If your phone is using a lot of energy, or if it’s not using energy efficiently, the battery will drain faster. Here are some of the main factors that can cause it to drain fast.

Your screen is too bright

The brighter your screen, the more energy you’re using, according to a study from Purdue University.

Most phones have a feature that automatically adjusts your screen’s brightness to complement the lighting of your surroundings.

You don’t necessarily have to worry about reducing brightness while using your phone but think about reducing brightness when you’re not using it. One way to do this is to make the screen idle time as short as possible, which automatically shuts the screen off when you’re not actively using it.

Does dark mode use less battery?

Yes, using dark mode is generally more energy efficient. Dark mode is a feature some phones have where you can make the background of your interface darker colors. The study from Purdue University found that switching to dark mode when your screen is at 100% brightness can save up to almost 50% battery power.

You’re using data instead of Wi-Fi

Typically, Wi-Fi connections use less battery power than data connections, states The New York Times. Because constantly searching and switching connections between multiple towers typically uses more battery power. A weak Wi-Fi connection, however, could drain faster than it would if you had a strong connection, as it strains to remain connected to a weak signal.A weak Wi-Fi connection, however, could drain faster than it would if you had a strong connection, as it strains to remain connected to a weak signal.

Some phone settings allow apps to operate in the background, says The New York Times, so long as you’re connected to Wi-Fi or data, which would also contribute to a quicker draining battery.

You have poor reception

It takes energy for your phone to search for a signal, according to The New York Times, and it’s not necessarily going to stop searching on its own. Many underground, remote, and/or mountainous areas are prone to having poor reception, and it’s best to turn off your cellphone’s data while traveling through these areas to preserve battery life.

The phone is old or outdated

Modern smartphones that came out after 2017 have OLED (organic light-emitting diode) screens, which don’t have backlights like LCD (liquid crystal display) screens do. This allows the screen to draw less power when displaying darker colors, says Forbes.

Upgrading your phone to a modern model may be the simplest way to get the most battery-friendly features available.

Your phone is exposed to extreme temperatures

Extreme heat and cold can negatively affect how your battery operates, according to The New York Times. Specifically, it often makes it harder for the battery to hold a charge. Be mindful of keeping your phone warm when it’s below freezing and cool when it’s hot out.

You charged your phone too long

Reducing the amount of times you charge your phone to 100% can help prolong the life of your battery to a certain extent, says The New York Times.

And just as you might avoid overcharging, so do you want to stay away from letting your phone run completely low. Consumer Reports pegs 80% as the ideal charging limit for your battery. But it’s important to note that charging your battery will cause it to degrade over time.

Also important is where you charge your phone. As mentioned above, overheating can affect battery health and charging your phone under your pillow runs the risk of doing just that, says PCMag.

Always check for OS system updates

System updates can help your phone use battery energy more efficiently in many ways according to PCMag. For example, some modern operating systems have features that allow your phone to better limit background usage of programs, other updates let your phone control how much battery it uses while charging.

As technology continues to evolve, operating systems find ways to automatically make your phone’s energy usage more efficient, so it’s always good to make sure your operating system is up to date.