Low Power Mode on iPad How To Enable & Disable It

Last Updated on September 8, 2023 by Ernests Embutnieks

Some time ago, iPads didn’t have low-power mode, but now they do. Let’s talk about how to enable and disable lower power mode on iPad. What exactly does it do, and how does it save battery on your device?

There are two options to enable low power mode on iPad: you swipe down from the top right corner open up the control center, and turn on low power mode on the iPad or you go to Settings > Battery > Toggle on Low Power Mode.

Let’s go deeper; let me show you step by step, with pictures and video, how you can enable low power mode and disable it whenever necessary, and let’s talk about the effects of low power mode.

How To Turn On & Off Low Power Mode on iPad

There are two methods – you can go a long way through settings you can, take the shortcut, and use the control center. Let me show you.

Method 1

1. Open Settings on iPad
2. Scroll Down To Battery – Click On It
3. Toggle On/Off Low Power Mode

Now low-power mode is enable or disabled on your device.

When your battery level drops to 20%, iOS will automatically offer you the option to enable low-power mode on your screen. If you don’t, it will offer to enable it again at 10% and then again at 5%.

Method 2

1. Access Control Center: Swipe down from the top-right corner of the screen (for iPad models with Face ID) or swipe up from the bottom of the screen (for iPad models with a Home button) to open the Control Center.
2. Find the Low Power Mode Icon: In the Control Center, look for the battery icon. If your iPad is not already in Low Power Mode, you’ll see a regular battery icon. Tap on it to enable it.
3. Enable Low Power Mode: After tapping the battery icon, you’ll see the option to turn on Low Power Mode. Tap the “Low Power Mode” button to enable it. The icon will turn yellow to indicate that Low Power Mode is active.

That’s it! Your iPad is now in Low Power Mode, which helps conserve battery life by reducing certain background activities and optimizing system performance.

Here’s a video(YouTube short) where we show how you can enable and disable low power mode on iPad:

I Don’t Have Lowe Power Mode Icon in Control Center – Fix It

If you don’t see the Low Power Mode icon in your iPad’s Control Center, it’s possible that the option to display it might not be enabled. Here’s what you can do to address this issue:

1. Check Settings:
   • Open the “Settings” app on your iPad.
   • Scroll down and select “Control Center.”
2. Customize Controls:
   • In the “Control Center” settings, find the “More Controls” section.
   • Look for “Low Power Mode” in the list of available controls. If it’s not enabled, you’ll see a green plus (+) button next to it.
3. Add Low Power Mode:
   • Tap the green plus (+) button next to “Low Power Mode.” This adds it to the “Included Controls” section.
4. Access Control Center:
   • Swipe down from the top-right corner (Face ID models) or swipe up from the bottom (Home button models) to open the Control Center.
5. Enable Low Power Mode:
   • Once you’ve added Low Power Mode to the Control Center, you should now see the icon. Tap on the battery icon, and you’ll find the Low Power Mode button. Tap it to enable Low Power Mode.

iPad Battery Draining Fast? – Possible Solutions

What Does Low Power Mode Do on iPad?

Let’s talk about what changes and how your iPad manages to save some battery enabling low power mode or, in other words, what low power mode actually do for your device:

• Display brightness reduces
• Auto-Lock set to 30 seconds
• Display refresh rate limited to 60Hz (iPad Pro, by default, has a 120Hz refresh rate)
• iCloud Photos gets paused
• Visual effects
• Automatic downloads paused
• Email fetch
• App background refresh stopped

For me personally – it’s nothing too dramatic, and it’s hard even to notice the difference when the low power mode is enabled or not besides the yellow battery icon, of course.

I reached out to a friend who’s an artist and uses an iPad for his art, and he mentioned that he would never draw when low power mode is enabled. There’s a huge difference. If you use your iPad for drawing, then probably low-power mode is not that great if you plan to get some work done. I personally use my tablet to take notes with Apple Pencil, and I can barely see the difference(probably that’s why I’m not an artist and don’t have such a great eye for details).

How To Know Low Power Mode Is Enabled?

There are two options: you can go to Settings>Battery and see if the low power mode toggle is enabled. 

The easier way to notice is to check if your battery in the top right corner is yellow. If it’s yellow, it means low power mode is enabled. If it’s green, it means the low-power mode is disabled. 

When Did iPads Get Low Power Mode?

The low-power mode has been available for iPads since iOS 15, which was released on September 20, 2021. If you’ve been using iPads for a while, you might have missed it if you never let your battery drop below 20% (then iOS suggests you enable it).

Should I Keep My iPad On Low Power Mode All The Time?

It depends. If extending battery life is your top priority and you don’t mind the performance trade-offs, keeping your iPad in low-power mode all the time is a good option. However, if you require optimal performance, need timely notifications, or prefer the complete iOS experience, it may be more suitable to enable low power mode selectively when needed, such as when your battery is running low or during extended periods without access to charging.

Is Low Power Mode Bad for iPad Battery?

No, low power mode is not inherently bad for your iPad battery. It won’t affect your iPad battery health.

Is it Worth Replacing Your iPad Battery?

Why Has My Battery Icon Changed To Yellow?

The battery icon turning yellow on your iPad indicates that low power mode is currently enabled.

When your iPad is in low-power mode, the battery icon changes color to yellow to provide a visual indicator of the low-power activation.

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