Energy saving mode on iPhone: This is what the energy saving mode brings

The power saving mode on the iPhone has been around since iOS 9 from 2015. We explain what the mode does and how you can switch it on.

Turn iPhone battery saver on/off

In order to set up a shortcut for the energy saving mode in the control center on the iPhone, at least iOS 11 is required. Then the “Settings > Control Center” menu must first be called up. Then you can tap on “Low Power Mode” under the “More Controls” heading and the icon will move up under “Controls Included”. With a tap and hold on the three bars, the position of the icon in the control center can be changed. A tap on the minus, on the other hand, removes the symbol from the control center.

If the iPhone power saving mode is set up in the control center, it only has to be called up with a swipe from the bottom edge of the display upwards (older iPhones) or from the right corner of the display to the middle (newer iPhones). With a tap on the half-filled battery symbol, you can immediately switch the energy-saving mode on or off manually – the cumbersome way via “Settings > Battery > Energy-saving mode” is no longer necessary.

What does the power saving mode do?

If the battery capacity of your iPhone reaches 20 percent, a pop-up window will automatically appear recommending switching on the power saving mode. Of course, this recommendation does not necessarily have to be followed. At 10 percent battery capacity, a warning appears again.

If the energy saving mode is activated, the iPhone can be used a little longer before it has to be plugged in. However, some features may run or update more slowly. In addition, some processes may only be executed again if you deactivate the power saving mode or if the iPhone is charged to at least 80 percent.

The energy saving mode on the iPhone changes these things:

• Checking email will be disabled
• Display brightness is slightly reduced
• Display refresh rate (limited to 60 Hz) on iPhone and iPad models with ProMotion display
• Background app refresh is turned off
• Automatic downloads will be disabled
• Some visual effects – also within apps – are reduced
• Auto lock is set to 30 seconds by default
• iCloud photos are temporarily paused
• 5G will be switched off (except for video streaming)

When the battery saver mode is on, the battery is displayed in yellow in the status bar. When the iPhone is charged above 80 percent, the battery saver mode is automatically turned off.

summary

1. The power saving mode has been available on iPhones since iOS 9, and on iPads since iPad OS 15.
2. At a battery capacity of 20 percent and again at 10 percent, iOS automatically suggests activating the energy saving mode.
3. Since iOS 11, the mode can be anchored in the control center under “Settings > Control Center” and thus activated manually even faster.
4. Various features of the iPhone are switched off or restricted by the power-saving mode, such as background updates or visual effects.
5. Depending on usage, up to three hours of additional runtime are possible.