Upgrade or iPhone change: Apple explains why battery life is reduced
Newly purchased iPhones often don't perform as users would like. There are specific reasons for this, as Apple itself reveals.
Battery handling on the iPhone: Full performance should not be expected in the first few days after initial setup.
(Image: Apple)
Bought a new iPhone, set it up, used it—and got disappointing battery life—many users know this. However, it also happens when a new operating system is installed on a device already in use, for example, when upgrading from iOS 18 to iOS 26. Sometimes the phenomenon even occurs with major point releases, such as (likely) this week with the planned iOS 26.1. Apple has now, in an instructional video, explained what exactly happens.
iPhone users need time
When installing updates or reconfiguring a device, the necessary system processes are only completed after some time. “The process continues in the background,” says Apple. This affects battery life. Apple itself admits that you should wait “a few days”—so it is not a process that is completed within a few hours. Depending on the scope of the existing data and apps, it may be faster, but the multi-day announcement should be accepted as standard.
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Unfortunately, iOS only displays the process in a well-hidden way. In the Battery section of the System Settings, there is a notification that the device setup is still running. Only when this information disappears has the process been completed. However, there is no information on how long the system processes will still be running: the notification is there or it is not. Users should ensure that their device has Wi-Fi access if possible. Using the mobile network leads to higher power consumption (in general, but also as part of the upgrade process).
Mac upgrades also consume power
It is known that upgrades and reconfigurations of Apple devices involve some time investment. On Macs, various background processes also run that affect the battery life of notebooks. In the Spotlight system search, there is an indicator here when the indexing is complete. In other areas, such as the archive of the Messages app, you will only find a hidden notification that not all data is yet available. This process can also take days or, depending on the amount of existing messages, even weeks.
In iOS 26 and iPadOS 26, Apple has implemented improvements in the overview of battery usage times. On newer models, there are AI-based battery adjustments. You can also check how much power each app has used and whether the demand has increased recently. Apple also provides tips on how to save energy.
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