Preventing Spotify from Draining Your iPhone Battery

Preventing Spotify from Draining Your iPhone Battery

Unexpected battery drain on iPhones isn’t new, but the surge in complaints from Spotify users grabbed my attention. Some report a 30% drain in just 30 minutes, while others see over 50% depletion. Spotify acknowledges the issue, especially prevalent on recent iOS updates like iOS 14.8 and iOS 15, and is investigating. While an official fix is pending, here are six tips to conserve your iPhone’s battery:

6 Tips to Preserve Your iPhone Battery Life with Spotify (2021)

The rapid battery drain from Spotify in iOS 15 might stem from a software bug, necessitating a software update for a permanent fix. However, don’t overlook power-hungry features and outdated software known for causing issues. Nonetheless, there’s no need for concern, as effective troubleshooting methods exist. Let’s get straight to it!

1. Disable Background App Refresh for Spotify

Experience suggests that background app refresh and battery drainage are closely linked. Mismanagement of this power-intensive feature can lead to unexpected battery depletion on your iPhone. Despite its purpose in facilitating smooth app operations, background app refresh significantly impacts battery life, particularly on older iPhones, resulting in overheating and accelerated battery consumption.

As recommended by Spotify forum moderators, addressing the battery drain issue involves disabling background app refresh for Spotify. Navigate to Settings -> General -> Background App Refresh and deactivate the toggle next to Spotify.

2. Force Quit Spotify and Perform a Hard Reset on Your iPhone

If the initial fix fails to address the Spotify battery drain issue on iOS 15 or iOS 14.8, force quit the Spotify app (if open) and perform a hard reset on your iPhone.

  • For iPhone with Face ID: Swipe up from the home bar, pausing halfway. Then, swipe up on the Spotify app card to force quit.
  • For iPhone with Touch ID: Double press the Home button and swipe up on the Spotify app card to close it.
  • For iPhone 8 and later: Press and release the volume up button, followed by the volume down button. Then, press and hold the side button until the Apple logo appears.

Image courtesy: Apple

  • iPhone 7/ 7 Plus: Press and hold both the side button and volume down button until the Apple logo appears.
  • iPhone 6s/ 6s Plus: Hold down the side button and home button simultaneously until the Apple logo appears.
Preventing Spotify from Draining Your iPhone Battery

3. Declutter Spotify by Deleting Cache

I clear app caches periodically to prevent iPhone storage congestion. Doing so not only maintains smooth app performance but also alleviates clutter. Consider this tried-and-true method to address battery drain issues in Spotify on iOS 14.8 or iOS 15 without affecting your downloads.

To streamline your Spotify experience on your iPhone, simply access the app and tap the settings icon in the top right corner. From there, go to Storage and select Delete Cache. Confirm by tapping Delete cache in the pop-up.

4. Update Spotify App on Your iPhone

If your Spotify app on iPhone is outdated, updating it might resolve any issues you’re encountering. To update, go to the App Store, tap your profile icon in the top right, locate Spotify, and tap the update button.

5. Delete and Reinstall Spotify

To address the Spotify battery drain problem on your iPhone, consider deleting and reinstalling the app. This drastic step often resolves app-related bugs, although it will also remove app data. To proceed, long-press on the Spotify icon, select Remove App, then Delete App.

6. Update iPhone Software

Regular iOS updates, such as iOS 15, enhance performance and resolve various issues. Ensure your device is running the latest software version by upgrading to iOS 15 (Settings -> General -> Software Update), released in September 2021.

If you’re already on iOS 15, await the next update. Apple consistently releases updates, so your wait shouldn’t be too long.

Troubleshoot Spotify Battery Drain on iOS 15 and iOS 14.8

That’s it! Hopefully, Spotify now behaves normally and doesn’t cause significant battery drain on your iOS 15 device. Since Spotify has acknowledged the issue, an official fix may be imminent. Once available, update the app to resolve the problem. Have any questions about the tips above? Feel free to share in the comments.