IOS 9.2 Rapid Battery Drain Issue

I had updated my 1-year old iPhone 6 to IOS 9.2 and realized that the battery was draining really quick. After looking through many similar threads, I tried to look into my apps and their battery usages as suggested by several websites, but none seemed to be working. My phone was working perfectly till I updated it. The problem is definitely in the software. I hope that Apple looks into this problem soon.

Lawrence, I am assuming with your 35k posts that you are very knowledgeable in the Apple architecture and related firmware updates. That being said, try to have an open mind about what many are posting in several forums and understand that there could be and most likely is an issue with this latest update. I tried the recommended procedure to resolve the battery draining problems which occurred immediately post 9.2 install on my Ipad 4. I reset, and restored as instructed or recommended. I then let it charge over night using the Ipad 4 charger and OEM cable, this morning after 8 + hrs, the IPad was at 90% and that is with no use all during the evening. After 5 minutes of using the Ipad this morning, the battery drained to 70%, maybe there is a rogue app or just maybe there is a bug in their firmware. I personally have never had any issues with any upgrade until now, as more and more threads are being created on various forums for post 9.2 issues, maybe there is an issue. Instead of saying this happens every year, there is no issue, its a bug with one of your apps etc., maybe try to offer suggestions on how to get Apple to understand and start resolving. I have an Ipad, I was thinking about getting an Iphone which would be my first and finally moving away from Android, what scares me is what if this happened to my Iphone and I am out of service for a day or two like others are starting to indicate post 9.2. Something failed, simple as that so help the community by recommending next steps after all the obvious procedures have been completed.

Thanks for your help.

I have iphone6,

I updated 9.2 in the weekend, my battery is draining so fast, I have not changed anything or installed any new app,

I think its a bug in the 9.2 update, I never faced any issue before

I must add that the solution by Paul worked for me. It's a pain and a big hassle but it worked. In fact it worked so well that I could listen to a podcast for 1 hour in the background and the battery still remained at 100%, which is something that has never happened before on my 1 yr old iPhone 6+.

thanks Paul for the tip.

It has nothing to do with the hardware and it's clearly a software issue as multiple people have incurred the same problem. The link between updating to 9.2 and suddenly the battery dropping to 20% of it's capability and burning your hands is not a hardware issue.

Pauls solution certainly worked for me, though it is an inconvenience as items such as Apple Pay needs to be set up again.

First, I do not have 35,000 posts. Points are not posts. Points are awarded by people making initial posts who later mark a reply as Helpful (5 points) or Solved (10 points). So 35,000 points means that somewhere between 3,500 and 7,000 people have found my posts helpful.

Second, I have been seeing threads like this for 8 years. After EVERY update there are posts saying that battery life is worse after the update. so either every release since 1.1 has been defective, or there is a different explanation. I have given my explanation. You don't have to believe it, but if you have a better explanation feel free to post it. And try to explain why there are some reports of decreased battery life after every update that have been released, and why there are many reports from people who fixed the problem using simple troubleshooting steps. For a while I kept track:

iPhone 4s Battery Life?

iPhone 4S 5.0.1 Update Improves Battery w/ Settings Reset

iOS 5.0.1 - Made my iPhone 4S battery performance worse!

What happened to the battery fix? I have been waiting for tech help since 5:33pm

Battery draining and phone warm

iPhone 4s Battery problem maybe found!!

Battery life/iOS 5.0.1

iPhone 4S battery issue detected (really)

Battery Draining much faster on 4S, what can I do?

Battery Meter/Life Problems with 4.0.2

4.0.2 guzzling my battery. Your's too?

4.0.1 battery life

Battery runs out very quicky in iOS 4.0.1

Battery nearly nonexistant after 4.0 upgrade

Dead battery after few hours on standby using 4.0 software

3.1.3 battery problem

OS 3.1.3 battery issues

3.1.3 upgrade - shortened battery life?

Battery life cut after 3.1.3 update on iPhone 3G

3.1.3 Firmware is a battery killer - how do I back out this upgrade?

Poor battery life with iPhone 3G running 3.1.2

3.1.2 EXTREME battery drain - what gives?

3.1 Battery nightmare

iPhone 3GS with fw 3.1 – battery life gets even worse

Battery Issues with 3.0.1

BATTERY drain with 3.0

upgrade to 3.0 drains my battery

Battery Drain after Update 2.2.1

Battery Life Radically Decreased after 2.2.1 Firmware Update

I think it is wonderful the dedication you have for the community, but a quick Google search clearly shows this is no isolated incident.

When you have many variables and parts to a phone and when one thing is changed yet everything remains constant and performance alters, that one part is at fault. I don't need to be an experience poster to understand this basic trend.

Now your point on hardware being the issue could be completely reversed if I stated every single person has the same parts, why don't their IPhones also not work?

If I was to restore my iPhone back to 9.1, the issue would not be there. If I have follow Pauls tip and do a full restore, the issue in no longer there. Therefore, hardware will not be the problem as the phone would still have the issue. This therefore means the Software must be at fault and it may be impacting a phone which has a specific app, model etc.

A quick google search will show that it is not an isolated incident for every version of iOS ever released. NOT just for 9.2. And if it is an issue for 9.2, why do none of my 4 devices on iOS 9.2 show it?

The other explanation is that it is a specific app that is causing the problem, not iOS causing the problem for an app. Remembering that apps are updated constantly also. And it can also be an app that did not handle the fact that the phone was updated correctly, and got left in an indeterminate state because it failed to recognize a signal that the phone was shutting down.

If Paul's solution fixes it all that means is that some piece of software on the phone had a problem, not which one. My phone has 250 apps on it; any one of them could be at fault.

My comment on hardware was specifically to someone who said their phone would not charge to 100%. That is almost certainly a hardware problem, and is not the same problem as shortened battery life. If you use an Apple USB adapter to charge the phone it should always reach 100% unless the USB adapter or phone is defective. If there was any software on the phone that was draining the battery so fast that the battery could not reach 100% the phone would be too hot to touch. And the fix for that is simple; call Apple or take the phone to an Apple store, where they can actually test the hardware.

Sorry for the confusion with regards to points/posts and thank you for the clarification etc. My point is that you are obviously knowledgeable and well respected which I can greatly appreciate.

As of this morning my Ipad 4 had charged to 90% and that was charging overnight after a reset and restore. Again, using the Ipad for a few minutes drained the Ipad roughly 20% which is definitely not considered normal. I understand that there have been countless posts, threads regarding battery/charging related issues and this would be one more to add to that list. Unfortunately for me, this is the 1st time I have ever been impacted or had any application resulting in battery drain issues after a firmware update. I tried the recommended procedure that some indicated resolved the issues which unfortunately did not appear to resolve my specific issues with battery drain. I only started looking for answers yesterday when I decided to see if there were similar problems being reported and quickly found several threads indicating the same symptoms. My Ipad was working perfectly prior to the 9.2 upgrade. I have had great battery life and no issues whatsoever since purchased about 3 yrs prior. The Ipad 4 is out of warranty now so I am doing what any engineer would do, search for a solution and try to resolve myself. If this was a firmware related bug, would that show up on Apple store service techs troubleshooting results etc? I am going to assume not but I may be wrong.

Since there have been several threads (and growing) started all within the past 36 hrs, all saying the same thing, those impacted either have devices that went defective at the same time (possible but not likely), those impacted have the same app installed and running that is buggy, resulting in battery drain issues (definitely possible) or there is a bug within the 9.2 firmware impacting specific devices.

I have a few of the OEM Ipad 4 chargers (2.1a?) and several of the OEM lightning USB cables, never jail broke, never used interfaces and or cables that weren't Apple and or certified by Apple etc. I usually wait a few days after a new release is available to ensure no known bugs are popping up etc., this time I decided to update without verifying first and believe I made the wrong decision. The Ipad is not too hot to touch, not running oddly, all apps seem to work as designed after restore. The Ipad just continues to drain incredibly fast at an assumed 20% rate within 5-10 minutes use with low light, just using Safari and all known apps closed etc. The issue continues with any OEM charger and or OEM lightning cable used.

Do know that I appreciate your feedback as I am just trying to resolve the current issues with my Ipad, same as those trying to solve their draining issues with their specific Apple devices. Any feedback or help is greatly appreciated!

Have had iPhone 6S since later September. Amazing battery life until iOS 9.2. Suddenly I'm getting massive battery drains on idle. Battery settings put most of the blame on Youtube, but this is Apple's fault. Youtube hasn't been updated since Dec 7th and the massive battery drain issue literally hit me yesterday. I left the phone on the table at 85% and come back 2 hours later and it's 25%. Restarted it but still massively draining. I had to put it on "Low Power Mode" and pretty much can't run Youtube right now.

Fix this Apple!

Ok, maybe not widespread but is it coincidence that I have amazing battery life for 2.5 months and suddenly after updating to iOS 9.2 I'm getting worse battery life and then massive drain on idle?

There is no software problem that should prevent the battery from reaching full charge. If you haven't yet, try recalibrating the battery gauge, as I posted.

Be sure to use iPad USB adapter. They can supply up to 2.1 amps, which can overcome any possible energy drain that could keep the phone from reaching 100%.

If the iPad still does not charge to 100% take the it to an Apple store for testing; it probably has a bad battery. 3 years is a long time for a Lithium chemistry battery. they are rated for 500 full charge/discharge cycles. I understand that it happened when you updated, but that could be coincidental. And the test is quick, easy and free. If the battery tests good other avenues can be investigated, but I'm pretty sure it will show a failing battery.

Make an appointment first to avoid a long wait.

Very disappointed with Apple lately. I have the same issue on iPhone6.

Also have front facing camera that is slowly slipping off-centre and out of view. Its 3 days out of coverage so Apple will not repair.

So I have to repair the battery on my phone now with this ridiculous sequence? Disgusted with Apple's apathy.

smoledman wrote:

Ok, maybe not widespread but is it coincidence that I have amazing battery life for 2.5 months and suddenly after updating to iOS 9.2 I'm getting worse battery life and then massive drain on idle?

Just as amazing as the post a few weeks ago from a user who said that he had amazing battery life until he installed 9.1, then his battery life tanked. And he posted back a couple of days ago to say that 9.2 fixed the problem.

Stop making excuses for Apple. Loads of people are reporting the battery drain issue with 9.2.