Battery Saver and Adaptive Battery

SettingAndroid 5 and later

Checked against official documentationLast reviewed 2026-10-081 min read

Battery Saver is an Android mode that extends battery life by limiting background activity, visual effects, location checks and some sync until you charge. Adaptive Battery is a separate, always-on feature that learns which apps you use and limits battery use of apps you rarely open.

1What Battery Saver limits

Background app refresh and sync, some location use, 'Hey Google' and visual effects; the dark theme may turn on. Notifications from some apps can arrive late. It can turn on automatically at a chosen battery level.

2Battery usage per app

Settings > Battery > Battery usage shows which apps used the most since the last full charge. Per app, the battery setting can be Unrestricted, Optimized (default) or Restricted.

3When notifications are late

Messengers and alarm apps may need Unrestricted battery use to deliver notifications on time; some manufacturers add extra battery managers with their own settings.

How to set up Battery Saver

Open Settings > Battery > Battery Saver.
Turn on 'Use Battery Saver', or set a schedule based on the battery percentage.
Keep Adaptive Battery on (Settings > Battery > Adaptive preferences or Battery optimization, depending on the phone).
Check Settings > Battery > Battery usage for apps with unusual consumption.

Cautions

Restricting an app's battery use can stop its notifications and background sync.
Battery 'booster' apps that kill background apps usually make battery life worse, because the apps restart.

Sources

Get the most life from your Android device's battery (Android Help) support.google.com
Keep Adaptive Battery & battery optimization on (Pixel Help) support.google.com

Last reviewed: 2026-10-08