How to Find Apps Using Too Much Battery
Quick summary: Identify power-hungry apps with the built-in battery tools and decide what to restrict or remove.
When a phone's battery runs down quickly, one or two apps are often responsible. An app may be stuck, may be updating over and over, or may use location and sync all day. Finding that app is easier than most people think, because Android includes tools to show it.
This guide explains how to read your battery usage screen, how to tell normal use from background drain, and what to do with an app that is using too much. You do not need to install anything.
Before you start
The battery screen looks different between phone brands and Android versions, and some phones label the same information differently, for example Battery usage, App battery usage or Power consumption. Use Settings search if you cannot find it.
1. Open the battery usage screen
Go to Settings, then Battery, and look for Battery usage or See usage. Choose a time period such as the last 24 hours. You will see a list of apps and the share of battery each one used. The first apps on the list are the ones to look at.
2. Know what is normal
The screen is usually the biggest user, and apps you used heavily will rank high. A video, game or navigation app can use a lot of power in an hour and that is expected. High usage is only a concern when it does not match how you used the phone.
Example: A navigation app at the top after a two-hour drive is normal. A weather app at the top when you never opened it is not.
3. Compare screen time with background use
Many phones show screen time and background time for each app. An app with high battery use but very little screen time is working in the background. Common causes are syncing, location tracking and repeated notifications.
4. Open the app's battery settings
Tap the app name in the usage list, or go to Settings, then Apps, choose the app, then Battery. Choose Optimized for normal use, or Restricted if you rarely need it. Restricted apps may be late with notifications, so do not use it for messaging apps.
5. Check location and other permissions
Under the app's Permissions, check Location. If it is set to Allow all the time, change it to Allow only while using the app, or Ask every time, where the app does not truly need constant access. The same applies to Nearby devices and Bluetooth.
6. Update the app, then restart the phone
Open the Play Store and update the app, because a newer version may fix a battery bug. Restart the phone as well, which clears stuck background processes. Then use the phone normally for a few hours.
7. Clear the cache if the app misbehaves
Under the app's Storage settings, tap Clear cache. This is safe. Avoid Clear data unless you are prepared to sign in again and lose local settings or files stored only in that app.
8. Uninstall or replace the app if needed
If the app still drains power and you rarely use it, uninstall it. For apps you need, check whether a lighter version or the website works instead. Many social and shopping services offer a web version that does not run in the background.
9. Check again after a day
Return to Battery usage the next day and compare. If the same app is still high without explanation, consider contacting the developer or looking for a different app. Keep notes of what you changed, so you know which change helped.
Pro tip and important warning
Pro tip: Compare two days of usage rather than one. A single bad day can be caused by a long video call or poor signal, but an app that is always near the top is the one worth fixing.
Important: Do not restrict apps that need to run in the background to do their job, such as alarm clocks, messaging apps, smartwatch companion apps and security apps. If you see an app you do not remember installing using lots of power, treat it as suspicious and read How to Identify Suspicious Apps and Links.
Conclusion
Finding a battery-draining app takes a few minutes: open the usage list, ignore apps that match how you used the phone, and look closely at the ones that do not. Then restrict, update or remove them. For the bigger picture, read How to Improve Android Phone Battery Life, explore our Useful Android Apps category, and take a look at How to Reduce Unnecessary App Notifications.
