That low battery warning always appears at the worst time. Often, it’s not just heavy usage but sneaky apps silently draining your Android battery in the background.
Apps can drain the battery even when not in use by running background processes like syncing or location tracking. These silent battery killers are hard to spot.
This guide will teach you three effective methods to stop apps from draining your Android battery, all with just a few simple steps.
Understanding Android Battery Usage
How Android Manages Battery:
Android efficiently manages battery life using a combination of power-saving features and smart system controls. It leverages Doze mode to minimize background activity when the device is idle, conserving battery.Additionally, Android adjusts power usage by prioritizing essential system functions and dynamically managing CPU and GPU performance. This ensures that apps only use as much power as needed, helping to extend overall battery life.
Factors Contributing to Battery Drain:
Active Usage: High screen brightness, gaming, and video playback consume significant battery power.
Background Processes: Continuous data syncing, location services, and push notifications to drain the battery even when apps aren’t actively in use.
Resource-Intensive Apps: Apps like video editors and games demand substantial power.
Poorly Optimized Apps: Apps with inefficient code can drain the battery by running unnecessary processes.
Why Some Apps Drain More Battery:
Certain apps consume more power because they continuously run in the background, syncing data or using location services. These background apps Android often use more power without user interaction.Apps with high graphical demands or constant internet usage, such as social media or streaming platforms, can lead to excessive battery consumption. The more complex the app, the higher the chance of battery-draining apps on Android.
The First Line of Defense: Identifying the Culprits
Using Android's Built-in Battery Monitor:
Step-by-Step Guide:
Open the Settings app on your Android phone.
Tap on Battery (or Battery and Device Care, Power and Battery, etc., depending on your device).
Select Battery usage or App power usage.
Review the list of apps and their percentage of battery consumption.
Interpreting the Data:
When you check battery usage, look for apps that are consuming more power than expected. Apps that use significant battery may have issues or require manual adjustments. Pay attention to apps that consistently drain the battery even without active use.Focus on Background Usage:
Apps running in the background often consume more battery without you knowing. Look for apps with high background activity—these can be email, messaging, or social media apps constantly syncing data. Reducing background activity can significantly help in conserving battery life.Using Third-Party Battery Monitoring Apps:
For more detailed insights into battery usage, consider using reputable apps like AccuBattery. These apps provide a deeper look into how your battery performs over time and which apps are draining the most energy.However, keep in mind that some third-party monitoring apps can consume batteries themselves. Be cautious about installing too many, as they may contribute to the issue they are meant to solve.
Method 1: Force Stopping Battery Draining Apps (The Quick Fix)
When to Use Force Stop:
Force stopping is a quick fix to immediately stop an app from running and consuming a battery. It’s useful when an app is draining too much power in the background and needs to be halted quickly.However, force stopping is only temporary. The app may restart automatically or resume its background activity when you open it again or after a period of time. It’s a quick solution but not a permanent one.
Step-by-Step Guide:
Open the Settings app on your Android phone.
Tap on Apps (or Apps & notifications).
Select See all apps.
Find and tap on the app you want to stop (Clash Of Clans).
Tap Force stop.
Confirm the action "OK" if prompted.
Limitations of Force Stop
Force-stopping an app does not guarantee it won’t restart. The app may begin running again once you access it or after a system reboot. This makes it a temporary fix rather than a long-term solution for stopping background apps on Android.If you need a permanent solution, consider adjusting app settings or using battery-saving modes to limit background activity.
Method 2: Restricting Background App Data (Long-Term Savings)
Understanding App Permissions:
App permissions are essential for apps to access certain features of your phone, such as location, camera, and microphone. By granting permissions, apps can interact with these features, enabling their core functionality.However, not all permissions are necessary for an app’s basic operation. Some apps request more permissions than needed, which can lead to unnecessary battery usage. Carefully managing these permissions can help optimize your device's performance.
Reviewing and Revoking Unnecessary Permissions:
Step-by-Step Guide:
Open the Settings app on your Android phone.
Tap on Apps (or Apps & notifications).
Select Permission Manager.
Review permissions by category (e.g., Location, Camera) or by individual app.
For each app, adjust permissions to "Only while using the app" or "Deny" if the permission seems unnecessary.
Impact on Battery Life:
Limiting access to certain resources, such as location services, can greatly reduce battery drain. When apps continuously track your location in the background, they consume significant battery power.By restricting apps to only access location or other features when you're actively using them, you can prevent excessive battery drain. This small adjustment can make a noticeable difference in your phone's overall energy efficiency.
Method 3: Utilizing Battery Saver and Adaptive Battery (Android's Built-in Tools)
Understanding Battery Saver Mode
Battery Saver mode on Android reduces background activity and limits performance to extend battery life. It also lowers screen brightness and turns off non-essential features, allowing the phone to use less power.This mode is useful during low battery situations, ensuring that your device lasts longer. However, while it preserves battery life, it may impact the overall performance and reduce certain functionalities.
Enabling and Configuring Battery Saver:
Step-by-Step Guide:
Open the Settings app on your Android phone.
Tap on Battery (or Battery and Device Care, Power and Battery, etc.).
Select Power Saving (Battery Saver) and toggle it On.
Explore options like setting a schedule or enabling Maximum Battery Saver for more aggressive power conservation.
Understanding Adaptive Battery
Adaptive Battery is an intelligent feature that learns your usage patterns over time. It limits battery usage for apps you don’t use often, ensuring your phone’s battery is prioritized for frequently used apps.This feature helps optimize battery life by dynamically adjusting the power given to each app based on how often you use it. It ensures that apps running in the background don’t waste battery unnecessarily.
Ensuring Adaptive Battery is Enabled:
To check and enable Adaptive Battery:
Open the Settings app on your Android phone.
Tap on Battery.
Select Adaptive Battery and toggle it On if it’s not already enabled.
Bonus Tips for Extended Battery Life
Lower Screen Brightness and Timeout: Reducing screen brightness and setting a shorter timeout helps conserve battery by minimizing energy use.
Disable Unnecessary Connectivity (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS): Turn off Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS when not in use to prevent background battery drain.
Keep Your Software Updated: Regular updates often include important battery optimizations that improve performance and energy efficiency.
Uninstall Unused Apps: Removing apps you no longer need reduces background activity, preventing unnecessary battery usage.
Use Dark Mode: Dark Mode on OLED screens can save battery by using less power to display darker pixels.
Avoid Live Wallpapers and Widgets: Live wallpapers and widgets consume system resources and contribute to faster battery drain.
Conclusion
To stop battery-draining apps, start by using Android's built-in battery monitor to identify power-hungry apps. Utilize Force Stop, Optimize Permissions, and Battery Saver Mode for immediate improvements.
Regularly monitor your battery usage through built-in tools like Adaptive Battery and third-party apps. Stay proactive by adjusting settings like background activity and connectivity to avoid unnecessary power consumption.
By implementing these tips, you'll see a significant boost in your Android battery optimization. With consistent management, you can extend your device’s battery life and improve overall performance.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
How can I stop apps from draining my battery?
Use Battery Saver, disable unnecessary background activity, and limit app permissions. Regularly check app usage in Battery settings to identify and manage battery-hungry apps.
How do I turn off battery usage on Android apps?
Go to Settings > Battery > Battery usage. From there, you can review and force stop apps or adjust their background activity to limit power consumption.
Does dark mode save battery?
Yes, Dark Mode can save battery on AMOLED and OLED screens by reducing the energy used to light up individual pixels. It's a great way to extend battery life on compatible devices.
Does pausing apps save battery?
Pausing apps can reduce battery drain, but apps running in the background can still consume power. Force stopping or disabling background activity is a more effective way to save battery.
Do inactive apps drain battery?
Yes, even inactive apps can drain the battery if they're running background processes like syncing data or location tracking. Regularly review app usage and restrict unnecessary permissions to conserve power.