Step by step, how to detect which apps are draining your cell phone's battery

Do you find your phone is running out of battery faster than usual? In many cases, the problem isn't the age of the device or a system glitch , but something much more commonplace: apps that drain power without you even realizing it.

The good news is that both Android and iOS offer built-in tools to identify the culprits and recover battery life with a few tweaks. Now, how do you know which apps are draining your battery?

Social media that updates content in the background , games that remain active even when you're not using them, or map apps with the GPS permanently on could be responsible for your battery drain. Fortunately, by following these steps, you can identify the culprits in minutes:

In both operating systems, the first step is to open the Settings menu (the classic gear icon). From there, you'll be able to access all system functions, including the battery.

On iPhone , this option appears as "Battery." On Android , the name may vary depending on the manufacturer, but it's usually under "Device Care," "Battery," or "Battery & Performance." In all cases, you'll find a summary of recent energy usage .

On iOS , you can view usage for the past 24 hours or the past 10 days. On Android , the graph shows how the charge has decreased since you last connected the charger and which apps were active during that time.

In Apple's case, the report includes two shades of blue : dark represents screen-on time, and light represents background activity . This difference is key: many apps continue to run even when you're not directly using them. On Android, the percentage of battery consumed by each app is usually displayed.

Below the graph, both iOS and Android show a list of apps sorted by energy consumption. This is where the surprises usually appear: apps you barely used during the day but that are among the biggest battery drainers.

Messaging services, streaming platforms, and editing tools often rank high, even when they're not actively in use .

Once you've identified your most demanding apps, you can take a few simple steps to extend your battery life :

These changes may seem minor, but together they make a big difference in the phone's day-to-day performance .

Battery care doesn't end with app use. The way you charge your phone also influences its lifespan. Avoid leaving it plugged in all night or waiting until it reaches 0% before plugging it in. Ideally, keep the charge between 20% and 80% .

Whenever possible, use original or certified chargers , which protect the circuits from overheating. And if your device has the optimized charging option, activate it: this feature adapts the charging cycle to minimize wear and tear over time.

Regularly checking which apps consume the most battery and adopting good charging habits may seem like a small thing, but it makes a difference. Your phone will thank you for it.