Little-known ‘vampire’ setting is probably ruining your iPhone battery

Is your iPhone running out of power all the time? It could be this ‘vampire’ setting that’s hidden deep within your phone settings.

There are so many ways that your phone battery can be drained, from background apps to hours of scrolling.

But it doesn’t have to be this way, and you can actually stop your phone from draining it's battery if you use this little-known hack.

This little-known setting could be draining your battery. (Getty Stock Image)

The ‘vampire’ setting is enough to drain your battery within hours, costing you precious time on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube in the day.

So, how does it work?

Okay, so it’s not actually called ‘vampire’ in your phone, it’s called ‘Wi-Fi Assist’ and this allows you to use mobile data when your network is being naff.

Not only is it great for when your Netflix suddenly lags, but it can also help if you need to sign a quick document when you’re out in the middle of a rural walk without strong Wi-Fi.

Even though it has numerous uses, it can kill your battery life and it’s automatically running on all iPhones.

This means you have to go in search of it to turn it off.

It's time to turn off 'Wi-Fi assist'. (Getty Stock Image)

But don't worry, as it’s an easy process.

First, you need to head to your Settings before finding and clicking the Mobile Data button.

Then, you’ll see your personal hotspot details. Take a gander underneath and you’ll find that Wi-Fi Assist button if you scroll to the bottom of the page.

To turn it off, all you need to do is tap the toggle and it’ll remain off until you switch it back on.

You can also use other hacks to preserve your battery life such as turning off your background apps, closing all of your open tabs and lowering your brightness.

Apple previously said: "There are two simple ways you can preserve battery life — no matter how you use your device: adjust your screen brightness and use Wi‑Fi. When you use your device to access data, a Wi‑Fi connection uses less power than a mobile network — so keep Wi‑Fi on at all times. To turn on Wi‑Fi, go to Settings > Wi‑Fi to access a Wi‑Fi network."

Apple provides lots of tips to preserve your battery. (Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

The tech giant also states some simple tips on it’s website.

The first is making sure your device is updated: “Always make sure your device is using the latest version of iOS. If you are using iOS 5 or later, see if you need an update. Go to Settings > General > Software Update.

“If an update is available, you can plug your device into a power source and update wirelessly or plug it into your computer and update with the latest version of iTunes.”

Another tip suggests using low battery mode.

This ‘reduces display brightness, optimises device performance and minimises system animations’.

“Apps including Mail will not download content in the background, and features like AirDrop, iCloud sync and Continuity will be disabled.”

Try these tips out and see how far your battery life stretches now.

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