Just found a way to fix my phone's battery drain after the new update

My Pixel 7's battery was dying by 2 PM after the last system update. I tried the usual stuff like closing apps, but it didn't help. I finally went into the developer options and turned off 'Mobile data always active', which was a hidden setting. My battery now lasts until about 7 PM on a normal day. Has anyone else found a specific setting that made a big difference like this?

4 comments

4 Comments

zara_sanchez1mo ago

Oh man, that's a great find... my battery life has been awful lately too. Might have to try that setting.

logan_gonzalez1mo ago

Doubt it's that big a deal, @zara_sanchez. Phones just get old and batteries wear out. Turning off one setting feels like trying to fix a leaky boat with a band-aid. My last phone died in three hours no matter what I changed. You'll probably just end up carrying a charger anyway.

sarahp341mo ago

My Pixel 6 actually got an extra hour of screen time after turning off 5G. It sounds small but that's the difference between my phone dying at dinner or making it home. Logan has a point about old batteries, but software settings can really stretch what's left. I kept my last phone for four years just by being careful with background apps and screen brightness. Sometimes a band-aid is all you need if the leak is small enough.

rileyprice8d ago

That's a solid tip for sure. Honestly though, just turning off 5G feels like a temporary fix for a bigger problem. You shouldn't have to cripple your phone's features to get through the day.