Phone expert warns popular method to save battery life is draining your device

02 March 2024 , 17:54

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Is there a way to avoid the dreaded low battery sign? (Stock photo) (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

It's mad how just three simple words can make your heart sink: "Warning, low battery."

If you're constantly haunted by this modern-day dilemma, you will have inevitably tried to find a hack to boost your phone's longevity on a night out. Perhaps you walk around with your device in airplane mode, accepting that any incoming texts will just have to wait.

Or maybe you make sure the brightness is so dim you can't actually see anything on the screen. However, there is one popular method that people think will save them a little bit of juice that is in fact draining your device.

Both iPhone and Android users will know has satisfying it is to swipe your apps away, especially if you've built up a bit of a backlog. Many believe this will also help save their battery, as the phone is no longer working hard to run several applications at the same time.

But Liam Howly, Chief Marketing Officer at musicMagpie warns against this - saying it could actually harm your precious battery life. "Most iPhone users swipe up on an app once finished using it, either out of habit or because they think it will save their battery and improve performance," he said.

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"In fact, the opposite is true; swiping up on apps when you’re not using them can reduce your battery life. Howly explains this is because it takes 'more energy to launch an app than to keep it running in the background'. "So when you continually open and close an app, you may be draining your battery more," he added.

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If your iPhone battery has lasted throughout the night, but you've been caught in the relentless British rain - Apple has officially warned against popping it into a box of rice to dry out. Although the method is ragingly popular online, the tech giant says it could cause more damage than good.

Instead, Apple recommends unplugging any cables from your device and waiting until they are completely dry. "Tap your iPhone gently against your hand with the connector facing down to remove excess liquid," the manufacturer said.

"After at least 30 minutes, try charging it with a Lightning or USB-C cable or connecting an accessory." Apple explains if the alert continues to pop up, it is worth leaving your phone in a 'dry area with some airflow' for up to a day - but small particles from rice could damage the charging point.

What's your top phone hack to save on battery? Let us know in the comments section below

Liam Gilliver