There’s nothing more annoying than seeing your Google Pixel’s battery drop while it’s just sitting in your pocket. It used to bug me so much that I even thought about switching back to my old Samsung Galaxy.
After some exploration through the settings, I found a few default features that were really draining my battery. Once I adjusted them, the change was huge. If you’re facing the same battery drain issues, here are some key tweaks you should consider.
First up, switch your phone’s network preference to LTE. While 5G is lightning-fast, if you’re not near a tower, your Pixel could be working too hard to stay connected. I made the switch from 5G to LTE, and my battery life improved noticeably. To do this, just go to Settings > Network & internet > SIMs > Preferred network type and select LTE.
Next, consider turning off Always On Display (AOD). This feature keeps your screen lit up with a clock and notifications, which can drain about 1% of battery per hour—even when you’re not using it. Instead, try using the Lift to check phone and Tap to check phone gestures. This way, your screen only lights up when you need it.
Another battery hog is the Now Playing feature. While it’s cool for identifying songs, it keeps your microphone on all the time, which drains battery. Instead, use the Google Song Search tile in the Quick Settings. This turns it into a manual feature, activating only when you want to identify a song.
Automating Dark Mode can also save power. This feature saves energy by turning off dark pixels on your OLED screen. I set mine to switch on at 7 PM and off at 7 AM. You might be surprised at how much battery life you save over time with such a simple change.
Keeping an eye on the battery usage chart is crucial. This chart shows which apps consume the most battery. If you spot any apps draining battery even when you’re not using them, consider closing them or uninstalling if necessary.
Lastly, make sure not to charge your Pixel too frequently. With these settings adjusted, I finally got back to the all-day battery life Google promised. It turned out all it took was a few simple tweaks for my phone to keep up with my busy day.
For further insights on battery optimization, check out this resource.
