Apps draining battery in the background can make your phone feel old, slow, and unreliable. You charge your phone fully, use it normally, and still see the battery percentage dropping faster than expected. The confusing part is that sometimes the problem is not the phone itself — it is one or two apps silently using power in the background.

Your phone already has built-in tools to show which apps are using the most battery. Android lets you check battery usage by app and restrict high-usage apps, while iPhone shows battery usage, background activity, and battery insights inside Settings. Apple also explains that “Background Activity” means an app used battery while running in the background, such as playing audio or tracking location.

In this guide, you will learn how to find apps draining battery on Android and iPhone, why some apps use more power than others, and what you should do to fix battery drain without deleting everything from your phone.

Apps drain battery when they keep using phone resources like the internet, location, screen, camera, microphone, notifications, background refresh, or Bluetooth. Some battery use is normal. For example, Maps needs GPS, YouTube needs screen and internet, and WhatsApp needs notifications. The problem starts when an app uses too much battery even when you are not actively using it.

Common reasons apps drain battery include:

• Background activity
• Location tracking
• Too many notifications
• Auto-sync
• Poor network usage
• Buggy app updates
• Heavy camera or video use
• Social media auto-play
• Unused apps running silently
• Apps with unnecessary permissions

The goal is not to stop every app from running. The goal is to identify which apps are using more battery than they should.

For more practical battery-saving tips, read our guide on boosting phone battery life without extra apps.

The fastest way to find battery-draining apps on Android is to check battery usage by app.

How to Check Battery Usage on Android

Go to:

Settings > Battery > Battery Usage

On some Android phones, you may see options like View by apps, Battery usage by app, or App battery usage. On Pixel phones, Google says users can open Battery usage, tap “View by apps,” and review or change how a listed app uses battery. Google also recommends keeping apps on “Optimized” where available.

What to Look For

Look for apps that:

• Use high battery even when you barely opened them
• Show high background usage
• Use GPS or mobile data for long periods
• Appear at the top repeatedly every day
• Are unknown or rarely used

If a social media, shopping, weather, fitness, maps, or unknown app appears unusually high, that app may be causing battery drain.

iPhone also makes it easy to find apps using too much battery.

You can read Apple’s official guide on checking iPhone battery usage here: https://support.apple.com/en-us/102432

How to Check Battery Usage on iPhone

Go to:

Settings > Battery

Apple’s Battery screen can show battery usage by app, daily usage, and suggestions if available. Apple also explains that if an app shows “Background Activity,” it means much of that app’s battery usage happened while it was active in the background.

What to Look For

Check apps with:

• High battery percentage
• High background activity
• Unusual screen-off usage
• Location-based activity
• Apps you rarely use but still consume power

If an app is using a lot of battery in the background, you can reduce its background access, location access, notifications, or usage.

If battery drain started suddenly, think about what changed recently.

Ask yourself:

• Did I install a new app?
• Did I update an app?
• Did I install a game?
• Did I allow location access?
• Did I enable widgets?
• Did I add a new email account?
• Did I start using a fitness or tracking app?

A newly installed or recently updated app can sometimes cause unexpected battery drain.

Quick Fix

Uninstall the new app temporarily and check battery performance for 24 hours.

If battery improves, that app was likely the issue.

Unknown apps can drain battery, use data, or run in the background without your knowledge. On Android, Google Play Protect checks apps and devices for harmful behavior, including safety checks before downloading apps from Google Play.

On Android

Go to:

Play Store > Profile icon > Play Protect > Scan

Also check:

Settings > Apps > See all apps

Remove apps you do not recognize after confirming they are not system apps.

On iPhone

Go to:

Settings > General > iPhone Storage

Review installed apps and delete apps you do not use.

Sometimes an app drains battery because of a bug. Developers often fix such issues in updates.

What to Do

• Update the app
• Restart your phone
• Clear cache on Android
• Reinstall the app
• Check recent reviews in the app store
• Replace the app with a lighter alternative

If an app keeps draining battery after updates, uninstall it or restrict its background usage.

Sometimes apps are not the main problem. Battery drain can also happen due to:

• Old battery health
• Poor mobile network
• High screen brightness
• Hot weather
• 5G/mobile data usage
• Gaming
• Video recording
• Long video calls
• Too many widgets
• System update indexing
• Weak Wi-Fi or signal switching

On iPhone, Apple explains that battery health and chemical aging affect performance over time, and iPhone includes battery health information in Settings.

If your phone is old and battery health is poor, even normal apps may seem like they are draining too much battery.

Use this quick Android checklist:

1. Go to Settings > Battery > Battery Usage
2. Check apps using the most battery
3. Tap suspicious apps
4. Set battery usage to Optimized or Restricted
5. Review location permissions
6. Turn off unnecessary notifications
7. Restrict background data
8. Run Play Protect
9. Uninstall apps you do not use
10. Restart your phone and monitor for 24 hours

Use this quick iPhone checklist:

1. Go to Settings > Battery
2. Check battery usage by app
3. Look for background activity
4. Turn off Background App Refresh for unnecessary apps
5. Review Location Services
6. Turn off unnecessary notifications
7. Enable Low Power Mode when needed
8. Delete unused apps
9. Update iOS and apps
10. Check Battery Health

These app categories often use more battery:

This does not mean these apps are bad. It means they need proper settings.

Try these fixes in order:

1. Restrict Background Activity

Limit background usage for apps you do not need constantly.

2. Change Location Permission

Use While Using the App instead of Always where possible.

3. Turn Off Background Refresh

Disable background refresh for non-essential apps.

4. Disable Unnecessary Notifications

Fewer notifications mean fewer wake-ups.

5. Update the App

A battery bug may already be fixed in the latest version.

6. Clear Cache on Android

For Android users, clearing cache may help if an app is behaving badly.

7. Reinstall the App

A fresh install can fix corrupted app data.

8. Delete Apps You Don’t Use

Unused apps should not quietly use battery, data, or storage.

9. Restart Your Phone

A simple restart can stop stuck background processes.

10. Update Your Phone

System updates often include battery and performance improvements.

Uninstall an app if:

• You do not recognize it
• It drains battery daily
• It uses location without reason
• It sends too many notifications
• It uses too much background data
• It asks for unnecessary permissions
• It has poor reviews about battery drain
• You rarely use it

If an app is important but drains battery, restrict it instead of deleting it.

Avoid these mistakes:

• Installing random battery saver apps
• Giving location access to every app
• Keeping too many apps running unrestricted
• Ignoring battery usage reports
• Leaving screen brightness high all day
• Keeping Bluetooth, hotspot, GPS, or mobile data on unnecessarily
• Not updating apps
• Using heavy live wallpapers
• Ignoring poor battery health
• Downloading APKs from unknown websites

Most “battery booster” apps are unnecessary because Android and iPhone already include built-in battery tools.

Apps draining battery can make your phone feel frustrating, but the fix usually starts with one simple step: check battery usage. Your Android phone or iPhone already shows which apps use the most battery, which apps run in the background, and which apps may need restrictions.

Start with the basics. Check battery usage, review background activity, limit location access, turn off unnecessary notifications, update apps, and delete apps you no longer use. If one app keeps appearing at the top every day, that is your biggest clue.

You do not need random battery booster apps. You just need to find the real battery-hungry apps and control what they are allowed to do in the background.

1. How do I know which app is draining my battery?

On Android, go to Settings > Battery > Battery Usage. On iPhone, go to Settings > Battery. Check which apps use the highest battery percentage and whether they show background activity.

2. Why is my phone battery draining when I am not using it?

Your battery may drain due to background apps, location tracking, notifications, poor network, data syncing, widgets, or battery health issues.

3. Should I close all apps to save battery?

Not always. Constantly closing and reopening apps may not help much. It is better to restrict background activity, reduce location access, and turn off unnecessary notifications.

4. Which apps usually drain the most battery?

Maps, games, video apps, social media, fitness apps, camera apps, and apps using location or background data usually consume more battery.

5. Does Low Power Mode help?

Yes. Low Power Mode on iPhone and Battery Saver on Android can reduce background activity and power usage when your battery is low. Apple says Low Power Mode reduces power usage by affecting features like background activity and display brightness.

6. Can unknown apps drain battery?

Yes. Unknown or suspicious apps can use battery, data, permissions, and background processes. Android users should run Google Play Protect to scan for harmful apps.

7. Should I uninstall apps that drain battery?

Uninstall apps you do not use, do not recognize, or do not trust. For important apps, try restricting background activity, reducing notifications, or changing location access first.