Have you ever charged your phone to 100% in the morning, only to see it drop to 35% by lunch?
You are not alone. In Nigeria, where we still manage electricity, nobody wants to be stuck with a dead phone before NEPA brings light, or before you reach your power bank.
Whether you are using a budget Android phone or a flagship device, Android battery life is one of those things that always requires small tricks and care. And truth be told, some people still kill their phone battery without even knowing it. For example, streaming videos on full brightness, leaving GPS and Bluetooth on, or even overcharging while you sleep, bit by bit, this act eats away and wears out the battery health of the phone.
Now think about this, how many times have you reduced screen brightness or closed background apps and suddenly your battery started lasting longer? That one is no coincidence.
Android phones come with smart features that can help you stretch battery life, but most people never use them.
That is why this Techmall guide is coming through with 7 simple hacks to help you stretch your Android battery life. We are talking real-life, practical tips that work whether you are using a Tecno, Infinix, Samsung, Redmi, or even one of those phones that look fine but will always contend with a hot plate stove.
Let us break it down quickly and clearly.
1. Reduce Your Screen Brightness or Use Adaptive Brightness
This one sounds basic, but it works like magic. Your screen is one of the biggest battery killers. Keeping brightness at 100% all day is like using a generator to power a bulb. A bright screen might look nice, but it is secretly draining your Android battery life behind the scenes, especially if you are always on Instagram, TikTok, or streaming YouTube.
Most people do not even realise how much battery their screen brightness alone consumes. If your phone is always hot or the battery always disappears like airtime, try toning down the brightness and watch the difference. Some Android phones also come with “adaptive brightness”, which uses sensors to adjust your screen light automatically based on the environment. So when you are in bright sunlight, it turns up. When you are indoors, it reduces it. That way, you do not need to adjust it every minute, and your battery lasts longer.
What to do:
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Swipe down from the top of your Android phone and reduce the brightness slider manually.
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Go to Settings > Display > Adaptive Brightness and turn it on.
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You can also schedule “Night Light” to reduce eye strain and save power in the evening.
Techmall Tip:
Dark mode is not just fine, it also saves battery, especially on AMOLED screens like the ones in Samsung, Xiaomi, or Pixel phones. Dark pixels use less power, so turning on Dark Mode can give you a small extra hours of battery life every day. Go to Settings > Display > Theme and activate it; you will enjoy the look and the performance.
2. Turn Off Background Apps You Are Not Using
Many apps are like village people; they are busy behind your back, draining your battery without asking for permission. Even when you are not using them, apps like WhatsApp, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, TikTok, and even Gmail are quietly checking for updates, loading new content, syncing files, and consuming both data and Android battery like it is their father’s property.
This background wahala is one major reason your battery vanishes like salary after rent. The more apps you allow to run in the background, the faster your phone’s battery goes down. And the annoying part? Most of us do not even need half of those apps running every minute. Maybe you opened Jumia or Netflix two days ago, and the app is still draining your battery small small.
What to do:
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Go to Settings > Battery > Battery Usage (or Settings > Apps > App Management depending on your phone).
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Check the list of apps consuming power, even the quiet ones.
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Click on any app you do not use frequently and tap “Force Stop” or “Restrict background activity.”
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You can also go to Settings > Data Usage > Background Data to block apps from consuming data when you are not actively using them.
Techmall Tip:
Do not just swipe away apps from your recent app switcher. That one is eye service, like sweeping dirt under the carpet. Those apps are still roaming around in the background, unless you disable them from settings. If your Android phone has “Battery Saver” or “App Battery Management,” make good use of it. It helps keep stubborn apps in check automatically.
3. Disable Location, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi When Not Needed
Leaving your location, Bluetooth, or Wi-Fi on 24/7 is like leaving your shop open overnight with no security. Even if nobody steals your phone, your Android battery will still suffer. These features quietly suck power in the background, even when you are not using them.
Your GPS keeps tracking you. Bluetooth looking for devices to connect to. Wi-Fi scanning for signal like a job seeker looking for any opportunity. All these things combined will sip your Android battery slowly until you start asking, “Na when I charge this phone last?”
What to do:
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Only turn on Location (GPS) when you need directions on Google Maps, ride-hailing apps like Bolt or Uber, or when posting your location on social media.
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Switch off Bluetooth when you are not connected to wireless earphones, speakers, or smartwatches.
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Turn off Wi-Fi when you are outdoors and not near any known network. Let your phone rest.
Most Android phones also let you create a shortcut in the notification bar, so you can easily switch these features on or off without opening settings.
Techmall Tip:
When you are in an area with zero or weak mobile network (like a village or inside a deep building), your phone goes searching for a network signal as if it is looking for palliative. This drains battery fast.
Switch on Airplane Mode temporarily so your phone will not have to stress itself. That way, you will save battery and reduce the heat.
4. Use Battery Saver Mode When You Are Not Heavy on Tasks
Battery Saver mode is that loyal friend you forget to thank. It may not give you speed like Formula 1, but when all you are doing is small Instagram, WhatsApp chats, or reading news on Zealnews or Pulse, it quietly helps your Android battery last longer. It works by reducing background activity, lowering screen brightness, and toning down performance so your phone does not burn energy for unnecessary things.
If your phone battery always drops like low low-current NEPA light, this is one feature you must start using often.
What to do:
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Swipe down from the top of your screen and tap on “Battery Saver”.
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Or go to Settings > Battery > Battery Saver to turn it on manually.
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Some Android phones also give you the option to limit apps running in the background when this mode is active.
It may slightly reduce your phone’s speed or delay background notifications, but at least your phone will still be alive when you need it most.
Techmall Tip:
Many phones now allow you to schedule Battery Saver to turn on automatically when your battery drops to a certain level, usually 15% or 20%. You can set this up inside the battery settings so that your phone starts managing itself before it collapses. Think of it like an auto fuel reserve when your tank is red.
5. Avoid Overcharging and Use the Right Charger
This one is not a joke; overcharging your Android phone is like overfeeding a generator with fuel. It may work today, but after some time, it will start misbehaving. Many people just plug their phone overnight and sleep like a log of wood, thinking their Android battery will love them for it. Sadly, it is that habit that slowly kills the Android battery lifespan.
And please, not every charger is your charger.
That your neighbour’s “universal charger” that sparks every time you plug it in? It could cause havoc inside your Android battery.
What to do:
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Always use the original charger that came with your phone.
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If it is missing, replace it with a high-quality charger that supports your phone’s voltage and fast charge settings.
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Do not leave your phone charging for hours after it is full, especially overnight. Most modern Android phones stop charging when full, but the heat from constant current still wears the battery down over time.
Techmall Tip:
Invest in a power strip with a timer or a smart plug that can automatically cut off power after one or two hours. That way, even if you fall asleep, your phone will not get roasted for nothing. It is a small step, but your future self (and your Android battery) will be happy you took it.
6. Turn Off Always-On Display and Unused Widgets
Always-On Display (AOD) might look nice, but it quietly drains your battery even when you are not using the phone. Yes, seeing the time or date without tapping your screen is convenient, but your battery pays the price, especially if your phone has an AMOLED or OLED display.
Now add all those home screen widgets we forget about: weather updates, stock prices, daily quotes, or fitness counters. If you are not checking them often, they are just there looking fine and wasting your Android battery behind the scenes.
What to do:
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Go to Settings > Display > Always-On Display and switch it off.
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Long press on your home screen and remove widgets you no dey check. Ask yourself: “When last did I look at this calendar widget?”
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Reduce screen animations or transitions, especially if you are using a custom launcher.
Techmall Tip:
Keep your home screen clean and simple. A neat layout with only the apps you need can reduce battery strain. Try to avoid live wallpapers too, those moving stars or animations may look cool, but they are low-key draining power like a person sipping chilled zobo with a straw.
7. Keep Your Phone Software Updated
Some people treat software updates like they treat house chores: they just keep postponing them. You will see “Update available” flashing on the screen for weeks, and the person will still ignore it. But here is the thing, software updates are not just for security or UI changes, many of them come with battery performance improvements, bug fixes, and system optimisations that help your phone run smoother and last longer.
Manufacturers like Samsung, Xiaomi, Infinix, and Tecno regularly push updates that quietly solve those battery drain issues you have been complaining about since January. Sometimes, it is just a small bug in the system draining your Android battery. A good update can fix that in seconds.
What to do:
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Go to Settings > System > Software Update and tap “Check for updates.”
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If an update is available, plug your phone in, connect to Wi-Fi (to save data), and install it.
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Restart your phone after updates to make sure everything settles well.
Techmall Tip:
Avoid installing beta versions of Android unless you are a techie or app tester. These early versions may look sweet and fancy, but they usually come with bugs that can mess with your battery, camera, and even network. Always wait for official stable releases before updating, especially if you use your phone for work or business.
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