Skeuomorph
Level 1 (70 points)

Q: FIX FOR: iPhone 4 battery draining fast, phone running hot

I had the same issue many have reported here and in comments on blogs, where their +_battery was draining at least twice as fast_+ as on an iPhone 3GS with iOS 4.

Some threads suggest +_this happens to iPhone 4 when restored from a 3G or 3GS_+, and indeed, that's what I'd done. A few people said that resetting to factory settings and installing everything fresh solved the issue, giving them better battery life than they'd seen on any prior iPhone.

Many of my apps have files or settings stored in them, so I didn't want to have to set everything up again. A fresh install is a real pain.

Deep in an iPhone 3G thread mentioning a similar battery problem after upgrading to iOS 4, someone said they'd deleted all their mail accounts, and set those up fresh, which solved the issue for them. I tried that today, and it worked.

*_BEFORE AND AFTER_*:

Thursday and Friday, the iPhone 4 went from 100% to 15% in under 6 hours. Today, after this fix, the iPhone 4 is at 87% after 12 hours. Thursday and Friday the phone was hot to the touch whenever I picked it up. Today it's always cool. Apps usage and movement among coverage areas on each day have been exactly the same. The only change was resetting up mail.

*_STEPS TO FIX_*:

Do this on WiFi so you can sync and check mail fast.

1. Delete all mail accounts.

2. If MobileMe user, delete MobileMe account, and remove all Calendars, Contacts, Notes, etc., from the phone (so you don't have dupes when you re-sync).

3. Turn off phone, and back on again.

4. If MobileMe user, add MobileMe account first. I enabled all options, even Find My iPhone (Thursday and Friday I had it off, in case it was using power). Wait long enough for contacts and calendars to sync, check to make sure. I use MobileMe mail on Push.

5. Add back each additional mail account. I have 5. I am in a marginal coverage area, so I set these accounts on Fetch Hourly. I also have "Preview 5 Lines" (I think the default is Preview 2 Lines. This doesn't matter.)

6. Go into Mail, go to the MobileMe Inbox, and scroll your way down letting the messages come in. You can see them come in when you see the Preview Lines update, and then scroll some more.

7. Go into each additional mail account's Inbox, scroll your way down, letting the messages come in.

8. Go to the combined Inbox if you use that, make sure all the messages are in.

9. The WiFi activity spinner may remain spinning even after Mail says it is done Checking Mail. This is because other parts of mail accounts are being synced for the first time. Let the iPhone sit in Mail combined inbox until the spinner stops. Quit Mail, go back in, and watch the spinner after it's done Checking Mail. If the spinner doesn't stop after < 5 seconds or so, let Mail sit again. Once it's caught up, going into mail will Check Mail, and the spinner will stop a few seconds after as it should.

10. You're done.

Hopefully your phone stays cool and your battery life reflects the boost from the 20% larger battery. If not, the next step to try is Reset Network Settings, and finally try a factory reset and installing everything fresh instead of doing a restore. Hopefully you won't need to do that. I didn't.

(a) G5 Quad; (b) Mac Pro; (c) MBP 17"; (d) iMac 24"; (e) iPhone, Mac OS X (10.6.1), (a) 6.5 GB, Apple 30" + Cintiq 21; (b) 4 GB, Dell 30" + Samsung 215TW

Posted on Jun 26, 2010 5:53 PM

Close
Skeuomorph

Q: FIX FOR: iPhone 4 battery draining fast, phone running hot

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

first Previous Page 3 of 21 last Next

  • by frankfromstamford,

    frankfromstamford frankfromstamford Aug 1, 2011 11:56 PM in response to davefrombrisbane
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 1, 2011 11:56 PM in response to davefrombrisbane

    OK... Enjoy your backberry! My fellow work mates had nothing but aggrivation plus hours on the phone trying to sort our configuartion probelms. What an awfull user interface too!

    Bet your computer runs Windows as well. I bet you have anti-virus software and accept this as being normal. I bet you think its normal resetting everytime it freezes.  I bet you just put up with it cus you dont know any different. Its not your fault but hopefully you will see the light one day.

  • by H2Orca,

    H2Orca H2Orca Aug 2, 2011 6:48 PM in response to Skeuomorph
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 2, 2011 6:48 PM in response to Skeuomorph

    This is exactly what happened to me! I have a 32GB iPhone 4 that I bought in December, so I didn't think something was wrong with the phone already. I even went to the Apple store and they told me that my battery was draining because I had too many apps open, specifically Google Maps. They ran a diagnostic on my battery and found that it was able to last 7.5 hours. So, feeling dumb, I went home. However, even after closing all of my apps, my battery continued to drain rapidly. I followed what you said and deleted all of my email accounts (I had 3) and then put them back in, and synched them one by one. Now my phone works perfectly well! Thank you so much for your recommendation!

  • by afcbdave,

    afcbdave afcbdave Aug 8, 2011 2:11 AM in response to H2Orca
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 8, 2011 2:11 AM in response to H2Orca

    I've had exactly the same problems on my iPhone 3GS in the UK since the last update.  I even replaced the battery as the phone was nearly 2 years old, but this didn't help.   Having now updated to v4.3.5, it seems a lot better. 

     

    Has anyone also noticed an increase in their data usage during this period?  I'm on a 500Mb per month data tariff and never get close to using it as I'm usually within range of a WiFi connection.  In June I reached the limit a few days before the end of the month and in July I hit 80% of the limit within the first week.   Having seen the mentions of 'ping' problems, perhaps the two are linked?

  • by frog bite,

    frog bite frog bite Aug 9, 2011 12:29 AM in response to Skeuomorph
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 9, 2011 12:29 AM in response to Skeuomorph

    If you only use Wifi (so no 3G) then this post could be interesting: http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/Google+Mobile/thread?tid=5058442512328222& hl=en

  • by kinilaw,

    kinilaw kinilaw Aug 13, 2011 11:03 AM in response to Skeuomorph
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 13, 2011 11:03 AM in response to Skeuomorph

    Your absolutely right my friend. deleting one of the email fix the battery problem. It happened last week when notice that after the new OS update from iTunes, I unplug my iphone 4 from the computer and says battery 100% full, and after 30 mins. it says 15% battery left on my iPhone 4 which I use for 2 txt and one call (2 min call). 

     

    I had two email account in my iphone 4, GMAIL and work email with MICROSOFT EXCHANGE. I deleted the work email and just have GMAIL working. Reboot the iPhone 4 and plug it back to the computer, backup into itunes just incase, then let it charge until back to 100%.

     

    Now start using the phone and it shows that the battery is still at 64% after 6 hours in normal use (calls, text and web searching - wifi). Seems the battery is working fine my iphone 4 is not hot anymore. So Thanks for your suggestions.

  • by mr8eightman,

    mr8eightman mr8eightman Aug 14, 2011 7:47 AM in response to Skeuomorph
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 14, 2011 7:47 AM in response to Skeuomorph

    I have the problem w/ my iphone it suddenly drains so fast, faster than it use to be, and draining fast even when I am not using it and under cool place. I try deleting my mail account and turn it on and off but the moment I turn it on my battery again drains from 78% to 77% , that fast, what else should I do?

  • by manuelfromhanford,

    manuelfromhanford manuelfromhanford Aug 14, 2011 8:05 AM in response to mr8eightman
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 14, 2011 8:05 AM in response to mr8eightman

    What worked for me was deleteing me exchange mail account, reboot the iPhone, then enter in the exchange account again. Took a few minutes to update all the contacts but has work fine every since. Also took care of the "hot phone" problem as well.

  • by edgdat,

    edgdat edgdat Aug 23, 2011 1:41 AM in response to Skeuomorph
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 23, 2011 1:41 AM in response to Skeuomorph

    I've had the same problems on my iPhone 4 in the LV since I buy it. It`s not a regular issue, but it`s show up time after time! I don`t know what is the reason for it! My support company sad that everything is ok and phone works fine, but I still have the same problem! At now I start thinking about some Android....   I`m not happy with my iPhone 4!

  • by rickotex,

    rickotex rickotex Aug 26, 2011 2:40 PM in response to manuelfromhanford
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 26, 2011 2:40 PM in response to manuelfromhanford

    I had exactly the same experience, and the same fix worked for me.   Suddenly phone started getting hot and battery charge dropped like a rock.   Deleting all mail accounts and reactivating them worked.  Easy fix.  Only took about 10 minutes to get all three mail accounts back on the phone. 

  • by HeavyGfromLongmont,

    HeavyGfromLongmont HeavyGfromLongmont Sep 17, 2011 5:48 AM in response to Skeuomorph
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 17, 2011 5:48 AM in response to Skeuomorph

    Earlier this week I had to update my work e-mail password and then the battery was draining after 5 hours while mostly in standby.  That was the only thing I did to my phone this week.  So I deleted my Exchange account and after 1 hour I've only lost 2% on my battery.  Thanks for the tip, though I'd still like to know what is happening in the background to cause this.

     

    Heavy G

  • by Lawrence Finch,

    Lawrence Finch Lawrence Finch Sep 17, 2011 7:42 AM in response to HeavyGfromLongmont
    Level 8 (38,338 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 17, 2011 7:42 AM in response to HeavyGfromLongmont

    What is happening is email still has an open Exchange connection that is failing (in your case because of the password change), so email keeps retrying the failing connection. When you delete the Exchange account and reboot the phone it closes that connection. You can then add the Exchange account back and it should work normally again.

  • by lex3001,

    lex3001 lex3001 Sep 19, 2011 9:48 PM in response to inajeep
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Sep 19, 2011 9:48 PM in response to inajeep

    Well let me please thank Skeuomorph and inajeep for their posts on this subject. I've had my Verizon iPhone 4 for a few months now and the phone is really awesome especially around here in the SF bay area where the AT&T network hardly worked at all anymore where I live and was spotty where I work.

     

    Out of the blue on Sunday I noticed my phone was warm all day and the battery was draining fast. At first I wanted to blame this on nice sunny weather or on the alerts for the Bills/Oakland game and that I kept checking the scores etc. But then when it was warm again today and I had to charge it three times, I figured something else was afoot. I killed all the apps, powered off and on, all to no avail.

     

    Then I read this thread and it hit me... we retired an old Exchange server at work on Saturday and the account was still on the phone. So probably the phone was retrying, perhaps very frequently, to reach out and touch that server and due to some programming error (bug) this was heating the phone up and draining the battery. In any case, I've deleted the account now and I figure I'll update to 4.2.10 as long as I'm at it -- looking forward to see how the battery life goes tomorrow.

     

    Thanks again for sharing your fixes to this problem!

  • by dazzasimmo,

    dazzasimmo dazzasimmo Sep 21, 2011 5:01 PM in response to lex3001
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 21, 2011 5:01 PM in response to lex3001

    i've finally upgraded recently to an iphone 4 from a 3G, and was dissapointed that as of last week i've had the same issue with the excessive heat & the battery drain, and lex3001's comment about the retired exchange server and the other comments about exchange password issues made me realise what i think happened in my case...

    My exchange server crashed on the weekend just gone and was down for about 4 hrs, and so during this time i had attempted to check my mail. Anyway, i got the server back up and my iphone connected to it fine again & mail was fine. BUT i have a suspicion that the failed attempt to connect to the mail server when it was down has never actually stopped...it's been churning away in the background ever since the outage. I found this thread and deleted the accounts as suggested, and when i deleted the exchange account i got a password error! i just deleted the account and ignored the message, and everything seems fine now - it immediately cooled down. So i reckon there was a rouge process trying to tell me the mail server was down and to try my password again, even after it had come back up again.

    sorry for the waffle, and sorry if this has already been covered, but i was quite excited that my phone seems fine again, and thought this info might help someone else.

    Daniel

  • by WL31,

    WL31 WL31 Sep 22, 2011 6:38 AM in response to inajeep
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 22, 2011 6:38 AM in response to inajeep

    Hi inajeep,

     

    My battery was draining fast too, and I noticed that in Settings->General->Usage. Under "time since last full charge", usage and standby statistice showed identical timing, even though I leave the phone untouched most of the time.

     

    I got the iPhone replaced, charged it for about 8hrs before downlading Apps or doing anything. I downloaded a few apps after that.

     

    The same problem described above came back.

     

    It seemed to have gone away after I deleted two apps, switched off and on the phone, turned on Cellular data for about 20 to 30 mins then switch it off again. But the problem coudl easily come back, just like what happened yesterday, after I go to Settings->General->Reset->Reset all settings, the problem went away but came back again after the batt died and I charge it again to 100%.

     

    You were talking about deleting emails in your post, but the thing is I do not even have emails set up on my iPhone.

     

    If the problem comes back, what can I do??

     

    Thanks.

  • by rakish with sync contact,

    rakish with sync contact rakish with sync contact Sep 23, 2011 12:26 PM in response to Skeuomorph
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 23, 2011 12:26 PM in response to Skeuomorph

    Folks

    I am also having low battery. After measuring I get about 7 hours with 3G switched off. This is what I did

    1) delete all email accounts, especially exchange email

    2) install synccontact ( need it as my contacts on google

    Enhance server )

    3) Reaet network settings

     

    Thats it. Wish things get better for u guys too

first Previous Page 3 of 21 last Next