Why Do Some Apps Drain Battery More Than Others And How To Stop It

Smartphones have become essential tools in daily life, but few frustrations rival watching your battery drop from 80% to 20% in under an hour. While hardware like screen brightness and processor load play roles, one of the most significant contributors to rapid battery drain is the apps you use. Not all apps are created equal—some silently consume power in the background, while others demand constant resources even when open for just a few minutes. Understanding why certain apps drain your battery more than others—and how to manage them—is key to getting through the day without scrambling for a charger.

How Apps Use Battery Power: The Technical Basics

Battery consumption isn't just about how long you use an app; it’s about what the app does behind the scenes. Every action on your phone—from fetching emails to updating your location—requires energy. Apps that perform frequent tasks or maintain active connections will naturally use more power. Here’s a breakdown of common resource-intensive operations:

• Location Services: Navigation, ride-sharing, and weather apps constantly access GPS, which is one of the most power-hungry features on any smartphone.
• Background Refresh: Social media and news apps check for updates even when closed, syncing data periodically throughout the day.
• Push Notifications: Receiving real-time alerts requires maintaining a connection to servers, increasing CPU wake-ups and radio usage.
• High-Performance Processing: Video editing, gaming, and augmented reality apps push the processor and graphics chip to their limits.
• Network Activity: Streaming video, cloud backups, and large file downloads keep cellular or Wi-Fi radios active for extended periods.

The combination of these functions determines how much strain an app places on your battery. For example, a simple calculator uses almost no power, while a video conferencing app might simultaneously run the camera, microphone, screen, speaker, and network—all major drains.

Tip: You can see exactly which apps are using the most battery by checking your phone’s built-in battery usage settings—usually found under Settings > Battery.

Why Some Apps Are Worse Than Others

Even within the same category, not all apps behave the same way. Two social media platforms may offer similar features, yet one could be far more efficient. Several factors explain these differences:

Poor Optimization and Buggy Code

Developers sometimes release apps with inefficient code that keeps the CPU active unnecessarily. A poorly coded app might fail to pause processes when minimized or continue polling servers too frequently. These inefficiencies add up over time, especially if the app runs in the background.

Aggressive Ad Networks

Free apps often rely on advertising revenue. Many integrate third-party ad SDKs (software development kits) that track user behavior, load rich media, and connect to multiple servers. These networks can cause excessive background activity, leading to high battery consumption. In extreme cases, malicious ads or poorly designed scripts run loops that never terminate.

Overuse of Background Features

Some apps assume users want instant updates at all times. Fitness trackers may continuously monitor heart rate or step count, while messaging apps keep persistent connections alive. While useful, these features come at a cost. Without proper throttling or user controls, they can drain batteries quickly.

Lack of Platform-Specific Optimization

An app developed primarily for iOS might not be well-tuned for Android’s battery management system—or vice versa. Cross-platform frameworks like React Native or Flutter can introduce performance overhead if not carefully implemented.

“Battery drain is often less about the app itself and more about how it interacts with the operating system. Efficient apps respect system-level power-saving policies.” — Dr. Lena Park, Mobile Systems Researcher at MIT

App Comparison: Battery Impact by Category

Not all app categories are equally demanding. The table below compares typical battery impact based on functionality and usage patterns.

App Category	Battery Impact (Low/Med/High)	Common Power-Hungry Features	Tips to Reduce Drain
Social Media (e.g., Instagram, Facebook)	High	Auto-play videos, background refresh, push notifications	Disable autoplay, limit background activity
Navigation (e.g., Google Maps, Waze)	High	GPS, screen-on time, voice guidance	Use only when needed; close after arrival
Streaming (e.g., Netflix, Spotify)	Medium–High	Screen, audio processing, network streaming	Download content; lower audio quality
Email (e.g., Gmail, Outlook)	Medium	Push sync, background fetch	Set longer fetch intervals; disable push
Productivity (e.g., Notes, Calendar)	Low	Rare background sync	Usually fine as-is
Gaming (e.g., Call of Duty Mobile, Genshin Impact)	Very High	GPU/CPU load, screen brightness, network	Limit session length; reduce graphics settings

This comparison shows that entertainment and communication apps tend to be the worst offenders. However, individual app design still plays a decisive role. For instance, Signal is known for better battery efficiency compared to WhatsApp due to its leaner architecture and reduced background polling.

Step-by-Step Guide to Reducing App Battery Drain

You don’t need to uninstall your favorite apps to save battery. With targeted adjustments, you can maintain functionality while minimizing unnecessary energy use. Follow this actionable plan:

1. Check Your Battery Usage Report
   Go to Settings > Battery (or Battery & Performance) and review which apps are consuming the most power. Focus first on those using over 15–20% during a single charge cycle.
2. Restrict Background App Refresh
   On iOS: Settings > General > Background App Refresh > Turn off for non-essential apps.
   On Android: Settings > Apps > [App Name] > Mobile Data & Wi-Fi > Background data > Restrict.
3. Adjust Location Permissions
   Set apps to “While Using” instead of “Always” for location access. Avoid giving GPS permissions to apps that don’t genuinely need it (e.g., games or shopping apps).
4. Reduce Push Notifications
   Disable non-critical alerts. Each notification wakes the screen, vibrates, and uses network data. Go to Settings > Notifications and turn off for low-priority apps.
5. Enable Battery Saver Mode
   Both iOS and Android offer system-wide power-saving modes that limit background activity, reduce performance, and dim the screen. Enable automatically when battery drops below 20%.
6. Update All Apps Regularly
   Developers often release updates that fix battery-draining bugs. Outdated apps may lack optimizations present in newer versions.
7. Clear Cache for Problematic Apps
   If an app seems sluggish or overheats the phone, clearing its cache (not data) can resolve hidden issues. On Android: Settings > Apps > [App] > Storage > Clear Cache. On iOS, reinstalling the app clears cached files.
8. Consider Alternative Apps
   If a particular app consistently drains your battery despite optimization, look for lighter alternatives. For example, use Firefox Focus instead of Chrome for browsing, or Telegram Lite instead of full-featured messengers.

Mini Case Study: Recovering Two Extra Hours of Battery Life

Sophie, a freelance photographer in Seattle, noticed her phone rarely lasted past midday—even with moderate use. Her work required frequent photo editing and messaging clients, but she wasn’t gaming or streaming heavily. After reviewing her battery stats, she discovered that Instagram and Facebook were responsible for nearly 40% of total drain, despite spending only 20 minutes per day on them.

Digging deeper, she found both apps were set to “Always” for location access and had background refresh enabled. She also received dozens of non-essential notifications daily. By adjusting permissions, disabling background refresh, and muting notifications, Sophie reduced their combined battery usage to under 10%. She also switched from Snapchat to a privacy-focused alternative for casual sharing.

The result? An additional two hours of screen-on time without changing her charging habits. More importantly, her phone stayed cooler and responded faster throughout the day.

Tip: Re-evaluate your battery settings every few weeks. New app updates or permissions changes can reintroduce drain.

Essential Checklist: Optimize App Battery Usage

Use this checklist monthly to keep battery-draining apps under control:

• ✅ Review battery usage report in settings
• ✅ Disable background refresh for non-critical apps
• ✅ Set location access to “While Using” or “Never” where possible
• ✅ Turn off push notifications for social media and shopping apps
• ✅ Update all apps to latest versions
• ✅ Uninstall apps you haven’t used in 30+ days
• ✅ Enable adaptive brightness and auto-lock (30 seconds)
• ✅ Test battery life after changes and adjust as needed

Frequently Asked Questions

Can an app drain my battery even when it’s closed?

Yes. Many apps continue running background processes such as syncing data, tracking location, or receiving notifications. Even though the app appears closed, it may still be active in the system. Restricting background activity and location access prevents this.

Is dark mode effective at saving battery?

It depends on your screen type. On OLED or AMOLED displays (common in premium smartphones), dark mode saves noticeable battery because black pixels are turned off. On LCD screens, the savings are minimal. Still, dark mode reduces eye strain and heat generation, making it worth enabling on compatible devices.

Should I force-close apps to save battery?

No. Modern operating systems (iOS and Android) are designed to manage app states efficiently. Force-closing apps can actually increase battery use because reopening them requires reloading from scratch, consuming more CPU and memory. Instead, rely on system-managed suspension and restrict background behaviors.

Take Control of Your Battery Life Today

Your smartphone should serve you—not chain you to a power outlet. While hardware limitations exist, software choices have a massive impact on how long your battery lasts. By understanding why some apps consume more power and taking deliberate steps to manage them, you gain back control over your device’s performance and longevity.

The solution isn’t deleting every app or living in battery saver mode—it’s being intentional. Audit your usage, prioritize what matters, and eliminate silent drains. Small changes compound: turning off one aggressive notification setting today could mean an extra hour of use tomorrow.

Start now. Open your battery settings, identify the top consumers, and apply the fixes outlined here. Within a week, you’ll notice fewer anxiety-inducing low-battery warnings and more freedom to use your phone without constraints.

💬 Have an app that mysteriously drains your battery? Share your experience or solutions in the comments—your insight could help someone else break free from constant charging!