Going out without your phone today is the equivalent of going out without pants, which is why people don’t actually do it. Maybe you use your phone to keep tabs on work notifications, or maybe your map app is your go-to for all your navigation needs. Whether you're traveling or walking at night, your phone may also serve as a beacon of protection. Of course, you might also use your phone to listen to your favorite podcast while running errands, or record your day for a casual photo dump. But as the memory of leaving your phone at home to "attend" social events becomes increasingly blurry, the age-old dilemma between people and technology becomes louder: How do you keep your phone from freezing?
Unfortunately, this question is often asked too late. Often, your phone's battery doesn't have the "always-on" power you need when you're out and about during the day or night. Maybe you've fallen into a moment of screen darkness, accepted your fate, and entered the age of going off the grid. However, more often than not, an unexpected phone death often results in a panicked search for a charger.
“Normally, I wish myself good luck and hope there’s a charging port in the car that I can use,” said Isiah Magsino, a freelance writer for Vogue magazine. It is often necessary to carry a fully charged mobile phone late at night.
If your charger obsession sounds all too familiar, it's time to breathe new life into your phone's battery life. Read on for some proven preventative and last-minute tips suggested by experts to prevent your phone from freezing.
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Experts
Isiah Magsino is a freelance writer for Vogue magazine. His job requires him to be prepared for long nights out. Magsino's articles have also been featured in GQ , W , Nylon, The Wall Street Journal , Architectural Digest, and others.
Peter Park is a product manager at Samsung Electronics America.
M. Brandon Lee is the host of the YouTube series "This Is Tech Today" and its affiliated TikTok channel, which has more than 200,000 subscribers.
Shomar Gee is better known as "Sho and Tech" on YouTube and TikTok. He specializes in providing tech advice for the "average consumer budget" and publishes a variety of content including product reviews, tutorials, and troubleshooting tips.
Why does my phone freeze so quickly?
Most smartphones use lithium-ion batteries, which age over time due to the chemical processes involved in charging and discharging, Parker said. “The lifespan of these batteries is affected by how they are used and the environment they are in,” he added. "Extreme temperatures and erratic charging accelerate the aging of lithium-ion batteries."
As with any technology-related issue, it's best to evaluate the potential causes before pursuing a solution. On your iPhone, you can easily check your battery by going to the Battery section of Settings and clicking Battery Health. While your phone may be charged to 100%, your phone's battery may not actually be at 100% capacity, which means it's time to book a Genius Bar appointment . The Battery section of iPhone settings also shows why your battery may be draining. For example, if you don't turn on Low Power Mode (and you can turn this feature on at the top of this page), it's easier to drain your battery quickly. Below, the Battery section also lists your battery usage by app. Click the "Last 10 Days" option to see how much battery your app uses on average when it's actively used and when it's in the background. When you're not on the For You page, consider this a reminder to shut down TikTok.
Android phones have a very similar battery health feature to the iPhone called Battery Usage. Battery usage, found in the Battery section of Android settings, will list usage by app for the past 24 hours.
As with any smartphone, there are also some common reasons why the battery life may be draining faster than usual. For one, you may need a software update. Running multiple apps in the background can also drain your battery quickly. Gee also noted that turning on location services for apps can drain battery power. Going to Settings > Privacy > Location Services > and turning off unnecessary tracking can greatly improve battery life.
Gee and Lee also pointed out that turning on 5G can consume a lot of power. "Depending on your region, you may not be able to really experience the benefits of 5G speeds, so forcing your phone to run on 4G only can sometimes extend battery life by a few hours," Lee said. "The same goes for keeping WiFi on when you leave the house, because your phone is constantly scanning and activating networks around you," Gee said.
The 5 best products to charge your phone faster
You've done all the checking of your phone's battery life, quit unnecessary apps, and turned off 5G and location services. If your phone is fully charged, the new optimized battery life may be enough to get you through a full day. However, even the healthiest phone battery won't last long if you don't have time to charge it.
A good charger can make all the difference in your battery's battery life, so it's important not to skimp on it. "I always tell friends and family not to buy cheap gas station chargers and cables," Gee said. Not only do these chargers break down quickly and often operate unreliably, they can even cause damage to your phone. Today, you can buy high-speed chargers that can fully charge your phone in less than half an hour. Magsino recommends being careful about how long you spend charging your phone. "Charging your phone too much will accelerate battery degradation," he explains. Once your phone reaches 100% charge, unplug it.
Before buying a charger, Gee recommends familiarizing yourself with your phone's specifications. "For example, the iPhone 12/13 series is able to use fast charging, but the maximum power is 20W," Gee said. "Despite this, people will see and buy a [more expensive] 45W or 60W charger thinking it's better for their phone or will charge faster."
The best portable phone chargers to prevent your phone from dying
Even though you're ready to start the day with a full charge, depending on how you use your phone, you might get that dreaded 20% notification before you're ready to go home. In these situations, a portable battery charger comes in handy.
"I think everyone should carry a battery pack with them, especially when they go out hiking or traveling," Lee advises.
If you're like Magosino, who jokes that carrying around a portable charger is "totally unfashionable"—after all, it's a giant electronics box stuffed into your handbag with wires snaking out—then you've always You can choose a shy mini power bank. Gee recommends Anker MagGo. Compatible with MagSafe devices like the new iPhone, you simply connect your phone to the surface of the charger, no wires required. (It even comes with a stand, which is arguably the coolest way to charge your phone in a panic.) If you inevitably forget your portable charger at home, you also have the option of attaching a MagSafe battery pack directly to your iPhone. Note, Samsung Galaxy owners: Many versions of the phone include a wireless PowerShare feature, which Park says "allows you to use your phone to reverse wirelessly charge another phone, watch, or Galaxy Buds. This feature works on most Qi-compatible devices ”
How to extend low battery life
What should you do when you're out and about without a portable charger or power cord and a low battery message pops up? "Put it on low power, lower the brightness, disconnect from WiFi, and pray," joked Magsino. The truth is, in moments like this, all you can do is end any unnecessary activity that might drain the battery .
"If you need to use your phone at this time, I would put it into power saving mode," Lee advises. "If you don't use it for a long time but use it occasionally, I would just turn your phone off until you need it again." If your phone's battery is extremely low, you may want to choose to turn on airplane mode because If you turn your phone off when the battery is extremely low, you may not be able to turn it back on. Reducing screen timeout, or how long the screen stays on, can also help extend battery life, Park added. You can find this in your device's display settings.
Beyond these last-minute measures, there's not much you can do except stay away from your phone and make sure you have a trusted friend with you. But a dead phone isn't always the worst thing. It might make you stop and pay more attention to your surroundings. As Magosino says, “Put down your phone and try to convince yourself to live in the moment.”
