If your iPhone regularly runs out of battery later in the day, Low Power Mode is one way to make it last longer. You can also make Low Power Mode automatically turn on when your battery reaches a certain custom level. Keep reading to learn how.

low power mode
Most iPhone users are familiar with the way iOS throws up a prompt to turn on Low Power Mode when the battery reaches 20%. Low Power Mode can also be turned on manually at any time by going to Settings -> Battery and toggling on the switch next to Low Power Mode.

If you find yourself constantly having to turn on Low Power Mode late in the day, you can save some time by setting it up to run automatically when your battery is depleted to a specific custom level. This can be done in the Shortcuts app, as the following steps show.

Bear in mind that Low Power Mode reduces your iPhone's performance and cuts out some background activities. For example, mail must be fetched manually, background app refresh is disabled, and motion and brightness are reduced.

If you're okay with those limitations, follow the steps below to automate the setting on your iPhone.

  1. Open the Shortcuts app and select the Automation tab at the bottom of the screen, then tap the + button in the top-right corner.
  2. Scroll down and select Battery Level from the options.
  3. shortcuts

  4. Check Falls Below 50% and then drag the slider to adjust the percentage level for when Low Power Mode should be activated.
  5. To ensure the automation runs in the background, tap Run Immediately, then tap Next.
  6. Search for "Set Low Power Mode" and select the card from the results, then tap Next.
  7. Lastly, tap Done in the top-right of the screen.
  8. shortcuts

Your "Set Low Power Mode" personal automation should now be listed in the automation list, and will automatically trigger whenever your iPhone reaches the threshold you selected.

Use a Focus Instead

If you don't want to use the Shortcuts app, you can set up a Focus to come on at a set time of day with a Low Power Mode system filter enabled. Follow the link to learn how it's done.

Top Rated Comments

Jarbo Avatar
3 days ago at 04:32 am
There was a time when useful features like this would have been easily accessible directly from the battery preferences and streamlined for this use-case. The idea that you need to go to something obtusely named "Automations" and set up a custom action is lame.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
NoGood@Usernames Avatar
3 days ago at 05:48 am
…or, hear me out…

This could happen automatically without having to jump through hoops like it does on every other operating system!

This should just be a toggle switch and dropdown in the battery/power settings:
(On/Off) “Automatically enable Low Power Mode when battery life reaches (10/20/30/40)%”

Then, it turns off once the device is plugged into AC power. Simple. There’s no reason Apple’s “it just works” operating systems should require any of this, when it’s built into Windows, Android, ChromeOS from the start.

It seems an odd thing for Apple to be the “odd man out” on ?
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TechWhisperer Avatar
3 days ago at 04:47 am

There was a time when useful features like this would have been easily accessible directly from the battery preferences and streamlined for this use-case. The idea that you need to go to something obtusely named "Automations" and set up a custom action is lame.
It’s because Craig is busy perfecting his guitar riffs, spending hours in his soundproofed office working on those power chords instead of focusing on the next big iOS innovation.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Kelly the Dude Avatar
2 days ago at 08:30 am

I tried something similar to this and it didn't work at all for my use case. All that happened was a notification from the Shortcuts app that says it needs the device to be unlocked before the shortcut will run.
You need to turn on “allow running while locked” in the privacy tab of the shortcut info section.

Attachment Image
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
svish Avatar
2 days ago at 12:05 pm
Good article and an easy way to turn it on. I very rarely turn on low power mode so don't think I will set it up.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Avenged110 Avatar
2 days ago at 12:28 pm

I used to do that on iOS 14. Not noticeable at all. When I upgraded to iOS 17 (directly, skipping all in-between versions), I had to disable permanent low power mode because scrolling got very laggy in low power mode
I'm not surprised. Apple's software is something of a bloated mess these days. For what it's worth, I also never updated my phone; I'm still on iOS 15.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

Apple Glass

Apple Smart Glasses: Everything We Know So Far

Wednesday May 21, 2025 8:21 am PDT by
Google made waves yesterday by showcasing a set of lightweight smart glasses featuring deep Gemini integration and an optional in-lens display. The demo has reignited interest in Apple's own smart glasses project, which has been the subject of rumors for nearly a decade. Here's a recap of where things stand. Current Development Status Apple is actively working on new chips specifically...
iPhone 17 Air Pastel Feature

iPhone 17 Air Battery Capacity and Weight Allegedly Revealed

Monday May 19, 2025 2:22 am PDT by
Apple is expected to launch an all-new ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air later this year, and while there have been plenty of rumors about the camera's overall design and thinness, we haven't heard any details about the device's weight and battery capacity until now. According to the leaker going by the account name "yeux1122" on the Korean-langauge Naver blog, the 6.6-inch iPhone 17 Air has a weight ...
Apple CarPlay Ultra instrument cluster themes 01

Apple's CarPlay Ultra Is Here – Does Your iPhone Support It?

Thursday May 15, 2025 5:17 am PDT by
Apple's recently announced CarPlay Ultra promises a deeply integrated in-car experience, but not all iPhone users will be able to take advantage of the new feature. According to Apple's press release, CarPlay Ultra requires an iPhone 12 or later running iOS 18.5 or later. This means if you're using an iPhone 11, iPhone XR, or any older model, you'll need to upgrade your device to access...
WWDC 2025 Banner

Apple Announces WWDC 2025 Schedule, Including Keynote Time

Tuesday May 20, 2025 8:13 am PDT by
Apple today announced a more detailed schedule for its annual developers conference WWDC, which runs from June 9 through June 13. The schedule confirms that Apple's keynote will begin on Monday, June 9 at 10 a.m. Pacific Time, with a live stream to be available on Apple.com, in the Apple TV app, and on YouTube. During the keynote, Apple is expected to announce iOS 19, iPadOS 19, macOS 16,...
macOS 16 visionOS Inspired Feature 1

macOS 16: Everything We Know So Far

Tuesday May 20, 2025 7:31 am PDT by
The Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), Apple's annual developer and software-oriented event, is less than three weeks away. We haven't heard a great deal about macOS 16 ahead of its announcement this year, so we could be in for some major surprises when June 9 rolls around. Here's what we know so far about the next major update to Apple's Mac operating system. macOS 16 Name? Every year ...
maxresdefault

OpenAI Buys Jony Ive's AI Startup to 'Completely Reimagine What It Means to Use a Computer'

Wednesday May 21, 2025 10:27 am PDT by
OpenAI is acquiring io, the hardware-based AI startup co-created by Jony Ive, OpenAI announced today. Ive has been working with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman on io for two years, and the duo expects to develop a family of AI devices. In a video shared by OpenAI, Altman and Ive outlined their partnership and what they expect to create as a result of the merger. "I have a growing sense that everything ...
Apple CarPlay Ultra instrument cluster themes 01

Apple's 'CarPlay Ultra' Experience Now Available

Thursday May 15, 2025 5:07 am PDT by
Apple today announced that its next-generation CarPlay experience, now dubbed "CarPlay Ultra" begins rolling out today, starting with Aston Martin vehicles. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. CarPlay Ultra is now available with new Aston Martin vehicle orders in the U.S. and Canada. It will also be available for existing models that feature the brand's next-generation ...