If you just updated your iPhone to iOS 26 and feel like the battery isn’t lasting as long, don’t panic, this is completely normal. Apple has even confirmed in a new support document that major updates can cause temporary battery drain.
Why it Happens
When you install a big iOS update like iOS 26, your iPhone isn’t just rebooting with a new look. Behind the scenes, it’s busy:
- Indexing your files and photos so search works smoothly
- Downloading new assets for system features and apps
- Re-optimizing apps to work with the latest software
Immediately after completing an update, particularly a major release, you might notice a temporary impact on battery life and thermal performance. This is normal, as your device needs time to complete the setup process in the background, including indexing data and files for search, downloading new assets, and updating apps.
New features are exciting and help you get even more out of your Apple product, though some may require additional resources from the device. Depending on individual usage, some users may notice a small impact on performance and/or battery life. Apple continually works to optimize these features in software updates to ensure great battery life and a smooth user experience.
All of this runs in the background for hours or sometimes days, and it naturally uses more power. Apple says there are over 200 changes and tweaks in iOS 26 that need to settle in.
The Good News
Apple says this dip in battery life is temporary. Once your iPhone finishes all its background tasks, performance and battery usually return to normal.
What You Can Do
- Give it time: Battery should stabilize after a couple of days.
- Keep it charged: Plug into a power source while your phone is working in the background.
- Avoid panic resets: A clean restore won’t “fix” the issue — it’ll just restart the setup process.
Worth checking out: iPhone Air vs iPhone 17 vs iPhone 17 Pro Max: Which One Lasts the Longest?
So, if iOS 26 feels like it’s draining your iPhone faster, it’s not a bug, it’s just your device getting settled. Within a short while, you should be back to the battery life you’re used to, with all the new iOS 26 features to enjoy.
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