To turn on Low Power Mode on iPhone 15 or later, open Settings, tap Battery, tap Power Mode, and tap Low Power Mode. On iPhone 14 or earlier, tap Battery and then Low Power Mode. The battery icon turns yellow while it’s on, and it turns off by itself once you charge to 80% or higher.
This guide follows Apple’s support article on using Low Power Mode, its iPhone User Guide page on Power Modes, and Apple’s pages on showing the battery percentage and Low Data Mode. It covers every way to turn Low Power Mode on, what it changes, Adaptive Power, and how it differs from Low Data Mode.
How to Turn On Low Power Mode
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap Battery.
- On iPhone 15 or later, tap Power Mode. On iPhone 14 or earlier, or on iOS 17 and earlier, skip this step.
- Tap Low Power Mode to turn it on or off.
The battery icon in the status bar turns yellow. Some tasks can run more slowly while it’s on.
Other Ways to Turn On Low Power Mode
- Control Center: Swipe down from the top-right corner and tap the battery icon. If you don’t see it, add the Low Power Mode control to Control Center first (steps below).
- Siri: Say “Siri, turn on Low Power Mode” or “Siri, turn off Low Power Mode.”
- Adaptive Power: On supported models with Adaptive Power on, Low Power Mode turns on automatically when your battery drops below 20%.
Why Is My iPhone Battery Yellow?
A yellow battery icon means Low Power Mode is on. It turns off automatically when your iPhone charges to 80% or higher, or you can turn it off yourself with the steps above. If no charger is nearby, see whether you can charge an iPhone from another iPhone.
Turn Low Power Mode On or Off on iPad
On an iPad, open Settings > Battery and turn Low Power Mode on or off. iPad doesn’t have the Power Mode submenu, and Apple says the mode turns off once the iPad charges to 80%. See Apple’s iPad Low Power Mode guide.
What Low Power Mode Changes
Apple lists these changes while Low Power Mode is on:
- Sets Auto-Lock to 30 seconds
- Reduces display brightness
- Turns off some visual effects
- Pauses iCloud Photos temporarily
- Turns off automatic downloads
- Turns off email fetch
- Turns off Background App Refresh
- On iPhone 12 and 13 models, keeps 5G on only for streaming and large downloads
On iPhone models with ProMotion, Apple adds that Low Power Mode limits the display refresh rate to 60 frames per second. Apple also says it optimizes performance for essential tasks like calls, email, messages, and internet access. Some apps have their own power option that works separately from this, such as the Battery Saver setting in Pokémon GO.
What Is Adaptive Power?
On iPhone 15 Pro or later, Apple’s Adaptive Power uses on-device intelligence to predict when you’ll need extra battery, based on your recent usage. It can lower screen brightness, limit background activity, and make performance adjustments. Apple says it’s on by default on supported models. To change it, go to Settings > Battery > Power Mode and turn Adaptive Power on or off. You can also turn its notifications on or off there.
Low Power Mode vs. Low Data Mode
They’re separate settings. Low Power Mode saves battery. Low Data Mode saves network data: Apple says it restricts background network use, turns off Background App Refresh, lowers streaming quality, and pauses automatic downloads, backups, and iCloud Photos updates. Turn it on in Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Options (on 5G plans, under Data Mode), or for a Wi-Fi network by tapping the Info button next to it in Settings > Wi-Fi.
How to Show the Battery Percentage
- Go to Settings > Battery.
- Turn on Battery Percentage.
On an iPhone with Face ID, the percentage appears inside the battery symbol in the status bar. You can also swipe down from the top-right corner to see it in Control Center. For more ways to check, see how to show battery percentage on an iPhone.
Add Low Power Mode to Control Center
On the newer customizable Control Center layout, open Control Center, tap its + button, choose Add a Control, and select Low Power Mode from the gallery. Exit editing and tap the added battery control to switch the mode on or off. Open Control Center by swiping down from the top-right corner on a Face ID iPhone, or up from the bottom on a Home-button iPhone. During editing, the control’s minus button removes it. Apple’s Control Center guide documents the current gallery and the two opening gestures.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it bad to leave Low Power Mode on all the time?
Apple describes it as a way to extend battery life when the battery gets low, and it switches off at 80%. Apple notes that some tasks may run more slowly while it’s on, so you may notice features like Background App Refresh and email fetch are paused.
Why does Low Power Mode turn on by itself?
If your iPhone supports Adaptive Power and it’s on, Apple says Low Power Mode can turn on automatically at 20% battery. You can turn Adaptive Power off in Settings > Battery > Power Mode.
More iPhone Guides
Want more control than Low Power Mode? You can also turn off Background App Refresh for individual apps, or turn off 5G on your iPhone.
Matthew Burleigh is the founder, head writer, and editor of Solve Your Tech, which he launched in 2012. He has written technology tutorials since 2008 and worked in IT since 2003, including small-business support, IT management, and consulting. He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science from Arizona State University.
Matthew writes practical guides for Windows, iPhone and iPad, Microsoft Office, Outlook, Google apps, and Android. Solve Your Tech’s guides are checked step by step against the device or app maker’s own documentation and tested on his own devices whenever he has the hardware or software, with clear steps, sources, and update dates.
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