10 Ways to Extend the Battery Life of Your Phone

This is a guest post by Amanda Tradwick.  Amanda is a grant researcher and writer for CollegeGrants.org. She has a bachelor’s degrees from the University of Delaware, and has recently finished research on grants for medical school and student grants in Illinois.

Smart phones offer a lot of great features and connectivity, but many have a relatively short battery life, especially when you are taking advantage of all those features and options. Unless you want to purchase extra batteries to keep your phone constantly juiced, you are bound to face the black, powerless screen at some crucial moment when you need or want your phone. Fortunately, there are some ways that you can help extend the battery life of your phone, just by making a few changes to the phones features and how you use the phone. Here are 10 ways to extend the battery life of your phone.

 10 Ways to Extend the Battery Life of Your Phone

 1. Turn Off the Bluetooth

Bluetooth connectivity can be one of the biggest power sucks on your phone. Turn it off when you’re not using it, such as during the day when you’re in the office or when you’re asleep at night. Of course, always use your hands-free when you’re driving.

2. Don’t Activate GPS

Many applications now ask you to use your location to offer customized settings or options. Unfortunately, the GPS technology can quickly drain power from your phone. Unless you’re using a maps application or need it for some other important reason, don’t activate this feature.

3. Disable Wi-Fi

If you’re not using the Internet on your phone, you don’t need to have the Wi-Fi turned on. If you do, your phone will be constantly trying to connect to a network, draining your battery along the way. Simply turn on Wi-Fi when you need to access the Internet, then turn it off when you have completed your work.

4. Turn Off Unused Apps

Many phones come pre-loaded with apps that you may not need or want.

Turn off these apps or delete them from your phone; and be sure to turn off all apps when you are finished using them. These will continue to draw power from your phone if they are left on.

5. Lower Screen Brightness

The backlight on your phone can use up a substantial bit of power. You can lower the brightness so that it draws less energy when your phone is in use.

6. Use the Ring Tone

Unless you’re in a movie theater or a meeting at work, you don’t need to have your phone set to vibrate. Using the ring tone will use far less power than vibrating mode. Make sure that you turn the ringer on when you are not in situations that call for quiet.

7. Use Plain Screensavers

Animated screensavers and backgrounds may look cool, but they sap your battery. Opt for plain, static backgrounds and skip the screensavers for your phone’s black screen. You’ll save a lot of power in the long run.

8. Keep Battery Nodes Clean

Throwing your phone in your purse or pocket can cause it to attract a lot of dirt and dust over time. If debris accumulates around your phone battery, the connections will become clogged, making your battery less efficient. Keep the battery nodes clean and the connections clear for more efficient battery use.

9. Keep Battery at Room Temperature

Extreme temperatures of hot or cold can make your battery work harder.

Keeping your phone at room temperature will help extend the life of your battery.

10. Turn Off Phone When Not in Use

It can be a hassle to power down your phone and turn it on when you’re at the movies, or in a meeting or eating dinner with family. But if you know that you won’t be using your phone, turning it off can help you save battery life and avoid the bigger hassle of having your phone die on you in the middle of an important call or when you really need it to access information.

There’s no magic potion to give your battery the gift of everlasting life, but following these simple tips can help you prolong it considerably, ensuring that you won’t be faced with a dreaded black screen in a time of need.