Save iPhone battery by turning off system services.
Table of Contents
What Are System Services
Backing up a little bit… system services are part of location services. So you want to ask, what are location services?
From Apple:
Location Services allows Apple and third-party apps and websites to gather and use information based on the current location of your iPhone or Apple Watch to provide a variety of location-based services.
From an iPhone battery perspective, providing that capability takes some battery juice.
Some of the system services that are enabled as a result of location services include:
- Routing and Traffic: While in transit (e.g., walking or driving), your iPhone sends GPS data, travel speed, direction, and barometric pressure anonymously and encrypted to Apple. Data is used to enhance crowd-sourced traffic, roadway, pedestrian walkway, and atmospheric databases. Opening an app near a point of interest sends location data anonymously to Apple, aiding in indicating if the point of interest is open and its busyness.
- Significant Locations: iPhones and iCloud-connected devices track visited places, frequency, and timing. Data is end-to-end encrypted and used for personalized services like predictive traffic routing and Memories in Photos.
- Suggestions & Search: iPhone location is sent to Apple for relevant recommendations. Disabling Location Services prevents precise location sharing. IP address may be used for approximate location matching for search suggestions and news.
- Alerts & Shortcuts Automations: iPhones and Apple Watches use location for geographically relevant alerts and recommendations. Examples include reminders, departure alerts, and app recommendations based on current location.
- Share My Location: Users can share current location temporarily or continuously through certain apps like Messages and Find My.
- HomeKit: iPhone uses location to control accessories upon arrival or departure from specific locations (e.g., turning on lights upon returning home).
- System Customization: iPhones customize appearance, behaviors, and settings based on current location (e.g., enabling Optimized Battery Charging at home).
- Apple Pay Merchant Identification: iPhone uses current location for accurate merchant identification during Apple Card transactions.
- Emergency Calls & SOS: iPhones and Apple Watches provide supplementary data to emergency services during emergency calls. Emergency SOS triggers location sharing with emergency contacts post-call.
How to Access System Services
On the iPhone, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services (at the top) > System Services (at the bottom).
Which System Services To Turn Off To Save Battery
… and protect your privacy.
Payette Forward has an excellent video that makes recommendations and gives the reason why to keep or disable the following system services.
Listed below are the recommendations and if the reason is for extended battery life, privacy or both.
For battery, yes means that the service uses a lot of battery. For privacy, yes means that it reveals your privacy. On / Off is the recommendation for the service.
| Service | Battery | Privacy | On/Off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alerts & Shortcuts Automations | Yes | No | Off |
| Apple Pay Merchant Identification | Yes | – | Off |
| Cell Network Search | Yes | Yes | Off |
| Compass Calibration | – | – | On |
| Device Management | – | Yes | Off |
| Emergency Calls & SOS | – | Yes | On |
| Find My iPhone | – | – | On |
| HomeKit | Yes | – | Off |
| Motion Calibration & Distance | – | – | Off |
| Networking & Wireless | – | Yes | Off* |
| Satellite Connection iPhone 14+ | – | – | On |
| Setting Time Zone | Yes | – | Off |
| Share My Location | Yes | Yes | On |
| Sharing.framework | – | – | Off |
| Suggestions & Search | Yes | Yes | Off |
| System Customization | – | – | On |
| Wi-Fi Calling | – | Yes | Off |
| Significant Locations | Yes | Yes | Off* |
| iPhone Analytics | – | Yes | Off |
| Routing & Traffic | – | Yes | Off |
| Improve Maps | – | Yes | Off |