Low Power Mode saves your battery by limiting background activity
Low Power Mode is a setting on iPhones and iPads that reduces power consumption by slowing down performance, limiting background app refresh, and reducing visual effects. When you turn it on, your device uses less battery per hour. You can add it to Control Center — the quick-access menu you open by swiping down from the top-right corner — so you can toggle it on or off without opening Settings.
The steps differ slightly depending on whether you have an iPhone with Face ID (iPhone X and newer) or an older model with a home button. Both take about two minutes.
Key Takeaways
- Low Power Mode reduces battery drain by limiting background activity and performance, and you can turn it on from Control Center instead of Settings.
- On iPhones with Face ID, you swipe down from the top-right corner and tap the edit button (plus sign) to add Low Power Mode to Control Center.
- On iPhones with a home button, you swipe up from the bottom to open Control Center, then follow the same edit process.
- Once added, Low Power Mode appears as a battery icon in Control Center and turns yellow when active.
Adding Low Power Mode on iPhone X and newer (Face ID models)
Open Control Center by swiping down from the top-right corner of your screen. You will see a grid of icons — these are your quick-access controls. Look for a small plus sign or edit button, usually in the top-left or bottom-right area of the Control Center panel.
Tap the edit button (plus sign). This opens a list of available controls you can add. Scroll down until you find "Low Power Mode" — it has a battery icon next to it. Tap the green plus sign next to Low Power Mode to add it to your Control Center.
Tap "Done" or swipe up to close the edit screen. Low Power Mode now appears in your Control Center. When you need to save battery, open Control Center and tap the Low Power Mode icon (it looks like a battery). The icon turns yellow when Low Power Mode is active.
Adding Low Power Mode on iPhone 8 and older (home button models)
Swipe up from the bottom of your screen to open Control Center. You will see the same grid of quick-access icons. Look for the edit button — on these models it is usually a circle with three dots or a plus sign.
Tap the edit button to enter customization mode. Scroll through the list of available controls until you see "Low Power Mode" with its battery icon. Tap the green plus sign next to it to add it to your Control Center.
Swipe up or tap outside the menu to close the edit screen. Low Power Mode is now in your Control Center. Tap it whenever you want to turn it on, and it will show as yellow when active.
What Low Power Mode actually does to your device
When Low Power Mode is on, your iPhone reduces performance — apps may load slightly slower and animations may be less smooth. Background app refresh pauses, so apps do not check for new information when you are not using them. Email, messages, and social media updates arrive less frequently until you open the app.
Visual effects like parallax (the slight movement of your wallpaper when you tilt your phone) and transparency effects are reduced or turned off. Location services become less accurate. Some features like AirDrop and iCloud syncing slow down. These changes together can extend your battery life by several hours, depending on how much you use your phone.
Low Power Mode turns off automatically when your battery reaches 80% after you charge your phone. You can also turn it off manually at any time from Control Center, even if your battery is low.
When to use Low Power Mode and when to skip it
Use Low Power Mode when your battery is below 20% and you need your phone to last until you can charge it. It is also useful if you are traveling, away from a charger for most of the day, or in a situation where you cannot charge until evening. Many people turn it on automatically once their battery drops below 30%.
You do not need Low Power Mode if your battery is above 50% and you have access to a charger within a few hours. Turning it on when your battery is healthy will not harm your phone, but it will make your device feel slower without much benefit. Some apps — like maps, video calls, or games — may not work well in Low Power Mode because they need full performance, so turn it off if you are using those apps.
Removing Low Power Mode from Control Center
If you add Low Power Mode and later decide you do not want it in Control Center, you can remove it. Open Control Center and tap the edit button again. Find Low Power Mode in the list and tap the red minus sign next to it. Tap "Done" to save the change.
Removing it from Control Center does not delete the feature — you can still turn on Low Power Mode from Settings > Battery > Low Power Mode. Removing it just hides it from your quick-access menu.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Low Power Mode damage my battery?
No. Low Power Mode does not harm your battery. It actually reduces stress on the battery by limiting power-hungry tasks. You can use it as often as you want without damaging your phone's long-term battery health.
Will I miss notifications if Low Power Mode is on?
You will still receive notifications for calls, texts, and alerts. What changes is that apps do not refresh in the background, so you may not see new emails or social media updates until you open the app yourself. Notifications still come through when they arrive.
Can I set Low Power Mode to turn on automatically?
iOS does not have a built-in automatic schedule for Low Power Mode, but you can use the Shortcuts app to create an automation that turns it on at a specific time or battery level. This requires setting up a shortcut, which takes a few extra steps beyond adding it to Control Center.
What is the difference between Low Power Mode and turning off my phone?
Low Power Mode keeps your phone on and usable — you can still make calls, send texts, and use apps, just slower. Turning off your phone stops all activity completely. Low Power Mode is better if you need your phone available but want to save battery.