This week, Apple launched a model new replace to the iPhone. Now that iOS 26.4 is on the market, we’ve got entry to issues like new emojis, smarter Apple Music options, and new safety settings that may preserve your iPhone safer.
Nonetheless, not every thing is nice information. As with new software program updates, it’s possible you’ll discover that your iPhone begins to really feel a bit totally different. For starters, you would possibly expertise greater battery drain than you often do. Likewise, it’s doable that your iPhone would possibly really feel a bit hotter than it often does.
The excellent news is that that is truly completely anticipated conduct — and Apple explains why. Let’s break it down.
Your iPhone Battery Would possibly Drain Sooner After Putting in iOS 26.4 (And That’s Okay)
After each main software program replace, we’ve all skilled or heard about points with the iPhone’s battery life and temperature. This challenge occurs a lot that Apple has made an announcement about it.
Again in September 2025, Apple clarified that software program updates (particularly large ones) may need a short lived influence in your iPhone. The key phrase right here is “momentary,” as your iPhone must be again to regular after some time. Right here’s how Apple explains it:
Instantly after finishing an replace, notably a significant launch, you would possibly discover a short lived influence on battery life and thermal efficiency. That is regular, as your gadget wants time to finish the setup course of within the background, together with indexing information and recordsdata for search, downloading new property, and updating apps.
So the rationale why your battery feels worse, and your iPhone feels hotter than normal, is that, even if you happen to don’t see it, your gadget is doing a variety of work behind the scenes. Apple additionally explains that the brand new options would possibly want extra energy out of your gadget, and if you happen to’re somebody who continually makes use of your iPhone, you may also expertise sooner battery drain.
Once more, Apple doesn’t explicitly say how lengthy these points ought to final after an replace, however we are able to assume that every thing must be again to regular after a day or two on the most. Within the comparatively uncommon case the place there’s truly a battery-related bug within the launch, Apple will undoubtedly repair it with one other software program replace, because it’s at all times carried out up to now.
What You Can Do to Protect Battery Life
Since this challenge is momentary, you may not even discover it if you happen to don’t use your iPhone lots. Nonetheless, if you happen to put in iOS 26.4 earlier than going to work or a flight, you would possibly wish to protect as a lot battery life as doable.
The best factor you are able to do is to activate Low Energy Mode. Your iPhone will cut back the background exercise, processing pace, brightness, and even restrict sure options like iCloud syncing, so the battery can last more. To show it on, go to Settings > Battery > Energy Mode, and activate Low Energy Mode.
Simply bear in mind that that is additionally solely a short lived repair. Your iPhone will nonetheless want to finish its post-update housekeeping, and turning on Low Energy Mode merely pauses it. Nonetheless, a minimum of it provides you a little bit of management by letting you defer it till your iPhone is close to a charger.
Professional Tip: When you’ve got a more moderen iPhone, you may also see a toggle for Adaptive Energy. Not like the blunt instrument of Low Energy Mode, this makes use of Apple Intelligence to subtly stretch your battery all through the day with out you even noticing. This may enhance battery life with fewer efficiency compromises, however we nonetheless suggest Low Energy Mode for one of the best post-update financial savings.
Set up iOS 26.4 Proper Away
As you may see, any battery-related points with iOS 26.4 must be fully momentary. When you’ve got a protracted day forward of you, you may at all times be cautious and activate Low Energy Mode, so that you don’t run out of energy in the course of the day.
After your iPhone is finished with all of the background actions, you shouldn’t discover any large points with temperature or battery life. What you’ll discover is all of the cool new options Apple added this time round.