If your iPhone 13 is dying way too quickly, the first thing to do is check the battery's health. Head to Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging. You'll see a percentage for Maximum Capacity.
This number shows how much charge your battery can hold compared to when it was new. As the battery ages and its capacity decreases, it may need charging more often.
While you're in the Battery menu, check the Daily Usage chart and App and System Activity. Tap "View All Battery Usage" to see the last eight days, then tap a day for details. Look for apps with high battery use and check whether that use happened in the background.
Update Your Software
Before you start turning everything off, make sure your iPhone 13 is running the latest version of iOS. Software updates often include bug fixes and optimizations that can resolve mysterious battery drain issues.
Go to Settings > General > Software Update. If an update is available, plug your phone into power and install it. If battery life drops after an update, wait a few days before checking again, since update tasks can continue in the background.
Manage Your Display Settings
The display is one of the biggest battery users on any phone. On the iPhone 13, you have a few key settings to check. First, open Settings > Display & Brightness.
Consider reducing the screen brightness manually with the slider. Also, tap on "Auto-Lock" and set it to 30 seconds or 1 minute so the screen turns off quickly when you're not using it. You can also toggle off "Raise to Wake" to prevent the screen from lighting up every time you pick up the phone.
You can also check Settings > Battery for display suggestions above Daily Usage. Tap a suggestion to open the related setting. If auto-brightness is off, enabling it can help battery life by adjusting screen brightness to suit your surroundings.
Control Background Activity
Apps refreshing in the background are a major cause of battery drain. You can control this in two places. Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh.
Tap "Background App Refresh" again, then choose "Off" or "Wi-Fi" to limit background updates. Even better, scroll through the list and disable it for specific apps that don't need to update constantly, like games or streaming apps you only use actively.
Next, check location services. Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services. Review the list and for any app that doesn't absolutely need to know where you are, tap on it and select "Never" or "While Using the App." Avoid "Always" unless it's critical.
Review Your Connectivity Features
Wireless radios searching for a signal can drain the battery. If you're in an area with poor cellular service, your iPhone 13 works harder to maintain a connection, which burns through power. Enabling Airplane Mode in these situations can help, but that's not always practical.
For a more nuanced approach, look at Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. If you're not using a Bluetooth accessory like headphones or your watch, you can turn Bluetooth off in Settings > Bluetooth. Keep Wi-Fi on and connect to a network when possible, since Wi-Fi uses less battery power than cellular data.
Also, consider your mail settings. Go to Settings > Apps > Mail and tap Fetch New Data. If you don't see it there, look under Mail Accounts. Push delivers new messages as they arrive, while Fetch checks for them at intervals. Switching to Fetch and setting it to every 30 minutes or even hourly can make a noticeable difference.
Use Low Power Mode Strategically
This is one of the most effective tools on your iPhone 13. You can turn it on manually by going to Settings > Battery and toggling on Low Power Mode. You can also add it to your Control Center for quick access.
When activated, it reduces background activity, disables automatic downloads, and pauses some visual effects. It's perfect for when you know you'll be away from a charger for a long time. Some features may be limited while it's on, but your battery can last longer between charges.
Check for Problematic Apps
Sometimes, a single app is the culprit. Go back to Settings > Battery and look at the usage breakdown. If an app uses a lot of battery in the background, reducing your use of it can help.
The first step is to check the App Store for an update for that specific app. Developers often release patches for battery-draining bugs. If the problem persists after an update, try force-closing the app. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen and pause in the middle, then swipe up on the app's preview to close it.
As a last resort for a misbehaving app, you can delete and reinstall it. This often clears out any corrupted data that might be causing the excessive battery use.
Reset All Settings
If you've tried everything and the battery is still draining fast, a settings reset can help. This won't delete any of your personal data like photos or messages, but it will reset all your system preferences to their defaults.
That means you'll need to rejoin Wi-Fi networks, restore your wallpaper and display settings, re-pair Bluetooth devices and your Apple Watch, and set up Face ID again. To do this, go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset, and then choose "Reset All Settings."
Consider Your Charging Habits and Hardware
The iPhone 13 is a few years old now, and its Lightning port is a bit outdated. For fast charging, use a 20W or higher USB-C power adapter with an Apple or MFi-certified Lightning cable. It can charge up to 50% in 30 minutes. Avoid damaged or uncertified cables.
Wireless charging is convenient, but watch for excessive heat while charging, which isn't great for long-term battery health. The iPhone 13 supports MagSafe and Qi2 charging at up to 15W, and standard Qi charging at up to 7.5W. Keep the phone away from heat while charging overnight.
If your battery capacity is significantly degraded, software tweaks cannot restore the capacity it has lost. At that point, the most effective fix is a battery replacement from Apple or an authorized service provider.