Battery Draining Fast? Change These 9 Android Settings Now

In 2025, Android smartphones are more powerful than ever—but with that power often comes a significant downside: rapid battery drain. Despite advancements in battery technology and software optimization, many users still find their phone battery depleting much faster than expected. The good news is, there are some smart and effective ways to dramatically extend your battery life—without sacrificing performance.

This comprehensive guide reveals 9 Android settings you should change right now if your battery is draining too fast. Whether you’re using a flagship device like the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra or a mid-range favorite like the Pixel 7a, these tips can help you stretch every percentage of your battery.

1. Turn Off Always-On Display (AOD)

What it does: The Always-On Display shows the time, date, notifications, and more—even when your screen is off.

Why it drains battery: Keeping any part of the screen lit, especially on OLED panels, uses battery over time. While minimal, it adds up across the day.

How to disable it:

Go to Settings > Display > Lock screen > Always-On Display
Toggle it Off

Pro Tip: You can schedule AOD for certain hours instead of keeping it on all day.

2. Reduce Screen Brightness & Use Adaptive Brightness

What it does: High screen brightness is one of the biggest battery hogs on any device.

How to fix it:

Go to Settings > Display
Lower the Brightness level
Turn on Adaptive brightness so your phone adjusts based on ambient lighting

Bonus Setting: Set a shorter screen timeout (30 seconds or 1 minute) under Settings > Display > Screen timeout

3. Disable Background App Activity

What it does: Many apps run in the background even when you’re not using them—checking for updates, syncing data, and sending notifications.

How to stop it:

Go to Settings > Apps > [App Name] > Battery
Select Restricted to limit background activity

Apps to watch out for: Social media, messaging, weather, news, and fitness apps often run background processes.

4. Turn Off Location Services for Unnecessary Apps

What it does: GPS is incredibly useful, but also one of the most power-hungry features.

How to control it:

Go to Settings > Location > App permissions
Change permission to “Allow only while using the app” or “Deny” for non-essential apps

Even Better: Disable location services altogether when not needed by toggling Location Off in the quick settings menu.

5. Enable Battery Saver Mode (Smart Battery Management)

What it does: Battery Saver mode limits background activity, reduces performance slightly, and restricts visual effects to save power.

How to enable it:

Pull down your quick settings and tap Battery Saver, or
Go to Settings > Battery > Battery Saver

You can also schedule it to turn on at 20% or based on routine usage patterns.

Tip: On Android 13/14 and later, there’s also Extreme Battery Saver for even more control.

6. Disable Auto-Sync for Accounts

What it does: Auto-sync keeps apps like Gmail, Calendar, and Drive constantly updated, even when not in use.

Why it’s a problem: Constant syncing consumes both battery and mobile data.

How to manage it:

Go to Settings > Accounts
Select each account and turn off Auto-sync data
Or, toggle it off globally under Settings > Accounts > Auto-sync data

Alternative: Manually refresh apps when you need updates.

7. Turn Off Unused Connectivity Features (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC)

What it does: When Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or NFC is left on, your phone constantly scans for networks and devices.

Quick solution:

Pull down the quick settings menu and toggle off any connections not in use
You can also go to Settings > Network & Internet to manage connections

Advanced Tip: Disable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth scanning under Settings > Location > Scanning

8. Use Dark Mode

What it does: Dark mode changes the interface background to black or dark gray.

Why it saves battery: On OLED screens, black pixels are essentially “off,” saving significant power.

How to enable:

Go to Settings > Display
Toggle Dark Theme on

You can also schedule it to activate at sunset or set custom times.

9. Restrict High Refresh Rate Displays

What it does: Many new Android phones feature 90Hz, 120Hz, or even 144Hz displays for smoother visuals.

Why it’s a drain: Higher refresh rates require more processing power and thus, more battery.

How to adjust it:

Go to Settings > Display > Motion Smoothness or Refresh Rate
Select 60Hz or Standard Mode

Smart Setting: On some devices (like Samsung Galaxy S and Pixel series), you can choose Adaptive Refresh Rate, which adjusts automatically depending on activity.

Bonus Tips for Maximizing Battery Life

Even beyond the main settings above, here are some quick-hit tips that can further improve battery performance.

A. Monitor Battery Usage

Know which apps are eating your battery:

Settings > Battery > Battery Usage
Identify and uninstall or restrict heavy apps

B. Update Your Apps & System

Outdated software can be less efficient.

Go to Play Store > My Apps & Games > Update All
Check for System updates under Settings > Software Update

C. Uninstall Bloatware

Many Android phones come with pre-installed apps you never use.

Go to Settings > Apps
Disable or uninstall unnecessary apps

D. Use Lite or Web Versions of Apps

Heavy apps like Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube consume a lot of resources. Use their Lite versions or mobile websites instead.

E. Replace Live Wallpapers with Static Ones

Live wallpapers look cool but constantly consume processing power.

Use a simple static wallpaper instead for better efficiency.

Final Thoughts: Take Control of Your Battery Life

Battery life anxiety is a real issue for Android users—but it doesn’t have to be. With just a few changes to your settings, you can reduce power drain and keep your phone running longer throughout the day. The best part? Most of these settings won’t affect performance or your user experience in any noticeable way.

Here’s a quick recap of the 9 settings to change:

Turn Off Always-On Display
Reduce Screen Brightness & Use Adaptive Brightness
Disable Background App Activity
Turn Off Location Services for Unused Apps
Enable Battery Saver Mode
Disable Auto-Sync
Turn Off Unused Connectivity
Use Dark Mode
Limit High Refresh Rate

In 2025, smarter battery management is not just about having a bigger battery—it’s about using what you have more efficiently.

So, the next time your battery seems to vanish before lunchtime, open your settings and start making these changes. Your future self (and your phone) will thank you.