The battery of my Xiaomi smartphone only lasts one day. What should I do?
Short battery life is one of the most common issues reported by Xiaomi phone users. Even brand-new models can drain within a single day, which quickly leads to frustration and the feeling that something is wrong with the device. In practice, however, it rarely indicates a hardware defect. Most often, the cause is system settings, apps running in the background, or everyday usage habits. The good news is that in most cases you can improve it yourself.
Check what’s actually draining your battery
Your first step should be reviewing the power usage statistics. In Settings → Battery → Battery usage, you can clearly see which apps and features are responsible for the biggest percentage drops. If the top of the list includes apps you barely use, it usually means they are running in the background unnecessarily. Common culprits include social media, messaging apps, shopping apps, or games that refresh data even when the phone is locked.
Limit apps running in the background
Xiaomi phones often allow apps to run quite freely in the background by default, which can reduce battery life. In each app’s settings you can enable battery saving mode or block auto-start. The best results come from a selective approach — keep full permissions only for apps you truly need, such as:
• messengers you use every day,
• banking and authentication apps,
• essential system apps.
Most other apps can run with restrictions without noticeably affecting comfort.
Your screen has a huge impact on battery life
The display is one of the biggest “power eaters.” Enabling auto-brightness and shortening the screen timeout can bring an immediate improvement. On Xiaomi phones with AMOLED screens, using a dark theme can genuinely reduce power consumption. Many people don’t realize that keeping brightness too high for a few hours a day can cut battery life by several hours.
Turn off features you don’t use
Many system features keep running in the background even when you don’t need them all the time. Location, Bluetooth, NFC and continuous Wi-Fi scanning can drain your phone even while it’s just sitting idle. In everyday use, it helps to:
• turn GPS on only when you actually need it,
• disable constant scanning for Wi-Fi networks and Bluetooth devices,
• limit data syncing to the most important apps.
These changes often work faster (and better) than installing extra “battery saver” apps.
System updates and stability
Sometimes after a system update your phone may use more power for a few days. This is normal and happens because the system is optimizing data and apps in the background. If the issue lasts longer, check whether all apps are updated to the latest versions. A simple restart can also help, because it allows the system to properly close background processes.
How to charge your phone so the battery lasts longer
Charging habits have a real impact on battery health. Frequently draining your phone to 0% and charging to 100% can speed up cell wear. It’s best to keep your charge level roughly between 20% and 80%. It’s also worth avoiding heavy use while charging and charging in very high temperatures. Using trusted, certified chargers helps keep the battery in good condition for longer.
When the battery itself is the problem
If your phone is already a few years old and the battery still lasts only one day (or less) even after changing settings, the cause may be natural battery wear. Symptoms include fast percentage drops, sudden shutdowns, or big jumps in charge level. In that situation, the only effective solution is a battery replacement at a service center or considering a new phone.
Summary
If your Xiaomi phone battery lasts only one day or less, in most cases you can improve it without any hardware intervention. Proper system settings, controlling background apps, and more mindful use of phone features can significantly extend time between charges and bring back everyday comfort.
