Clyde Kahrl

Q: Siri is draining my iPhone battery

I have an iPhone 4S running iOS9.3.2.   Several days ago, I was skulking around playing a podcast to my Bluetooth headphones.   As I shifted to another podcast, I noted that my iPhone was oddly warm.   I looked at the battery charge and it was down to 50%.  This NEVER happens.   So I plugged it in and did a few other things.   I also  asked Siri what was wrong.   Siri would not say.  (I should point out that I NEVER use Siri.)  I did a number of other things, and then I plugged the iPhone into iTunes and it said I had to update the system.  I set it to download the new software.   After a while I came back and it said that the download had failed.   So I hit upgrade and it  said I had the latest system.    So I proceeded to go through all of the preferences and turn off all of the location things and background things.   And then I went and found that 55% of the battery was being spent on Siri.   So I turned off Siri (which I never use anyway)  and turned off the Siri voice thing.  I got up this morning with the phone fully charged, I took a shower and it was down 20%.   I charged it again and set it to low power, put it on a table and after 2 hours, only 3% was gone.  Yet a little later today, I reached over and it is warm.   I am using the phone less, and NOW Siri is using 75% of my phone battery. 

Now here is another funny thing.   Many months ago, my phone speaker stopped working for many applications--such as podcasts.  It worked for phone calls and speaker phone stuff, etc.  After I did all of these alterations, and removed a couple of Gigs of audio files, suddenly my speaker is working again for podcasts and NPR etc. 

And yes, I have done some reboots and I guess the only thing left is to blank it out with restore iPhone and then restore the backup. 

I have trolled around and I have found many threads dealing with the issue of being unable to turn off Siri.   By the way, under the Battery listing for Siri, it says "low signal."   Now why should that be when I am almost always in a very strong WiFi area and I have turned off most all data access. 

So why can't I delete Siri?


iPhone 4S, iOS 9.3.2

Posted on Jun 22, 2016 3:28 PM

Close

Q: Siri is draining my iPhone battery

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by jdo_apple,Helpful

    jdo_apple jdo_apple Jun 23, 2016 3:56 PM in response to Clyde Kahrl
    Community Specialists
    Jun 23, 2016 3:56 PM in response to Clyde Kahrl

    Hello Clyde Karl,


    Thanks for that info and choosing the Apple Support Communities. I know how important having your iPhone and Siri work properly is to you!


    Based on what you stated and the good troubleshooting steps you have already tried, your next step is to backup and restore your iPhone in iTunes, to narrow down if this is a software or hardware issue. Please follow these next steps.


    How to back up your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch


    Import photos and videos from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch


    Use iTunes on your Mac or PC to restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod to factory settings


    Cheers!

  • by Clyde Kahrl,

    Clyde Kahrl Clyde Kahrl Jun 23, 2016 4:11 PM in response to jdo_apple
    Level 1 (33 points)
    iPhone
    Jun 23, 2016 4:11 PM in response to jdo_apple

    OK.  I did the "restore" function, which cleaned up my iPhone and then I did the restore from backup and that seems to have worked.   My data files are all gone, so I have tons of free memory, but I think the directories of most are still there, my contacts are there and so forth.  FYI, I don't synch anything--I have too much to synch.   But here is the problem: Some time ago Apple switched my Apple ID on me without my wanting to do it.  It changed it from my 1995 email address, to my present address.  When I go to my Apple Store account, quite properly, it prompts me with my present ID.   BUT, iCloud is continuing to use my OLD AppleID.   When setting up the phone, "find-my-mac" prompted me with my old ID and I entered the correct password, but it canceled me out with NO OPPORTUNITY to change my AppleID.   I have gone into the iCloud settings and it ALSO will not allow me to change my AppleID imbedded in my phone JUST FOR iCloud!  As I mentioned, the Apple store application has my correct ID.  

    Another thing that is happening is that my physical functions that came back a couple of days ago (such as the loudspeaker for NPR and the still camera) these are all working great.   So far, the phone is heating up a little, but it is all attributable to the application "settings" which makes sense because that is what I am using. and there is nothing there about Siri.  

    So how do I straighten up my iCloud ID setting?

  • by jdo_apple,

    jdo_apple jdo_apple Jun 24, 2016 7:57 AM in response to Clyde Kahrl
    Community Specialists
    Jun 24, 2016 7:57 AM in response to Clyde Kahrl

    Thanks for that great follow up, it really helps! Let's address both of your issues separately.

     

    1. For your iPhone battery and getting warm like before, try temporarily turning off Background App Refresh setting and Location Services and test for a couple of days, as this article on batteries in Apple devices recommends.

    Batteries - Maximizing Performance - Apple

     

    2. For your iCloud and Apple ID issue, you would want to start by going to the Manage your Apple ID website and make sure all your personal data is up to date. Sign out of your Apple ID on your devices, whether old or new, and then sign back in to sync the info you corrected and updated from the Apple ID website.

    Change your Apple ID

    What to do after you change your Apple ID email address or password

     

    If either issue is not resolved, your next step is to call AppleCare, as they have diagnostics that can run a test on your battery and tools to help with the Apple ID issue, as well.

     

    Cheers and have a great day!