How To Fix Galaxy S24 Battery Drain (One UI 8.5, 2026)

If your Galaxy S24 is losing battery much faster than it used to, the cause is usually software, not a dead battery.

Updates, 5G, background apps, and the display are the usual suspects, and most of them can be fixed in Settings.

Work through the fixes below in order, which takes about 15 minutes plus a day of watching how the battery behaves.

Quick answer: what to try first

Situation	Try first	Where
Drain started right after an update	Wait a few days of regular use	Samsung says battery life typically improves
Drain in a weak 5G area	Switch to LTE	Settings > Connections > Mobile networks
Phone warm or draining while idle	Optimize now	Settings > Battery and device care
Apps running in the background	Background usage limits	Settings > Battery and device care > Battery
Screen uses the most power	Motion smoothness to Standard	Settings > Display
Nothing helps	Safe mode test, then factory reset	Samsung support steps

Menu names can differ slightly by model, carrier, and software version, so use the Settings search box if one is missing.

Why does the Galaxy S24 battery drain after an update?

Samsung says drain is often normal in the first days after setup or an update, because the phone runs many background processes and relearns your usage patterns.

Samsung adds that battery life typically improves after a few days of regular use.

Samsung’s One UI 8.5 update was rolling out to the Galaxy S24 series in May 2026, so a recent update is a likely trigger.

In July 2026, PhoneArena reported complaints of battery drain and overheating on Galaxy phones including S24 models after that update, and said Samsung had not acknowledged a cause.

That report said some users restored normal battery life by cancelling a stuck WhatsApp encrypted backup, which may not apply to everyone.

Fix 1: install the latest update and app updates

Updates can carry fixes for battery bugs, so install anything pending before you change settings.

Open Settings and tap Software update.
Tap Download and install and let it finish.
Open the Play Store, tap your profile picture, then Manage apps and device, then Update all.
In Galaxy Store, open the menu, tap Updates, and update your apps.

Use the Settings search box if your carrier labels the update item differently.

Fix 2: run Optimize now and auto optimization

Samsung lists this as the first step, and it closes background apps and checks for abnormal battery use.

Open Settings and tap Battery and device care.
Tap Optimize now.
Tap More options, then Automation, then turn on Auto optimize daily if you want it.

Samsung says the scan also looks for crashed apps and malware.

Fix 3: set background usage limits

Background apps are a common reason a phone drains while the screen is off.

Go to Settings, then Battery and device care, then Battery, then Background usage limits, and pick from these options:

Option	What it does
Put unused apps to sleep	Apps you have not used for a while sleep automatically
Sleeping apps	Apps that will not run in the background
Deep sleeping apps	Apps that run only when you open them
Never sleeping apps	Apps exempt from automatic sleep, such as messaging apps you rely on for alerts

You can also go to Settings, then Apps, tap the three dots, choose Special access, then Optimize battery usage, to optimize individual apps.

Optimized apps use less battery, but some of their background functions will be restricted.

Fix 4: switch to LTE in weak 5G areas

Samsung says 5G can use more power because the phone uses 4G and 5G networks at the same time, which may also cause slight heating.

If drain stays high where 5G coverage is weak, set the phone to LTE.

The path is usually Settings, then Connections, then Mobile networks, then Network mode, but your carrier version may label it differently.

Fix 5: lower display power use

These display settings come from Samsung’s battery drain troubleshooting page.

Motion smoothness: Settings > Display > Motion smoothness > Standard, which limits the screen to 60 Hz.
Brightness: lower the slider or turn on Adaptive brightness.
Dark mode: turn it on, or schedule it, in Settings > Display.
Screen timeout: set a shorter timeout.
Always On Display: in Settings > Lock screen and AOD, turn it off or set When to show to Tap to show.

Pick the changes you can live with, because Motion smoothness is the one most people notice.

Fix 6: trim notifications and use power saving

Unneeded notifications wake the screen and the radio.

Settings > Notifications > App Notifications, then switch off apps you do not need.
Settings > Battery > Power saving, then turn on the options you want.
Settings > Device care > Performance profile > Light, as Samsung lists on its battery page.

Open Settings > Battery > View details afterward to see which apps used the most power.

Fix 7: force a reboot, then try Safe mode

A restart clears stuck processes, and Safe mode shows whether a downloaded app is to blame.

Make sure the battery is at least 5 percent.
Hold Volume down and the Side button for about 10 seconds until the Samsung logo appears.
If Maintenance mode appears, use the volume buttons to choose Normal Boot.

For Safe mode, hold Power off in the power menu, tap Safe mode, and test the phone.

If the drain disappears, uninstall recently downloaded apps one at a time and check after each, then exit Safe mode by powering off and on.

How do you check battery health?

If a fresh battery drains fast on every setting, test the battery itself.

Open the Samsung Members app and tap the Support tab.
Under Phone diagnostics, tap Get Started and let the test finish.
Tap the Battery status icon.

Result	What Samsung says it means
Normal	No performance problems
Weak	Efficiency may have dropped from long-term use or conditions
Bad	Battery life has significantly degraded, so visit a Samsung support centre

If you want to slow future wear, Settings > Battery > Battery protection has a Basic option that limits charging to 80 percent.

Fix 8: factory reset as a last resort

Back up with Smart Switch or a cloud account first, because a reset erases personal data, settings, and downloaded apps.

Keep the phone on a wall charger and note your Samsung and Google account details.

Then go to Settings, search for Factory data reset, tap it, and tap Reset.

After the reset, test the phone before reinstalling apps, then add them back a few at a time.

When should you contact Samsung?

If a clean test still drains fast, or Samsung Members reports a weak or bad battery, it is time for service.

Check warranty details at samsung.com/us/support/warranty.
Request a repair at samsung.com/us/support/service.
Chat with Samsung at samsung.com/us/support/contact.

For cost and options, see our guide to Samsung Galaxy battery replacement.

If the phone also charges slowly, our Galaxy S24 charging problems guide covers that side.

You may also want our Galaxy S24 keeps rebooting fix, since reboot loops can drain the battery as well.

Charging accessories if you need a stopgap

Buy links go to Amazon, and TheDroidGuy may earn a commission from them.

Accessories do not fix drain, but a good charger or cable helps while you troubleshoot.

Portable charger: an Anker portable charger with a foldable USB-C connector.
Check price on Amazon
Wall charger: a Samsung official USB-C charger.
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Cable: a USB-C charging cable for Galaxy phones.
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Check that a charger’s output suits your model before you buy.

Official sources used

Steps were checked against Samsung’s support pages in November 2026.