If your iPhone 15 battery is draining fast after updating to iOS 18 or iOS 18.2 then you’re not alone. A lot of iPhone users are reporting battery drain, overheating, and battery percentage keeps dropping fast after updating the iPhone to the latest iOS 18.2 version. The major cause of this is due to software bugs, indexing, background refresh, or misconfigured settings.
The good news is: you can easily fix it by making a few changes in your iPhone settings. Here are 10 proven fixes that work in 2025 to stop draining fast.
Update to iOS 18.2 or Latest Patch
It has become very common with Apple iOS updates and when Apple regularly issues minor updates to fix battery drain issues after a major release. Go to: Settings → General → Software Update and install the latest version (e.g., iOS 18.2.1).
Disable Background App Refresh
Background refresh consumes battery even when you’re not using apps. Turn it off: Settings → General → Background App Refresh → Off.
Turn Off Standby Mode
iOS 17/18 introduced Standby Mode that stays active when your iPhone is charging horizontally. Turn it off to save battery: Settings → Standby → Toggle Off.
Turn Off Location for Unnecessary Apps
Go to: Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services. Disable for apps that don’t need it all the time.
Disable Location Services
If you have turned on location services and apps running in background can cause overheating and battery draining issues as well and you need to disable location services, after disabling location services which will drain less battery and location services consume more battery on iPhone.
After disabling location services on iPhone 15, many users are recommending it and it has stopped battery draining issues after turning off location services in macrumors forum.
Step 1: Open settings -> Privacy and Security
Step 2: Tap on Location Services and toggle button next to location services.
Reset All Settings (Non-Destructive)
If system settings were messed up after update: Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPhone → Reset → Reset All Settings.
Note: This will not erase your data.
Check App Battery Usage in iOS 18
Go to: Settings → Battery and Scroll to see which apps are using most battery and force-stop or delete them if needed.
Turn Off 5G Temporarily
Constant 5G search drains battery: Settings → Cellular → Voice & Data → Choose LTE instead of 5G.
Disable Always-On Display
Go to: Settings -> Display & Brightness -> Always On Display -> Toggle Off.
Force Restart Your iPhone
If battery drain started suddenly: Press and quickly release Volume Up, then Volume Down, then hold Power Button until the Apple logo appears.
Turn Off Airdrop and Bluetooth When Not in Use
Bluetooth and airdrop can also consume battery when you are connected to other devices. So, it’s better to disable, and to do that -> Swipe down -> Tap to disable when not actively using.
Quick Tips to Prevent Battery Drain on iPhone 15
- Use Wi-Fi instead of mobile data
- Avoid charging with low-quality cables
- Avoid using the phone while charging
- Turn off keyboard haptics and sound
- Delete unused apps and widgets
Battery issues after an update are annoying but temporary. Apple usually fixes major bugs in follow-up updates. Keeping your iPhone optimized with these settings will ensure better performance and longer battery life across iOS versions like 18.1, 18.2, and beyond.
What Causes iPhone 15 Battery to Drain Fast
Software bug or app culprit or malware app or outdated apps on device or brightness set to full all times or always on display turned on, too many apps running in background can cause iPhone 15 or iPhone 15 pro battery drain faster.
Turn Off Always on Display
Step 1: Open settings -> Tap on Display and Brightness
Step 2: Scroll down and Toggle button next to Always on Display and disable Always on Display.
After turning off always on display on iPhone 15 or iPhone 15 pro, battery draining issue will be resolved and one of the iphone 15 user who was experiencing battery drain issue has disabled always on display and his battery draining issue has been fixed after disabling always on display on iPhone 15 or iPhone 15 Pro.
Uninstall Unwanted Apps or Buggy Apps
You need to uninstall apps which are consuming more battery or buggy software apps, unwanted apps. Buggy software or culprit apps or outdated apps can cause battery drain issue after uninstalling and cleaning up apps on iPhone then your iPhone battery drain issue will be reduced.
Turn off Background App Refresh
Step 1: Open settings -> Tap on General
Step 2: Tap on Background App Refresh
Step 3: Select the app that you want to turn off background app refresh and toggle button next to it and turn off background app refresh for apps.
Step 4: You can also turn off background app refresh completely by disabling background app refresh.
Turn off Analytics and Improvements
If you have turned off analytics and improvements on iPhone and if you have enabled share iphone and watch analytics, this can consume more battery life and the battery can drain so fast.
Step 1: Open settings -> Tap on Privacy and Security
Step 2: Tap on Analytics and Improvements
Step 3: Turn off Share iPhone and Watch Analytics.
Reduce Brightness
Step 1: Open settings -> Tap on Display and Brightness
Step 2: Under Brightness settings -> Drag the slider and reduce brightness.
If brightness is too high then iphone 15 will consume more battery.
Turn on Optimized Battery Charge
Step 1: Open settings -> Tap on Battery
Step 2: Toggle button next to Battery Optimized Battery charge option and enable it and this will save battery and it will optimize battery charge on iPhone.
Use Dark Mode on iPhone 15 or iPhone 15 Pro or Max
When you use dark mode on iPhone 15 pro or iPhone 15 then this will reduce battery drain issue on iPhone and will save battery on iPhone 15 or iPhone 15 pro or Max.
Step 1: Open settings -> Tap on Brightness and Display
Step 2: Tap on the Dark Mode option and enable it and this will save battery on iPhone 15 or 15 Pro max.