Disable these features on your phone immediately: Can save power and increase security

When you’re on your phone all day, little habits get stuck. Apps are left running in the background, features are left on for no reason, and suddenly the battery is drained faster than expected.

Location services are one of the typical examples. Many apps ask for access to your location even though they rarely need it.

Continuous tracking consumes power and it also increases the amount of data about your movements.

It makes more sense to leave the Location feature turned on only for map apps, transportation and the like.

Then you can close access to games and other services that don’t really need to know where you are.

Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are often left on all the time. The phone is searching for new connections in the background, which takes a bite out of your battery throughout the day.

If you’re not using a headset, smartwatch or wireless speakers, it’s a good idea to turn Bluetooth off.

The same goes for Wi-Fi when you’re out of the house and only using mobile data anyway.

Notifications are another overlooked power hog. Every time the screen turns on for a message, the phone uses extra energy and many people end up getting distracted far more often than they would like.

Media outlet Naftemporiki has gathered examples of features that experts recommend turning off to make the battery last longer and reduce unnecessary data sharing.

Eight settings you should turn off

For a more systematic approach, take a look at these items in particular:

1. Always-on display
   A screen that always shows a clock or icons consumes power even when you’re not touching the phone. Turn it off in the display settings.
2. High screen refresh rate
   120 Hz and above provides smooth graphics but drains the battery. Choose the lowest refresh rate, often 60 Hz, when you want to save power.
3. Too many notifications
   Go into app settings and remove permissions for games, promotional apps and services you rarely use. Only keep notifications from the most important apps.
4. Automatic brightness
   Auto-brightness turns the screen up high outdoors and often ends up higher than you would choose. Turn it off and keep the brightness as low as possible unless you’re in direct sunlight.
5. Live wallpapers
   Animated wallpapers are constantly moving and require extra graphics work. Choose a simple, static image instead.
6. Bright mode
   On phones with OLED displays, dark mode uses less power than light wallpapers. Switch to dark mode in the display settings.
7. Constant internet connection
   If your battery is running low, you can turn off both mobile data and Wi-Fi for a period of time. The phone will then stop downloading data and receiving push notifications.
8. Extra power thieves: Bluetooth, NFC and RAM boost
   Turn off Bluetooth and NFC when you’re not using wireless devices or mobile payments. On some Android phones, you can also turn off RAM boost so the system doesn’t use extra power to artificially keep heavy apps running.

Three settings you should keep

Not all features should be turned off to save power. Some cost a bit of battery, but can protect your data and your phone.

Two-factor authentication is one of the strongest defenses against hacking. An extra step when logging in may seem cumbersome, but it makes it much harder for others to take over your accounts.

Find My iPhone and Find My Device are also worth leaving on. If your phone is lost or stolen, these services give you a real chance of finding it again or removing data remotely.

Automatic security updates should also be turned on. Updates close known security holes before fraudsters can really exploit them, and they are typically installed at times when you’re not using your phone anyway.

Overall, it’s about cutting back where power consumption increases without giving you anything important in return, while keeping the few features that actually protect your everyday life.

This way, you can get both a longer-lasting battery and a more secure phone.