If your iPhone’s battery seems to be draining faster after installing iOS 26.1, don’t panic. Apple has confirmed that the temporary drop in battery life is a normal part of the post-update process.
Apple released iOS 26.1 earlier this week, introducing new settings and performance improvements, including another way to adjust the Liquid Glass feature. Soon after, many users began noticing their iPhones losing battery faster than usual.
In a support page, Apple clarified that such behavior is common right after installing a major update. The company explained that your iPhone performs several background tasks after downloading a new version, which can temporarily impact both battery life and thermal performance.
Background tasks may affect battery life
“This is normal, as your device needs time to complete the setup process in the background, including indexing data and files for search, downloading new assets, and updating apps,” Apple stated.
I’ve updated my iPhone 16 Pro to iOS 26.1 and captured a few details from before and after the update.
— Kumar Shubham (@its_ShubhamK) November 5, 2025
Before Update:
• ⏰ Time: 12:09 PM
• 🔋 Battery: 81%
• 💾 Storage Used: 94.79 GB
After Update:
• ⏰ Time: 12:55 PM
• 🔋 Battery: 70%
• 💾 Storage Used: 84.21 GB
⏱️ Time… https://t.co/Jyg0lBgOwg pic.twitter.com/L8DXzN5wiZ
During this setup phase, the iPhone consumes more power than usual, leading to a noticeable but short-lived battery drain. Apple said that the device’s performance and battery life should return to normal once these background activities are finished.
User habits can also play role
Apple also noted that personal usage patterns can affect how much battery life is consumed after an update. Some new or updated features may require more system resources to function smoothly, depending on how often you use your device.
If you find yourself exploring new iOS 26.1 features more frequently or using your phone longer than usual, that added screen time could also contribute to the temporary drain.
Apple reassures it’s only temporary
The company previously issued similar reassurances during major iOS rollouts, reminding users that it’s not a cause for concern. Once the update setup completes and the iPhone recalibrates, performance and battery efficiency should stabilize automatically.
In short, if your iPhone’s battery seems to be depleting faster after installing iOS 26.1, Apple says it’s completely normal and only temporary. The company advises users to give their devices time to finish background tasks before drawing conclusions about battery health.
For now, users can expect things to return to normal within a few days as iOS 26.1 fully optimizes system processes and app performance.
