Check battery usage before replacing the battery. An app using power in the background, a weak cellular signal and a recent update can drain a healthy battery. Compare idle use with active use, then check the battery-health information available on the exact model.
Differential
Likely causes of “Apple iPhone with Lightning battery drains too quickly”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
A worn battery
What separates it Maximum capacity is under about 80 percent and the phone shuts down early
How to confirm Replace the battery through Apple or an authorized provider
- 2
A heavy app or background refresh
What separates it One app tops the usage list
How to confirm Limit its background refresh and location access
- 3
A weak signal
What separates it Battery drops fast indoors or in poor coverage
How to confirm Use Wi-Fi where possible
- 4
Old software or app versions
What separates it An app misbehaves after you stopped updating
How to confirm Update iOS to the latest your phone supports and update the apps
- 5
Display and wake settings
What separates it High brightness and Raise to Wake
How to confirm Lower brightness and turn Raise to Wake off
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- Battery Health maximum capacity
- The top apps in the usage list
- Your iOS version and signal strength
Try in this order
0 of 6 completedRead Battery Health
ReversibleOpen Settings, Battery, Battery Health & Charging and note the maximum capacity.
Check the usage list
ReversibleLook at the last day and the last ten days to find heavy apps.
Limit background refresh
ReversibleTurn off Background App Refresh for apps that do not need it.
Reduce screen demands
ReversibleLower brightness and use Auto-Lock at one minute.
Update iOS and apps
ReversibleInstall the latest update your phone supports.
Book a battery service
ReversibleIf capacity is low, a new battery restores runtime.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Apple iPhone XS family battery drains too quickly
- The iPhone XS, XS Max, XR and X were released between 2017 and 2018, so a battery that now drains fast is most often simply worn. Open Settings, Battery, Battery Health & Charging: a maximum capacity well below 80 percent, or a message that the battery needs service, means a replacement will bring back the day-long runtime. If capacity is fine, the usage list under Battery shows which app is using the power, and Location Services, Background App Refresh and Raise to Wake are the usual culprits. On a phone this age, a weak cellular signal and an old iOS version with unoptimised apps also increase drain. Low Power Mode trims background activity, and a battery replacement from Apple is the lasting fix.
- Battery size
- The iPhone XS has a battery of roughly 2,658 mAh per Apple's teardown figures, and the XS Max a larger one.
- Battery service
- Apple's battery service replaces the cell and restores capacity; Face ID and Wi-Fi are not affected.
- Other models this page answers
- These steps also fit the iPhone X, iPhone XR.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If maximum capacity is low or the phone shuts off unexpectedly, book a battery service
- !If it bulges or gets hot, stop and contact Apple
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Suggestions, App and System Activity, Wi-Fi advice, Low Power Mode and the Battery Health & Charging path.
Performance management on iPhone X (iOS 12.1) and XS, XS Max and XR (iOS 13.1), maximum capacity and peak performance.
Model numbers and capacities for the iPhone X, XS, XS Max and XR.
iPhone X battery, OLED display, A11 chip, IP67, Qi charging and iOS versions.
iPhone XS and XS Max batteries, A12 chip, IP68, Wi-Fi and iOS support.
iPhone XR battery, LCD display, IP67 and iOS support.
Table of Apple's out-of-warranty battery cost by iPhone model, from Apple's estimates as of November 2024.
Exact questions
Common questions
How much does an iPhone XS battery replacement cost?+
Apple lists a standard fee for out-of-warranty battery service by model, and iFixit's table shows the US price for the iPhone XS.
Why does my iPhone XS shut off at 20 or 30 percent?+
A worn battery cannot deliver enough current at a low charge, so iOS shuts the phone down to protect it. A new battery fixes it.
Is Low Power Mode safe to leave on?+
Yes. It reduces background activity and display brightness, but some features such as background refresh and downloads are paused.
Will resetting the iPhone XS fix battery drain?+
Only if the cause is a software fault. Restart and update first; a reset needs a backup and rarely helps a worn battery.
Does 5G affect the iPhone XS?+
The XS has no 5G, so drain from weak signal is from LTE searching; Wi-Fi saves power.
battery drain: model differences
Also covered: Apple iPhone 13 family; Apple iPhone 11 family.