The battery life on your Android device is affected by many things – the number of applications that are open at any given time, how intensive the apps are, the RAM management on the device, and various settings such as display timeout. Among these, there are certain aspects over which you have no control since they are dependent on the hardware. However, you can still change many things, especially those pertaining to device usage, to improve the battery health of your Android device and make it last longer before you need to plug it into a charger.

Tip 1: Adjust screen brightness manually

On Android, the screen brightness is controlled automatically by the Auto Brightness feature, which senses the ambient light around the device and increases or reduces brightness accordingly. This feature is usually enabled by default and consumes a lot of power but, thankfully, you can turn it off and adjust the screen brightness manually.

  1. Open the Settings app and tap on 'Display'.
  2. Then tap on 'Brightness level' or any similar option.
  1. Now tap on the Automatic Brightness toggle and turn it off.
  2. Once it is disabled, you can manually adjust the screen brightness by pulling down the Quick Settings menu and dragging your finger left or right across the Brightness slider as required.
Note: When you do not have to look at the screen of your Android device continuously, consider lowering its brightness to increase its battery life. Additionally, you can switch to a darker wallpaper and screensaver to save more battery.

Tip 2: Reduce screen timeout

The screen timeout is the time the screen takes to turn off automatically when you are not using your device. If the timeout is more your device will use more battery, even if you are not actively using it. So, you can lower the timeout to reduce the battery consumption and improve the battery life of your Android phone.

  1. Open the Settings app and tap on Display or Lock Screen, depending on your device.
  2. Then tap on Screen Timeout, Sleep, or any similar setting.
  1. Change the option to a lower value, such as 15 seconds or 30 seconds. Now, your screen will turn off after a shorter period, helping save battery.

Tip 3: Disable Wi-Fi, GPS, and Bluetooth when not in use

When the GPS or location service is enabled on your device, it will constantly keep searching for and updating your location. This consumes a lot of power and results in battery drain. Similarly, when Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are turned on, your Android phone will keep searching for access points it can connect to. On most devices, you can turn off all these services from the Quick Settings panel.

  1. Swipe down from the top of the screen to access the Quick Settings panel and look for the service you want to turn off. If you cannot see it, swipe right to view more options.
  2. Tap on the toggle for the service you want to disable, such as WiFi, GPS, and Bluetooth. You can always enable them later when you need to use them.

Tip 4: Switch to Dark Mode

Switching to the Dark Mode can help the battery on your Android device last longer, especially if it has an AMOLED screen. Dark Mode changes all the elements on your screen to darker colors, which causes the device to use less power to show them on your screen. On top of that, AMOLED screens can turn off individual pixels, which means they do not need to turn on pixels to display black areas, thus saving even more power. So, if what you are looking at has more black or darker elements, enabling Dark Mode can help save the battery.

  1. Open the Settings app and tap on 'Display'.
  2. Then tap on the 'Dark Mode' toggle to turn it on.
Note: You can also set your device to automatically switch to Dark Mode based on the time of the day. Additionally, on many Android devices, the Dark Mode toggle is present in the Quick Settings panel, so you can quickly enable and disable it from there at any time.

Tip 5: Disable vibrations

Vibrations are another feature that can cause the battery on your Android device to drain faster. Vibrations in phones are created using the Eccentric Rotating Mass Vibration Motor, which requires considerable power. Turning vibrations off can help you improve the battery life of your device. While the exact steps for doing so can vary between devices from different manufacturers, the process is as follows:

  1. Open the Settings app on 'Sounds' or 'Sound and Vibration'.
  2. Look for the various 'Vibration' options, such as 'Vibrate for calls', and tap on their respective toggles to disable them.

Tip 6: Limit background apps

On Android, apps can keep running in the background while accessing your location and other data, resulting in battery drain. The reason is that users often do not completely close the apps but simply switch to a different app or the home screen. Fortunately, Android offers an easy way by which you can limit apps from running in the background and save your battery.

  1. Open the Settings app and tap on 'Apps'.
  2. Tap on the app you want to stop from running in the background.
  1. Then tap on 'Battery' or 'Battery saver' to view related options for the app.
  2. Finally, tap on 'Restricted' or 'Restrict background activity'.

Tip 7: Use airplane mode strategically

Airplane mode turns off all networks, including cellular networks, Wi-Fi, and mobile data. If you're in an area where your mobile networks and data coverage are weak, your phone will struggle to maintain the connection and use more battery. In such situations, turning on Airplane Mode can help you save battery. Similarly, when you plan to minimize phone usage, such as when you're driving or sleeping, you can activate this mode. You can turn on Airplane Mode from the Quick Settings menu at the top.

Tip 8: Enable Power Saving Mode

Android has a built-in battery-saving mode that turns on automatically when your battery is very low. However, you can manually activate it when you need to save your battery, such as when you cannot charge your device.

  1. Open the 'Settings' app and tap on 'Battery'.
  2. On the Battery page, tap on 'Battery Saver' or 'Battery Mode'.
  1. Select the Battery Saver mode among the available options.
Note: On some Android devices, you have an 'Ultra Battery Saver' or similar option, which disables all the features except the essential ones. You can turn it on when your battery is very low and you don't have access to a charger. Also, you may find the battery-saver option in your Quick Settings menu.

Tip 9: Turn off Google Assistant

Google Assistant and other digital assistants remain active all the time and are constantly listening for commands so they can bring you contextual results quickly. If you do not rely on such assistants, turning them off can greatly help your battery life.

  1. Open the Google app and tap on your profile picture on the top right.
  2. Then tap on 'Settings' in the pop-up menu.
  1. On the Google account Settings page, tap on 'Google Assistant'.
  2. Then tap on 'General' on the Google Assistant page.
  1. Finally, tap on the Google Assistant toggle to disable Google Assistant. You can also turn off other digital assistants from their settings pages.

Tip 10: Switch to Lite versions of apps

Progressive Web Apps or Lite apps usually have fewer features than the regular versions of apps and use fewer resources. This means that such apps use less power compared to the regular versions. Switching to Lite apps is another method by which you can extend the battery life of your Android.

Tip 11: Keep your apps and OS updated

Developers release app and OS updates that not only add new features but also keep the software well-optimized for better performance and battery management. Keeping your apps updated can help you get rid of bugs and outdated features that can cause battery drain and ensure your battery lasts longer. Similarly, if your device is eligible for an OS update, updating it when the newer Android version becomes available can help improve the battery life.

Tip 12: Avoid using the camera on low battery

If the battery on your Android phone is low, avoid using apps like the camera, especially if you don't have a charger nearby. The camera app uses a lot of power since it directly operates features like the flash, and can quickly drain the battery.

Tip 13: Turn off automatic syncing

If you're getting a lot of notifications you don't need, consider disabling automatic syncing for that app. You can do so by opening the app and going to the Settings page within. Besides reducing the notification spam on your phone, it will help save the battery and help it last longer. You can see all the new updates and notifications by opening the app.

Tip 14: Disable Nearby Device Scanning

Nearby Device Scanning is a feature present on Samsung phones and allows them to easily connect with other devices and peripherals, like earbuds and smart speakers. However, constantly scanning for other devices puts a strain on the battery, which is why you should disable this feature if you don't rely on it too much.

You can do so by going to Settings > Connections, and tapping on the toggle for 'Nearby Device Scanning' to turn it off.

Things to know

  • You can also turn your Android phone off once a week and let it remain off for at least a few hours. If you want, you can do so while going to bed at night and then turn on the phone in the morning. This will not only help improve the battery life but also reduce carbon emissions.
  • Turning off features like Active Edge, Active Listening, Smooth Display, and Motion Sense on smartphones like the Google Pixel can help you save battery. Also, make sure your device is kept away from high temperatures, as heat can wear down batteries quickly.
  • Keeping your Android plugged into the charger even after it is completely charged, such as leaving it overnight, can have an adverse effect on its battery. So, avoid doing so and instead keep it charged between 50% and 80%, which can keep the battery health in good condition for a longer period.
  • Avoid draining the battery of your Android device completely, as that can drastically reduce its battery health. So, make sure to plug your phone into a charger before the battery falls to 5%.