
Is your phone constantly nagging you about battery saver being active? Maybe you turned it on to squeeze a little extra life out of your device during a long day, but now you want things back to normal and can't figure out how to switch it off. Don't worry, you're not alone! Battery saver modes can be a lifesaver, but sometimes they get a littletooenthusiastic. Let's walk through how to fix a battery saver mode that's stuck on, and also dive into some tips to prevent it from happening again.
Understanding Why Battery Saver is Active
Before we dive into fixing it, let's quickly understandwhyyour battery saver might be active in the first place. Most smartphones and laptops have a built-in battery saver feature designed to extend battery life when it's running low. This typically works by restricting background app activity, reducing screen brightness, limiting processor speed, and turning off certain features like location services or always-on displays. The goal is to conserve energy and keep your device running for as long as possible. However, there are a few common reasons why it might be stuck on:
- Accidental Activation: You might have unintentionally toggled it on in your settings or through a quick access menu.
- Low Battery Trigger: The device may automatically enable battery saver when the battery level drops to a certain percentage (e.g., 20% or 15%).
- Scheduled Activation: Some devices allow you to schedule battery saver to turn on at specific times or locations. You might have set up a schedule and forgotten about it.
- Bug or Glitch: In rare cases, a software bug or glitch could cause the battery saver to remain active even when it shouldn't.
How to Fix Battery Saver Active on Your Phone
Okay, let's get to the solutions! The exact steps might vary slightly depending on your phone's operating system (Android or i OS) and manufacturer, but the general principles are the same. Here’s how to fix battery saver when it's active on your phone:
Fixing Battery Saver on Android
Android offers several ways to manage battery saver. Here are the most common:
- Check the Quick Settings Panel: Swipe down from the top of your screen to access the Quick Settings panel. Look for a "Battery Saver" or "Power Saving" icon. If it's highlighted or turned on, tap it to turn it off. It might be represented by a battery icon with a plus sign or a leaf.
- Go to Battery Settings:
- Open your phone's Settings app.
- Scroll down and tap on Battery. On some devices, this might be labeled "Battery and device care."
- Look for a "Battery Saver" or "Power Saving Mode" option.
- If it's turned on, toggle the switch to turn it off.
- Disable Scheduled Battery Saver: In the Battery settings, check for options related to scheduled or adaptive battery saver. Disable any schedules that might be automatically turning it on. Look for settings like "Turn on automatically" or "Adaptive Battery."
- Restart Your Phone: A simple restart can often resolve minor software glitches. Hold down the power button and select Restart.
- Check Battery Optimization Settings: Android allows you to optimize battery usage for individual apps. Sometimes, overly aggressive optimization can mimic battery saver behavior.
- Go to Settings > Apps (or "Applications").
- Tap the three dots in the top right corner and select "Special access" or Advanced.
- Choose "Optimize battery usage."
- Make sure the apps you want to run normally arenotbeing optimized. If they are, toggle the switch off.
Case Study: A user named Sarah reported that her Samsung Galaxy phone was stuck in battery saver mode despite the battery being fully charged. She had accidentally set up a Bixby Routine to turn on battery saver at a specific location. By disabling the Bixby Routine, she was able to fix the issue.
Fixing Battery Saver on i OS (i Phone)
i OS has a feature called "Low Power Mode" that's similar to Android's battery saver. Here’s how to disable it if it's stuck on:
- Check the Control Center: Swipe down from the top-right corner of your screen (or up from the bottom on older i Phones) to access the Control Center. Look for the battery icon. If it's yellow, Low Power Mode is active. Tap the battery icon to turn it off.
- Go to Battery Settings:
- Open the Settings app.
- Scroll down and tap on Battery.
- Toggle the "Low Power Mode" switch to turn it off.
- Restart Your i Phone: As with Android, restarting can sometimes resolve glitches. The method for restarting varies depending on your i Phone model, but generally involves pressing and holding a combination of buttons (e.g., the power button and a volume button).
- Review Battery Health: In the Battery settings, check the "Battery Health" section. If your battery's maximum capacity is significantly degraded, i OS might be more aggressive in suggesting or enabling Low Power Mode. Consider replacing your battery if its health is poor.
How to Fix Battery Saver Active on Your Laptop (Windows/mac OS)
Laptops also have power-saving modes to extend battery life. Here's how to disable them if they're causing problems:
Fixing Battery Saver on Windows
- Check the Battery Icon in the Taskbar: Click the battery icon in the system tray (usually in the bottom-right corner of your screen). A slider or menu will appear. Make sure the power mode is set to "Best performance" or "Balanced" instead of "Battery saver."
- Go to Power Options in Settings:
- Open the Settings app (click the Start button and then the gear icon).
- Click on System.
- Click on Power & battery.
- Under "Power mode," select "Best performance" or Balanced.
- Adjust Battery Saver Settings: In the Power & battery settings, you can also configure when battery saver turns on automatically. Make sure it's not set to turn on at a very high battery percentage. You can even disable automatic battery saver altogether.
Fixing Battery Saver on mac OS
- Check the Battery Icon in the Menu Bar: Click the battery icon in the menu bar (usually in the top-right corner of your screen). It will show the current battery percentage and any power-saving settings.
- Go to Battery Settings in System Preferences:
- Click the Apple menu (in the top-left corner of your screen).
- Select System Preferences.
- Click on Battery.
- In the "Battery" tab (if you're on a Mac Book), uncheck "Optimize battery charging" if you suspect it's contributing to the issue.
- Click on the "Power Adapter" tab. Make sure "Prevent computer from sleeping automatically when the display is off" is checked (if you want to prevent the computer from going into a deep sleep that might resemble battery saver behavior).
- Consider App Nap: mac OS has a feature called "App Nap" that automatically puts inactive apps to sleep to conserve energy. This can sometimes feel like battery saver. While you can't disable App Nap globally, you can prevent it for specific apps:
- Find the app in Finder.
- Right-click on the app icon and select "Get Info."
- Check the box labeled "Prevent App Nap."
Preventing Battery Saver from Activating Unnecessarily
Now that you know how to fix it, let's talk about preventing battery saver from activating when you don't want it to. Here are some tips:
- Be Mindful of Settings: Pay attention when you're adjusting settings related to battery or power. Double-check that you're not accidentally enabling battery saver features.
- Adjust Automatic Activation Thresholds: Configure your device to only enable battery saver when the battery level istrulylow (e.g., 10% or 5%). Avoid setting it to activate at 20% or higher if you don't need it.
- Monitor App Battery Usage: Identify apps that are draining your battery excessively and limit their background activity or uninstall them if necessary. Both Android and i OS have built-in tools to show you which apps are consuming the most battery power.
- Keep Your Device Updated: Software updates often include bug fixes and performance improvements that can help optimize battery life. Make sure your operating system is up to date.
- Adjust Display Settings: Lowering screen brightness and shortening the screen timeout duration can significantly reduce battery consumption without needing to rely on battery saver.
- Avoid Extreme Temperatures: Extreme heat or cold can negatively impact battery performance and longevity. Try to keep your device within its recommended operating temperature range.
Fact: According to a study by Purdue University, reducing screen brightness by just 10% can extend battery life by up to 15%. This simple adjustment can often be more effective than relying solely on battery saver mode.
When to Seek Professional Help
If you've tried all the above steps and your battery saver isstillstuck on, it's possible there's a more serious underlying issue. In such cases, it's best to seek professional help from a qualified technician. This is especially true if:
- Your battery is draining extremely quickly even when battery saver is off.
- You suspect a hardware problem with your battery.
- You've recently dropped your device or exposed it to water.
Hopefully, these tips have helped you understand how to fix battery saver when it's active unexpectedly. By understanding the underlying causes and taking preventative measures, you can keep your device running smoothly and avoid unwanted power-saving modes.