Low Power Mode works by temporarily disabling or limiting non-essential features to reduce energy use. When activated, the battery icon in the status bar turns yellow, signaling that your device is prioritizing power efficiency. According to Apple Support, key changes include:
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Reduced Display Brightness: The screen dims to save power, and auto-brightness is enabled to adjust to ambient light.
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Limited 5G Connectivity: On iPhone 12 and 13 models, 5G is turned off except for video streaming and large downloads, reverting to 4G to conserve energy.
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Paused Background Activity: Features like background app refresh, automatic downloads, and iCloud photo backups are disabled.
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Slower Performance: The CPU and GPU are throttled by up to 40%, which may slow app performance but extends battery life.
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Disabled Visual Effects: Animations, motion effects, and animated wallpapers are minimized or turned off.
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Restricted Features: “Hey Siri,” email fetch, AirDrop, and Continuity features are paused to reduce power draw.
These adjustments ensure that core functions—making calls, sending messages, and browsing the internet—remain available, while power-hungry tasks take a backseat. Low Power Mode automatically turns off when the battery reaches 80% charge, but users can re-enable it manually if needed.
How to Enable Low Power Mode
There are several ways to activate Low Power Mode on your iPhone or iPad, making it easy to access when your battery dips or when you want to proactively conserve power. Your device will prompt you to enable Low Power Mode when the battery hits 20% and again at 10%, but you can turn it on at any time. Here are the primary methods:
Through Settings
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Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
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Scroll to Battery.
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Toggle the Low Power Mode switch to the green “on” position. The battery icon will turn yellow to confirm activation.
Via Control Center
For quicker access, add Low Power Mode to your Control Center:
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Go to Settings > Control Center.
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Under “More Controls,” tap the green + icon next to Low Power Mode to add it to the “Included Controls” section.
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Swipe down from the top-right corner (or up from the bottom on older models) to open Control Center.
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Tap the battery icon to toggle Low Power Mode on or off. The icon will highlight when active.
Using Siri
Simply say, “Hey Siri, turn on Low Power Mode,” and Siri will activate it instantly. To turn it off, say, “Hey Siri, turn off Low Power Mode.”
Automating Low Power Mode
For users who want Low Power Mode to activate automatically at a specific battery level, the Shortcuts app offers a solution:
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Open the Shortcuts app (pre-installed or available from the App Store).
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Tap Automation at the bottom, then tap the + icon or New Automation.
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Select Battery Level, choose Falls Below, and adjust the slider to your desired percentage (e.g., 50%).
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Tap Next, then search for and select Set Low Power Mode.
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Choose Turn and select On, then toggle off Ask Before Running for seamless automation.
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Tap Done. Your iPhone will now enter Low Power Mode automatically at the chosen threshold.
This automation is particularly useful for older iPhones, where battery health may degrade over time, causing faster drainage. However, Low Power Mode cannot be permanently enabled, as it automatically disables at 80% charge.
Why It Matters
Low Power Mode is a game-changer for users who rely on their devices throughout the day. For example, if you’re traveling without access to a charger or using an older iPhone with reduced battery capacity, enabling Low Power Mode can add hours of usability. Tests cited by How-To Geek suggest it can reduce battery usage by 33% to 47%, depending on your device and usage patterns. This makes it ideal for emergencies, long commutes, or situations like hiking, where staying connected is critical.
However, there are trade-offs. Disabling features like background app refresh may delay notifications, and reduced performance can make apps feel less responsive. Tech journalist Stan Schroeder from Mashable notes that while Low Power Mode is effective, keeping it on constantly may be inconvenient due to limited functionality, such as slower iCloud uploads or restricted 5G access. For users with aging devices, Apple recommends checking battery health in Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging to see if a replacement is needed, which could provide a more permanent solution to battery issues.
Additional Battery-Saving Tips
To complement Low Power Mode, consider these strategies to further extend battery life:
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Enable Auto-Brightness: Go to Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size and turn on Auto-Brightness to adjust screen brightness based on lighting conditions.
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Shorten Auto-Lock Time: In Settings > Display & Brightness > Auto-Lock, set the screen to lock after 30 seconds of inactivity.
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Disable Background App Refresh: Navigate to Settings > General > Background App Refresh and turn it off for non-essential apps.
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Use Wi-Fi Over Cellular: Wi-Fi consumes less power than cellular data, so connect to a network when possible via Settings > Wi-Fi.
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Turn On Airplane Mode in Low-Signal Areas: In Control Center, tap the airplane icon to disable cellular searching, which drains battery in weak coverage areas.
Why It’s Not a Permanent Fix
While Low Power Mode is effective, experts like Chris Hoffman from How-To Geek caution against using it constantly, as it limits features that enhance the iPhone experience, such as fast 5G connectivity and real-time app updates. For users with persistent battery issues, checking battery health or considering a battery replacement (available at a reasonable cost through Apple) may be more practical. Additionally, tools like CleanMy®Phone can help declutter photo galleries to reduce background processing, further easing battery strain.
Availability and Compatibility
Low Power Mode is available on all iPhones and iPads running iOS 9 or later, ensuring broad accessibility. For Apple Watch users, a similar feature exists in watchOS 9, accessible via Settings > Battery or Control Center, extending battery life up to 36 hours on newer models like the Series 8.
