We’re starting to notice that there’s a rising number of #GalaxyS8 owners noticing shorter battery life on their respective devices after installing Android updates. At this time, we’re still gathering more information what these updates might be but in the meantime, we’ve decided to also address the issue by creating a list of tricks that you can do minimize battery drain.
How to slow down the rate of battery drain on your S8
While the title of this article seems to suggest that battery drain occurs following an update, there are also other factors that behind it. For one, battery drain issue can be caused by multiple factors. We know for a fact that it happens with or without an update. In many cases, poor battery performance is due to lack of understanding how Android in general works, and how a Lithium-based battery like the one in your S8 makes and depletes power. We also know for a fact that a lot of Android users are simply not wise enough to minimize battery consumption on their device. In a way, battery usage usually comes down to one’s usage habits. Some are heavy users while others only use their devices for basic functions. In this short article, we’ll tell you the tricks on how to extend your S8’s battery life.
Solution #1: Clear S8 system cache
Whether you have an issue or not, it’s always good practice to regularly clear your phone’s system cache. That’s because it can get corrupted relatively easily, which may lead to glitches. Clearing the cache partition where the system cache is kept also minimizes update-related bugs. If you haven’t tried it yet, here’s how to do it:
- Turn off the device.
- Press and hold the Volume Up key and the Bixby key, then press and hold the Power key.
- When the Android logo displays, release all keys (‘Installing system update’ will show for about 30 – 60 seconds before showing the Android system recovery menu options).
- Press the Volume down key to highlight wipe cache partition.
- Press the Power key to select.
- Press the Volume down key to highlight “yes” and press the Power key to select.
- When the wipe cache partition is complete, “Reboot system now” is highlighted.
- Press the Power key to restart the device.
Solution #2: Lower screen brightness
A Galaxy S8’s screen appears more attractive when it’s bright. The thing is, the brighter the screen is, the more hits your battery takes. In order to avoid minimizing unnecessary loss of power, consider lowering screen brightness to a level you’re comfortable with. You don’t have to keep the screen dim; just experiment with the least amount of brightness without straining your eyes.
Solution #3: Uninstall apps that run constantly in the background
In case you did not know, one of the main reasons why smartphone battery drains quicker is apps. This is true whether you have an Android, iOS, or any other smartphone. The more apps you install, the higher the chance that one or a number of them are sucking your battery dry all the time. If you are constantly in need of longer battery life, we suggest that you check your apps to see which of them is a power-hungry one. There’s a built-in application that you can use to do this task. To open it, follow these steps:
- Open Settings app.
- Tap Device Maintenance.
- Tap Battery.
- Tap BATTERY USAGE button.
- From here on, you should be able to make informed decision what apps to uninstall to give your device a battery boost you may need.
Some troubleshooting guides out there will recommend that you install another app to obtain the same basic information you’re seeing under Device Maintenance. Please don’t do that. At most, such apps will only give you trivial or unnecessary data while adding to the battery drain issue since they need to regularly monitor the system.
Solution #4: Change screen resolution
When it comes to bigger screens, having a higher resolution can significantly improve the quality of the photo or video being shown. However, in such a relatively smaller screen size, using low resolution is hardly noticeable. Your S8 has three resolution options that you can use and picking the highest one can dramatically consume more battery power. Try to pick the lowest possible and we can assure you, your photos and videos will still look great.
To change the screen resolution, just go to Settings > Display > Screen resolution.
Solution #5: Turn off unused network services
Turning off wifi or cellular data when not in use can also help. If you are in an area with poor network coverage, consider turning Airplane Mode on to prevent the system from regularly scanning the airwaves for your carrier signals. This endless scanning can tax the battery so letting your device take a break can certainly give your battery a good respite.
The same is true for Bluetooth. Turning it off is wise, especially if you don’t need it to be running constantly can save a lot of power. If you enabled Nearby device scanning, be sure to turn it off as well. Nearby device scanning is a feature that allows your device to constantly scan for other Bluetooth device, even if the Bluetooth switch has already been turned off.
Solution #6: Don’t use Always On Display
While Always On Display (AOD) has its place in your S8, it can contribute to fast battery drain issue throughout the day. If you think you’ll be unable to recharge your S8 soon, turning off AOD may be wise.
Solution #7: Get rid of Assistants
The Galaxy S8 has at least 2 Assistants — Bixby and Google Assistant. Due to the nature of their task, these apps are always listening and awaiting for your commands, which can consume not just the battery but your cellular data as well. For many users, both are useless so if you’re not using them or any of them that much, we suggest that you ditch them.
Solution #8: Stop using your phone!
No kidding. Seriously, just stop using your phone, especially if you have a long day ahead of you and it may be impossible to charge.
Many users can’t seem to stop the urge to tinker with their device after an update as well. We know it’s human nature to explore whatever is new and that includes the latest offerings of Android, but in this case, try to be smart and just control yourself.
Solution #9: Use Power Saving Mode
Power Saving Mode is a handy way to drastically reduce power consumption of your S8. Power Saving Mode works by tweaking a number of things in the system such as lowering screen brightness, slowing down the processor, restricting network activities, among others. If you find yourself in a bad situation and the next recharge is hours away, using Power Saving Mode is a good choice for you.
You should still be able to send and receive MMS, make calls, and connect to the internet in this mode.
To access Power Saving Mode, just go to Settings > Device maintenance > Battery.
Solution #10: Keep the screen off
If you can’t help using your phone by turning it off or if Power Saving Mode is not enough to extend your battery juice, try to keep the screen turned off to save more power. Remember, everytime the screen is turned on, the entire system is on alert for your inputs. That means that you’re wasting battery power unnecessarily.
Solution #11: Factory reset your S8
If your S8’s battery still seem to be draining quicker compared to when the update was not installed, try wiping the device to see if a reverting all software settings to defaults may help.
- Back up data on the internal memory. If you have signed into a Google account on the device, you have activated Anti-theft and will need your Google credentials to finish the Master reset.
- Turn off the device.
- Press and hold the Volume Up key and the Bixby key, then press and hold the Power key.
- When the Android logo displays, release all keys (‘Installing system update’ will show for about 30 – 60 seconds before showing the Android system recovery menu options).
- Press the Volume down key several times to highlight wipe data / factory reset.
- Press Power button to select.
- Press the Volume down key until Yes — delete all user data is highlighted.
- Press Power button to select and start the master reset.
- When the master reset is complete, “Reboot system now” is highlighted.
- Press the Power key to restart the device.
