Automate iPhone Low Power Mode Based on Battery Level

[MacRumors]

If your iPhone regularly runs out of battery later in the day, Low Power Mode is one way to make it last longer. You can also make Low Power Mode automatically turn on when your battery reaches a certain custom level. Keep reading to learn how.

Most iPhone users are familiar with the way iOS throws up a prompt to turn on Low Power Mode when the battery reaches 20%. Low Power Mode can also be turned on manually at any time by going to Settings -> Battery and toggling on the switch next to Low Power Mode.

If you find yourself constantly having to turn on Low Power Mode late in the day, you can save some time by setting it up to run automatically when your battery is depleted to a specific custom level. This can be done in the Shortcuts app, as the following steps show.

Bear in mind that Low Power Mode reduces your iPhone's performance and cuts out some background activities. For example, mail must be fetched manually, background app refresh is disabled, and motion and brightness are reduced.

If you're okay with those limitations, follow the steps below to automate the setting on your iPhone.

1. Open the Shortcuts app and select the Automation tab at the bottom of the screen, then tap the + button in the top-right corner.
2. Scroll down and select Battery Level from the options.
   
   
3. Check Falls Below 50% and then drag the slider to adjust the percentage level for when Low Power Mode should be activated.
4. To ensure the automation runs in the background, tap Run Immediately, then tap Next.
5. Search for "Set Low Power Mode" and select the card from the results, then tap Next.
6. Lastly, tap Done in the top-right of the screen.
   
   

Your "Set Low Power Mode" personal automation should now be listed in the automation list, and will automatically trigger whenever your iPhone reaches the threshold you selected.

Use a Focus Instead

If you don't want to use the Shortcuts app, you can set up a Focus to come on at a set time of day with a Low Power Mode system filter enabled. Follow the link to learn how it's done.

Article Link: Automate iPhone Low Power Mode Based on Battery Level

 

[TalkingHead#]

Very helpful. I use this for several months now and it rescues me during the one or other day.

 

[Brady9991]

If your iPhone regularly runs out of battery later in the day, Low Power Mode is one way to make it last longer. You can also make Low Power Mode automatically turn on when your battery reaches a certain custom level. Keep reading to learn how.

Most iPhone users are familiar with the way iOS throws up a prompt to turn on Low Power Mode when the battery reaches 20%. Low Power Mode can also be turned on manually at any time by going to Settings -> Battery and toggling on the switch next to Low Power Mode.

If you find yourself constantly having to turn on Low Power Mode late in the day, you can save some time by setting it up to run automatically when your battery is depleted to a specific custom level. This can be done in the Shortcuts app, as the following steps show.

Bear in mind that Low Power Mode reduces your iPhone's performance and cuts out some background activities. For example, mail must be fetched manually, background app refresh is disabled, and motion and brightness are reduced.

If you're okay with those limitations, follow the steps below to automate the setting on your iPhone.

1. Open the Shortcuts app and select the Automation tab at the bottom of the screen, then tap the + button in the top-right corner.
2. Scroll down and select Battery Level from the options.
   
   
3. Check Falls Below 50% and then drag the slider to adjust the percentage level for when Low Power Mode should be activated.
4. To ensure the automation runs in the background, tap Run Immediately, then tap Next.
5. Search for "Set Low Power Mode" and select the card from the results, then tap Next.
6. Lastly, tap Done in the top-right of the screen.
   
   

Your "Set Low Power Mode" personal automation should now be listed in the automation list, and will automatically trigger whenever your iPhone reaches the threshold you selected.

Use a Focus Instead

If you don't want to use the Shortcuts app, you can set up a Focus to come on at a set time of day with a Low Power Mode system filter enabled. Follow the link to learn how it's done.

Article Link: Automate iPhone Low Power Mode Based on Battery Level

Apple needs to automate light mode + dark mode based off brightness.

 

[marklcfc]

I tried this once, my problem with it was despite setting low power mode to come on before 20%, once the phone got to 20% I still got that pop up message despite it already being on

 

[Jarbo]

There was a time when useful features like this would have been easily accessible directly from the battery preferences and streamlined for this use-case. The idea that you need to go to something obtusely named "Automations" and set up a custom action is lame.

 

[TechWhisperer]

There was a time when useful features like this would have been easily accessible directly from the battery preferences and streamlined for this use-case. The idea that you need to go to something obtusely named "Automations" and set up a custom action is lame.

It’s because Craig is busy perfecting his guitar riffs, spending hours in his soundproofed office working on those power chords instead of focusing on the next big iOS innovation.

 

[rumorphobe]

An add on to this is you can also have it turn off low power mode as you’ve charged back up to a reasonable level, like 50% or whatever you prefer

 

[NoGood@Usernames]

…or, hear me out…

This could happen automatically without having to jump through hoops like it does on every other operating system!

This should just be a toggle switch and dropdown in the battery/power settings:
(On/Off) “Automatically enable Low Power Mode when battery life reaches (10/20/30/40)%”

Then, it turns off once the device is plugged into AC power. Simple. There’s no reason Apple’s “it just works” operating systems should require any of this, when it’s built into Windows, Android, ChromeOS from the start.

It seems an odd thing for Apple to be the “odd man out” on 🤔

 

[Digitalweddings]

I have mine setup like this for quite some time now, at the 95% setting. Only way to make my 15 Pro get through the day. Photos etc can backup in the evening, don’t like the always on screen anyway, and not really noticing a performance diference.

 

[darngooddesign]

Adding Low Power Mode as a Control Center toggle is much quicker than going into Settings.

 

[darngooddesign]

An add on to this is you can also have it turn off low power mode as you’ve charged back up to a reasonable level, like 50% or whatever you prefer

LPM does tun off when the battery reaches a certain charge level.

 

[jlwarlow]

I already have this with a few extra steps. after turning on low power mode get wi-fi network's network name. If that's my home wifi then the shortcut turns on airplane mode. I like the idea of turning power save off when it gets above 50 - I may add that with the added turn airplane mode off (if I was on my wifi)

 

[Aeronauts]

This should be turned on as standard rather making new iPhone users discover it.

 

[darngooddesign]

This should be turned on as standard rather making new iPhone users discover it.

Then new users would wonder why their phone started acting differently like the screen wasnt always on.

 

[Aeronauts]

Then new users would wonder why their phone started acting differently like the screen wasnt always on.

You always get a pop up warning asking if you want to turn low power mode on so there would no surprises.

 

[BigDO]

I don’t find low power mode to have a significant impact on 16P.

 

[darngooddesign]

I don’t find low power mode to have a significant impact on 16P.

What I've noticed is that LPM has a big impact on our iPads' standby battery life.

 

[iMac The Knife]

If you are using any modern day flagship smartphone, including most foldables, and you have to charge your phone in the middle of the day or you will run out of battery (after you've charged it fully overnight of course), you definitely need to put the phone down and go touch some grass. Seriously.

 

[Plutonius]

I usually use the low power mode notification to remind me to charge the phone .

 

[dobratzp]

I tried something similar to this and it didn't work at all for my use case. All that happened was a notification from the Shortcuts app that says it needs the device to be unlocked before the shortcut will run.

 

[Kelly the Dude]

I tried something similar to this and it didn't work at all for my use case. All that happened was a notification from the Shortcuts app that says it needs the device to be unlocked before the shortcut will run.

You need to turn on “allow running while locked” in the privacy tab of the shortcut info section.

 

[platinumaqua]

Pretty useful. I've set it up last time this popped on on Macrumors.

 

[Avenged110]

I've been using something similar to this for years to force low power mode to always be on, regardless of charge level. I don't think my phone has left low power mode since I bought it.

 

[platinumaqua]

I've been using something similar to this for years to force low power mode to always be on, regardless of charge level. I don't think my phone has left low power mode since I bought it.

I used to do that on iOS 14. Not noticeable at all. When I upgraded to iOS 17 (directly, skipping all in-between versions), I had to disable permanent low power mode because scrolling got very laggy in low power mode

 

[svish]

Good article and an easy way to turn it on. I very rarely turn on low power mode so don't think I will set it up.