent emails can wait.

If you're already researching device optimization, also check out our guide on quality chargers and invest in certified chargers that protect battery health.

How to Make Laptop Battery Last Longer: Advanced Techniques

Laptop batteries follow similar principles to phones but with some important particularities. Laptops have larger batteries, more charge cycles, and suffer more from temperature.

Never Leave Always Plugged In

There's a myth that laptops should always stay plugged in. This is partially true but with important caveats.

The problem: Keeping a laptop always at 100% charge accelerates chemical battery degradation. Lithium batteries suffer more stress when kept constantly full or completely empty.

The solution: Use the laptop unplugged regularly. Let battery drop to 40-50% at least once a week. This recalibrates the system and keeps cells active.

If your laptop has the option (Dell, Lenovo, ASUS modern), configure a charge limit at 80% in power settings. This allows plugged-in use without keeping battery constantly at 100%.

High Performance Mode vs Economy

Windows laptops have power profiles that drastically affect battery life:

High Performance: Processor always at maximum frequency, brighter screen, more active fan. Use only for heavy tasks like video editing, gaming, or rendering.

Balanced: Automatically adjusts performance as needed. Perfect for daily use.

Power Saver: Reduces performance, limits brightness, and disables unnecessary processes. Use when on battery and want to maximize battery life.

Configure in Settings > System > Power & Battery > Power Mode. Create quick shortcuts to switch as needed.

Temperature: The Silent Battery Killer

Laptops naturally heat up during use, especially thin models or during heavy tasks. But excessive heat dramatically accelerates battery degradation.

Signs of overheating: Laptop is hot to touch on the bottom, fans are constantly loud, performance suddenly drops.

How to fix:

• Always use on rigid, flat surfaces. Never on bed, couch, or over blankets
• Consider a stand with ventilation or external cooler
• Clean air intakes regularly (dust blocks ventilation)
• Avoid using under direct sunlight or in very hot environments
• During heavy tasks, use plugged in and with high-performance mode

The ideal temperature for lithium batteries is between 61-72°F (16-22°C). Above 95°F (35°C), degradation accelerates exponentially.

Windows 11 Settings to Save Battery

Windows 11 brought several improvements for power management:

Automatic Battery Saver: Configure to activate automatically when battery drops below 30%. Go to Settings > System > Power & Battery > Battery Saver.

Limit background apps: Identify apps consuming power unnecessarily in Settings > System > Power & Battery > Battery usage and restrict them.

Efficiency mode in Edge/Chrome: Modern browsers have modes that reduce consumption. In Edge, activate in Settings > System > Optimize performance. In Chrome, activate Energy Saver Mode in settings.

Reduce screen refresh rate: Gaming laptops with 144Hz or 240Hz screens can switch to 60Hz when on battery. Configure this in Windows display properties.

If you work with multiple devices, organization is essential. Check out cable organization solutions and consider complete home office kits that include power management accessories.

Dangerous Battery Myths You Need to Forget

The internet is full of "tips" that actually harm your battery. Let's debunk the most common myths based on science and official manufacturer recommendations.

Myth 1: "I Need to Drain the Battery Before Charging"

False and harmful. This was true for nickel-cadmium batteries from the '90s, which had "memory effect". Modern lithium-ion batteries work opposite: deep 0-100% cycles accelerate degradation.

Letting battery regularly drain forces extreme chemical reactions in electrodes, causing permanent wear. It's exactly what you should NOT do.

The correct approach: Charge whenever convenient, keeping in the 20-80% range most of the time.

Myth 2: "Closing Background Apps Saves Battery"

False in most cases. When you "close" an app on Android or iPhone, the operating system actually puts it in suspended state. It stays in RAM but doesn't consume processing or significant battery.

When you force close and then reopen, the system needs to reload everything from scratch: interface, data, previous state. This consumes more energy than simply keeping the app suspended.

Exceptions: Poorly optimized apps or apps with bugs that continue running even in background. These you can close, but they're specific cases, not the rule.

Myth 3: "Charging Overnight Ruins the Battery"

Partially false. Modern smartphones have overcharge protection. When they hit 100%, they stop charging and use power directly from the outlet.

The problem isn't "ruining" but keeping battery at 100% for 8 hours accelerates wear over months and years. Is it better than completely draining? Yes. Is it ideal? No.

Better solution: Use Optimized Charging (iPhone) or Battery Protection (Android) features that limit charging at 80% during most of the night.

Myth 4: "Only Use Original Chargers"

Partially true. What matters isn't being "original" but being quality and certified. Counterfeit or very cheap chargers can have poor protection circuits that:

• Provide unstable voltage
• Generate excessive heat
• Don't turn off when charging completes
• Can even damage device or cause fires

Use original chargers or trusted brands (Anker, Baseus, Samsung, Apple). Verify they have proper certification (UL, FCC in the US).

Myth 5: "Leaving Phone on Charger After 100% Breaks It"

False for occasional charges, true for constant habit. Leaving it once in a while won't destroy your battery. But making this a daily habit for months/years will reduce lifespan.

Battery suffers "rest stress" when kept constantly at high charge, especially if heat is involved (charging under a pillow, for example).

Ideally, unplug when reaching 80-90% or use smart charging features of the system.

Myth 6: "Fast Charging Doesn't Harm"

False long-term. Fast charging (30W, 65W, 100W+) is convenient but generates more heat and battery stress. This accelerates degradation over 2-3 years.

You don't need to stop using it completely, but alternate: use fast charging when in a hurry and normal charging (5-10W) when you have time, especially overnight.

To maximally extend battery lifespan, prefer slow charging 70% of the time.

For quality chargers that protect battery, check our complete charger guide and invest in certified chargers from trusted brands.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you still have questions about how to better take care of your battery, here are clear and direct answers to the most common ones:

Does leaving your phone plugged in all night damage the battery?

Not necessarily. Modern smartphones have overcharge protection and stop charging once they reach 100%. However, keeping the device between 20% and 80% helps extend battery lifespan in the long run, as it reduces chemical stress on the components.

What is the best time to charge your phone?

Ideally, you should start charging when the battery reaches around 20% and unplug it at about 80%. This practice, known as the 20–80 rule, reduces battery wear and can extend its lifespan by up to 2 years compared to extreme use from 0 to 100%.

Does power-saving mode really work?

Yes, and quite significantly. Power-saving mode reduces processor performance, lowers screen brightness, limits background apps, and disables features such as automatic syncing. This can save between 30% and 50% of daily battery usage under moderate use.

Does closing background apps save battery?

Actually, no. Force-closing apps can consume more battery, because the system has to reload everything from scratch the next time you open them. Android and iOS manage background apps efficiently on their own.

How long does a smartphone battery last?

A well-maintained battery retains about 80% of its original capacity after 500 full charge cycles, which corresponds to roughly 2 to 3 years of normal use. With the proper care described in this article, it’s possible to extend that lifespan.

Does temperature affect smartphone batteries?

Yes—significantly. Heat above 35°C accelerates chemical degradation and can cause permanent damage. Extreme cold below 0°C also temporarily reduces performance. Whenever possible, keep your device between 16°C and 22°C.

Does fast charging damage the battery?

In the long term, yes. Fast charging generates more heat and stress on the battery, accelerating degradation. Use it only when necessary and prefer standard charging for everyday use, especially overnight.

Conclusion

Making your battery last longer isn’t a mystery and doesn’t require extreme sacrifices. Small habit changes, when combined, can deliver impressive results. Following the 20–80 rule, disabling unnecessary connections, and using power-saving mode strategically can easily double your daily battery life.

Remember: a well-cared-for battery lasts for years with good capacity. By following these 15 tips, you’ll not only get through the entire day without needing a charger, but you’ll also avoid premature battery replacements that can cost hundreds of reais.

Start today by applying 2–3 of these techniques and gradually incorporate the others. Within a week, you’ll already notice the difference. Your battery will thank you—and you’ll never be caught off guard at that critical moment again.