Low Power Mode drains your battery faster once you turn it off

Low Power Mode is a setting that reduces how much power your iPhone uses. When it is on, your phone runs slower, limits background activity, and dims the screen slightly to save battery. To turn it off, swipe up from the bottom of your screen (or down from the top right on newer iPhones) to open Control Center, then tap the battery icon until it turns white instead of yellow.

Once you disable Low Power Mode, your iPhone returns to normal speed and brightness. This means apps will refresh in the background again, email will check more often, and your screen will be brighter. Your battery will drain faster than it did while Low Power Mode was on — this is normal and expected.

If you find yourself turning Low Power Mode on and off frequently, your battery may be aging. iPhones typically hold a full charge for about 500 complete charge cycles before the battery starts to degrade. You can check your battery health in Settings to see whether replacement might help.

Key Takeaways

  • Low Power Mode reduces battery drain by slowing your phone down, and turning it off restores normal speed and brightness.
  • The fastest way to disable it is through Control Center — swipe up from the bottom (or down from the top right) and tap the battery icon.
  • Your battery will drain faster once Low Power Mode is off, which is normal behavior.
  • If Low Power Mode keeps turning on by itself, check your battery health in Settings to see if the battery is aging.
  • You can also disable Low Power Mode permanently through Settings if you prefer your phone to run at full speed all the time.

Disable Low Power Mode through Control Center

Control Center is the quickest way to turn off Low Power Mode. On iPhones with a home button (iPhone 8 and earlier), swipe up from the very bottom of the screen. On iPhones without a home button (iPhone X and later), swipe down from the top right corner where the signal bars are.

Once Control Center opens, look for the battery icon — it looks like a circle with a lightning bolt inside. If Low Power Mode is on, the battery icon will be yellow. Tap it once to turn Low Power Mode off. The icon will turn white, and you will see a message confirming that Low Power Mode is now off.

Your phone will return to normal operation immediately. Apps will start refreshing in the background, notifications will come through faster, and your screen will brighten to its normal level. You may notice your phone feels slightly more responsive when you open apps or scroll through pages.

Turn off Low Power Mode in Settings

If you prefer to disable Low Power Mode through the Settings app instead of Control Center, open Settings and tap Battery. You will see a toggle switch next to "Low Power Mode" — tap it to turn the setting off. The toggle will turn gray, and Low Power Mode will be disabled.

This method takes slightly longer than using Control Center, but it is useful if you want to check your battery percentage at the same time. The Battery settings screen shows you how much charge you have left and which apps have used the most power recently.

Some people also use this screen to turn on Low Power Mode automatically when their battery reaches a certain level. By default, your iPhone will ask you whether to enable Low Power Mode when you reach 20 percent battery, but you can change this behavior in the same Battery settings screen.

Why Low Power Mode turns on automatically

Your iPhone can turn on Low Power Mode without you doing anything. By default, it asks whether you want to enable it when your battery drops to 20 percent. If you tap "Enable," Low Power Mode stays on until you manually turn it off or until you charge your phone to 80 percent or higher.

If Low Power Mode keeps turning on even when your battery is above 20 percent, your battery may be degrading. As batteries age, they report incorrect charge levels to your phone. Your iPhone might think it is at 15 percent when it is actually at 40 percent, which triggers the Low Power Mode prompt.

You can check whether this is happening by opening Settings, tapping Battery, then tapping Battery Health & Charging. Look at the "Maximum Capacity" number — if it is below 80 percent, your battery is aging and may need replacement. Apple offers battery replacement at most Apple Stores and authorized repair shops.

What changes when Low Power Mode is off

Low Power Mode affects several parts of how your iPhone works. When it is on, your phone limits background app refresh, reduces email fetch frequency, disables some visual effects, and lowers screen brightness. Turning it off reverses all of these changes.

Your battery will drain noticeably faster without Low Power Mode. How much faster depends on what you use your phone for — heavy use like gaming or video streaming will drain the battery much faster than light use like reading or messaging. If you are concerned about battery life, you can turn Low Power Mode back on whenever you need it.

Some apps may also behave differently. Apps that rely on background refresh will now update their content even when you are not using them. Location services will work more accurately, and Siri will respond faster. These changes are usually not noticeable in everyday use unless you are paying close attention.

Low Power Mode and charging speed

Turning off Low Power Mode does not affect how fast your iPhone charges. Charging speed depends on the power adapter you use and the cable condition, not on whether Low Power Mode is on or off. A newer USB-C adapter will charge your phone faster than an older 5-watt adapter, regardless of your Low Power Mode setting.

However, your phone will charge slightly faster if you disable Low Power Mode while charging, because your phone will not be limiting its own power use. The difference is usually only a few minutes over a full charge cycle, so this is not a practical reason to turn Low Power Mode off.

If you want to charge your phone as quickly as possible, use the fastest adapter that came with your phone or a newer USB-C adapter rated for your iPhone model. Avoid using your phone while it charges, as this will slow down charging speed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my phone be damaged if I leave Low Power Mode off all the time?

No. Low Power Mode is optional and designed for situations where you need your battery to last longer. Leaving it off permanently will not harm your phone or battery. Your battery will simply drain faster, which is normal.

Does Low Power Mode actually save battery?

Yes. Low Power Mode reduces battery drain by limiting background activity and screen brightness. How much battery you save depends on what you use your phone for, but most people see a noticeable difference, especially if they leave Low Power Mode on for several hours.

Can I schedule Low Power Mode to turn on and off automatically?

Your iPhone can ask you to enable Low Power Mode at 20 percent battery, but it cannot automatically turn on and off on a schedule. You can create an automation using the Shortcuts app if you want more control, but this requires some setup.

What if Low Power Mode is grayed out and I cannot tap it?

This usually means your battery is already fully charged or very close to it. Low Power Mode is designed for low-battery situations, so your iPhone disables it when you have plenty of charge. Charge your phone to 100 percent and try again if you want to check the setting.

Does turning off Low Power Mode affect my data or stored information?

No. Low Power Mode only changes how your phone uses power. Turning it off or on will not delete any of your photos, messages, contacts, or other data. All your information stays exactly as it was.