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10 Ways To Make Your Windows Phone 8.1 Battery Last Longer

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10 Ways To Make Your Windows Phone 8.1 Battery Last Longer


User guides

Michael Grothaus

13:18, 8 May 2014

10 simple steps for getting more juice out of your Windows Phone’s battery life

Unlike the iPhone, which comes in just two screen sizes (3.5-inch on the iPhone 4 and 4S and the not too much bigger 4-inch screen on the iPhone 5 and above), Windows Phones come in a range of sizes all the way up to a monster 6-inches. Bigger screens mean more beautiful displays, but they also mean more battery drain. Here I’ve compiled a list of the top ten tips and tricks that have helped me save hours of battery life on my Windows Phone running Windows Phone 8.1.

Learn to Love Battery Saver

Battery Saver is an app your find in your Apps List in Windows Phone 8.1 (it’s also found in Settings). It has two main functions: letting you enable Microsoft’s built-in battery saving features and also to see which apps and services are eating up most of you juice. If you find an app is eating up a ton of battery (it will be at the top of the Usage list), it’s probably best to close that app for good.

In the settings screen in Battery Saver you’ll find a switch to turn the feature on. Doing so will allow your phone to conserve battery power when the juice gets low. Some default services will turn off, but you’ll still receive texts and calls. Things like emails and other app notifications will need to be manually refreshed.

Turn on Auto-Brightness 

Increased screen brightness takes up a TON of battery power. This is because the extra light required to illuminate your screen requires more energy, draining your battery faster. Screens generally require less light in darkness and more when it’s bright outside. To have your Windows Phone adjust to external brightness levels automatically go to Settings > Brightness > and toggle the switch to ON (blue).

Reduce Screen Brightness Manually 

If Auto-Brightness isn’t doing it for you, you can also set the brightness levels automatically. Go to Settings > Brightness > and under the “Level” header select medium or low. 

Keep Your Windows Phone Background Black 

I love the white Windows Phone background but it actually eats up more battery power than having the black background. That’s because it takes more energy to colour a screen white than it does black. If your screen is currently on the white background settings go to Settings > Start + Theme >  and under the Background header tap the box and select “dark”. 

Turn Bluetooth Off

Most Windows Phones have Bluetooth 4.0, otherwise known as Bluetooth Low Energy, or BLE. And while BLE uses a lot less power than earlier versions of Bluetooth it still takes up power needlessly when you leave it on and don’t intent on connecting to any Bluetooth devices.

To quickly switch Bluetooth off simply swipe down from the top of any screen in Windows Phone 8.1. This will bring up the Action Center. Tap the Bluetooth button so it turns grey. This disables Bluetooth.

Turn Off Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi is another connection technology we generally don’t need while out and about. It’s more important when we are in our home or office, as using Wi-Fi doesn’t eat into our data plans. But having it on all the time means our phones are constantly looking to join Wi-Fi networks, as we traps across the city or take a ride on the train. The result is battery drain. Simply swipe down from the top of any screen in Windows Phone 8.1. This will bring up the Action Center. Tap the Wi-Fi button so it turns grey. Wi-Fi is now disabled. 

Disable NFC 

If your Windows Phone has NFC capabilities… chances are you rarely use it because, well, there are just not a whole lot of NFC-enabled things anywhere. This means that is you have NFC running all the time you are burning through battery for no reason. To turn NFC off go into Settings > NFC and toggle the switch to OFF. 

Don’t Keep Scanning For New Wi-Fi Networks

By default your phone will continuously scan for new Wi-Fi networks. This is useful the first time you get it, but most of us only connect our phones to Wi-Fi at home, at work, or at cafes we frequent. There’s no point in having your phone scan for Wi-Fi networks as you stroll down the street. So go to Settings > Wi-Fi > Manage and uncheck “Automatically connect to Wi-Fi hotspots provided by my mobile operator” and “Send information about Wi-Fi connections to help discover nearby Wi-Fi.” 

Kill Apps You Aren’t Using 

Just because an app isn’t open on your screen doesn’t mean it’s not running in the background eating up battery life. To close an app for good (until you launch it again by tapping its tile) press and hold the back button on your handset. This will bring up the open apps screen. Scroll through this screenshot list and tap the black X over any app you want to close. 

Set Glance to “Peek”

Glance is a setting found on Lumia handsets that allow you to see the clock and notifications when your phone switches to standby simply by waving your hand over it. It’s a handy feature, but if you have it set to “Always On” you’ll lose a lot of battery life. Go to Settings > Glance > and under Glance Screen change it to “peek”. 

Read Next: Best Windows Phone Apps

User guides Michael Grothaus thirteen:18, eight Might 2014

10 easy steps for getting extra juice out of your Home windows Telephone's battery life

In contrast to the iPhone, which is available in simply two display sizes (three.5-inch on the iPhone four and 4S and the not an excessive amount of greater four-inch display on the iPhone 5 and above), Home windows Telephones are available a variety of sizes all the best way as much as a monster 6-inches. Greater screens imply extra lovely shows, however additionally they imply extra battery drain. Right here I’ve compiled an inventory of the highest ten ideas and tips which have helped me save hours of battery life on my Home windows Telephone operating Windows Phone 8.1.

Study to Love Battery Saver

Battery Saver is an app your discover in your Apps Listing in Home windows Telephone eight.1 (it’s additionally present in Settings). It has two foremost features: letting you allow Microsoft’s constructed-in battery saving options and in addition to see which apps and providers are consuming up most of you juice. Should you discover an app is consuming up a ton of battery (it is going to be on the prime of the Utilization record), it’s in all probability greatest to shut that app for good.

Within the settings display in Battery Saver you’ll discover a change to show the function on. Doing so will permit your telephone to preserve battery energy when the juice will get low. Some default providers will flip off, however you’ll nonetheless obtain texts and calls. Issues like emails and different app notifications will have to be manually refreshed.

Activate Auto-Brightness 

Elevated display brightness takes up a TON of battery energy. It's because the additional mild required to light up your display requires extra power, draining your battery quicker. Screens usually require much less mild in darkness and extra when it’s shiny outdoors. To have your Home windows Telephone modify to exterior brightness ranges mechanically go to Settings > Brightness > and toggle the change to ON (blue).

Scale back Display Brightness Manually 

If Auto-Brightness isn’t doing it for you, you can too set the brightness ranges mechanically. Go to Settings > Brightness > and beneath the “Degree” header choose medium or low. 

Hold Your Home windows Telephone Background Black 

I really like the white Home windows Telephone background however it truly eats up extra battery energy than having the black background. That’s as a result of it takes extra power to color a display white than it does black. In case your display is presently on the white background settings go to Settings > Begin + Theme >  and beneath the Background header faucet the field and choose “darkish”. 

Flip Bluetooth Off

Most Home windows Telephones have Bluetooth four.zero, in any other case generally known as Bluetooth Low Power, or BLE. And whereas BLE makes use of rather a lot much less energy than earlier variations of Bluetooth it nonetheless takes up energy needlessly if you depart it on and don’t intent on connecting to any Bluetooth units.

To shortly change Bluetooth off merely swipe down from the highest of any display in Home windows Telephone eight.1. It will deliver up the Motion Middle. Faucet the Bluetooth button so it turns gray. This disables Bluetooth.

Flip Off Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi is one other connection know-how we usually don’t want whereas out and about. It’s extra essential once we are in our residence or workplace, as utilizing Wi-Fi doesn’t eat into our knowledge plans. However having it on on a regular basis means our telephones are continuously trying to be a part of Wi-Fi networks, as we traps throughout the town or take a journey on the practice. The result's battery drain. Merely swipe down from the highest of any display in Home windows Telephone eight.1. It will deliver up the Motion Middle. Faucet the Wi-Fi button so it turns gray. Wi-Fi is now disabled. 

Disable NFC 

In case your Home windows Telephone has NFC capabilities... likelihood is you not often use it as a result of, nicely, there are simply not an entire lot of NFC-enabled issues anyplace. Which means is you've got NFC operating on a regular basis you're burning via battery for no purpose. To show NFC off go into Settings > NFC and toggle the change to OFF. 

Don’t Hold Scanning For New Wi-Fi Networks

By default your telephone will constantly scan for brand spanking new Wi-Fi networks. That is helpful the primary time you get it, however most of us solely join our telephones to Wi-Fi at house, at work, or at cafes we frequent. There’s no level in having your telephone scan for Wi-Fi networks as you stroll down the road. So go to Settings > Wi-Fi > Handle and uncheck “Mechanically hook up with Wi-Fi hotspots offered by my cellular operator” and “Ship details about Wi-Fi connections to assist uncover close by Wi-Fi.” 

Kill Apps You Aren’t Utilizing 

Simply because an app isn’t open in your display doesn’t imply it’s not operating within the background consuming up battery life. To shut an app for good (till you launch it once more by tapping its tile) press and maintain the again button in your handset. This can deliver up the open apps display. Scroll by means of this screenshot record and faucet the black X over any app you need to shut. 

Set Look to “Peek”

Look is a setting discovered on Lumia handsets that can help you see the clock and notifications when your telephone switches to standby just by waving your hand over it. It’s a useful function, however when you have it set to “All the time On” you’ll lose a number of battery life. Go to Settings > Look > and underneath Look Display change it to “peek”. 

Learn Subsequent: Best Windows Phone Apps

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