If your iPhone suddenly has terrible battery life, there's a simple way to fix it

If you've suddenly noticed your iPhone's battery icon glowing red way faster than normal, there could be a pretty simple explanation and an easy way to fix it. Apple has just released its latest iOS 26 operating system, and if you've installed it on your device, you can expect to see the power drain a little faster than normal.

Now, don't panic. This isn't some trick from Apple aimed at getting you buy a new iPhone, it happens after every iOS release. When new Apple software is pushed out to devices, they have to do a lot of work in the background, such as downloading photos, indexing files and getting everything in the right place.

This process can take a couple of days, and during that period, it will hurt battery life due to the additional processing power that's being used.

Another reason things can take a hit is that you'll probably be using the phone more as you dig into the settings, design new wallpapers and try out the latest features.

After a few days, everything should settle down again, and your battery life will be back to normal.

So yes, the best way to fix this issue is simply to be patient and don't panic.

Explaining more, Apple said: Apple’s hardware and software are designed together to deliver great performance and great battery life. As new features and improvements are added, they can change the way we use our devices, as you explore and utilise these new capabilities.

"Immediately after completing an update, particularly a major release, you might notice a temporary impact on battery life and thermal performance. This is normal, as your device needs time to complete the setup process in the background, including indexing data and files for search, downloading new assets, and updating apps.

"Depending on individual usage, some users may notice a small impact on performance and/or battery life. Apple continually works to optimise these features in software updates to ensure great battery life and a smooth user experience."

As a quick reminder, iOS 26 is out now and features a new Liquid Glass look along with upgrades such as Spam Call protection.