Google advises how to extend the battery life of Android phones
Although smartphones are constantly experiencing development, one challenge that continues to plague its users is precisely the duration of their batteries. The company behind the Android operating system is aware of this problem and has prepared a few tips that should help you extend the battery life of your Android phone. If you haven’t already applied some of the items that should help you not reach for the charger very often, Google advises in the following text how to ease the pain.
1. Faster screen off
The first Google tip is very simple – turn off the screen earlier when the phone is not in use. In other words, reduce the amount of time it takes for your phone’s screen to automatically go to sleep when you’re not using it.
The reasoning is simple: when the device’s screen is off, it consumes less power, which helps extend the battery life of your Android phone. You can do this by setting the screen to automatically turn off after a set time frame, which requires really minimal user effort.
2. Reduce the brightness of the screen
Another common sense move suggested by Google tips is to lower the screen brightness. The principle here is also simple, the higher the brightness level of the screen, the more energy it consumes.
ShutterstockAlthough many users like to keep the brightness at 100 percent for better visibility, it’s important to strike a balance between visibility, which is decent even at about 50 percent brightness, and battery conservation.
3. Set the screen brightness to automatic
Although you can adjust the brightness yourself from the drop-down menu on the brightness slider, Google suggests turning on a feature on your phone that would automatically change it based on ambient light conditions. This option automatically adjusts the brightness to the optimal level, depending on your environment.
ShutterstockHowever, the practicality of this recommendation varies. While auto-brightness can help save battery in situations where lighting conditions vary frequently, it may not be the most energy-efficient choice in all scenarios. For users who mainly use their Android phones in stable lighting conditions, manually setting it to a lower level may give better results because the feature is not in use “every hour”.
4. Turn off sound or vibration on the keyboard
The next tip refers to turning off the option that was popular ten years ago, which is the audible and vibrating response of the keyboard when you type. This tip not only improves the user experience by eliminating potentially annoying distractions, but also saves battery power.
When you type on a smartphone keyboard and it emits a sound or vibration with each keystroke, it activates the device’s haptic feedback mechanisms. In order for these mechanisms to function, they need energy, which, logically, will save energy by turning them off.
5. Google advises how to limit apps that consume a lot of battery
Managing app usage is key when it comes to battery life. Google suggests that you identify and limit apps that consume a significant amount of battery. In newer Android versions like Android 12, you can customize battery modes for individual apps.
MNAphotography / Shutterstock.comBy choosing a stricter power optimization mode for certain applications, you prevent them from running in the background, thereby reducing processor consumption and saving energy. This feature is especially useful for those who want to maximize the health of their device’s battery.
6. Activate the adaptive battery function
Android’s Adaptive Battery feature is designed to intelligently optimize your device’s power consumption based on your usage patterns. This recommendation is based on the idea that your phone can learn how you use it and then automatically adjust its “behavior” accordingly. So even if you have a slow charger, it should reduce its usage.
ShutterstockThe mentioned feature analyzes the usage of your apps and limits background processes for apps that you don’t use often.
7. Google advises you to delete accounts you don’t use
Tech giant Google is advising users to delete accounts they don’t use that are connected to their Android device. Many people have various accounts, including those for email, social networks and other services, which are synchronized with their smartphones.
It’s these accounts that can automatically update and sync data, which can drain your battery. Therefore, simply delete the accounts you don’t use, or at least don’t link them to the device anymore.
Shutterstock / Robert WayTo remove these accounts, go to Settings, then Passwords and accounts, select the account you want to remove from your device, and tap “Remove account.” Thus, you will eliminate unnecessary background processes that can burden the processor of the Android phone.
8. Activate the dark theme
Google tips for a longer battery life of Android phones end with a recommendation to activate the dark mode, or dark theme on the device. This theme transforms the user interface by using dark colors, often black or at least gray to replace the traditional bright and colorful design.
This saves battery simply because the type of display technology used for this feature is different. Many modern smartphones have AMOLED screens where the black pixels are not illuminated which turns them off. In this way, dark mode results in reduced battery consumption.
Additional tips that should help extend the battery life of your Android phone
Instead of mobile data, use Wi-Fi whenever possible, as it uses less power. Bluetooth and GPS should also be turned off if not in use at the time.
Most Android devices also have a power saving mode when the battery drops to a low percentage before it should be connected to a charger. You can turn it on because this mode automatically reduces screen brightness, disables background functions, and limits performance.
ShutterstockOne of the things that should also help you is regular software updates, precisely because updates of this type often include optimizing the device’s battery. A practical thing that should also help is avoiding exposing the phone to extreme temperatures.
If you expose your phone to strong sunlight, too much heat or cold, it can cause physical damage to the battery, which will automatically shorten its lifespan.
One of the interesting things is that the application store contains a large number of those with the aim of optimizing the battery. They can thus help you identify and disable battery-draining apps.
An additional practical tip is regular rebooting, i.e. restarting the device, which can help clear unused memory and thus extend the health of the battery.
However, if none of these tips show results, it may be time to think about buying a new phone or possibly changing the device’s battery.