A yellow battery icon on your iPhone means Low Power Mode is turned on. It isn’t a problem with your battery. Low Power Mode cuts back on background activity to make your charge last longer. To turn it off, go to Settings > Battery and switch off Low Power Mode, or tap the battery button in Control Center. It also turns off by itself once your iPhone charges past 80%.
This works the same on an iPhone 6 (with iOS 9 or later) and every newer iPhone.
What the battery icon colors mean
| Color | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Yellow | Low Power Mode is on |
| Green | Your iPhone is charging, or charged and still plugged in |
| Red | The battery is at 20% or less |
| White or black | Normal, not charging, Low Power Mode off |
How to turn off Low Power Mode
In Settings
- Open Settings.
- Tap Battery.
- Turn off Low Power Mode.
In Control Center
- Open Control Center. On an iPhone 6, 7, 8, or SE, swipe up from the bottom of the screen. On iPhones with Face ID, swipe down from the top-right corner.
- Tap the battery button to turn Low Power Mode off.
If the battery button isn’t there, add it in Settings > Control Center (on newer iOS versions, tap + in Control Center to add controls).
What Low Power Mode changes
- Pauses or reduces background app refresh, automatic downloads, and mail fetch.
- Turns off some visual effects and lowers screen brightness sooner.
- Sets Auto-Lock to 30 seconds.
- Pauses iCloud Photos syncing.
- Limits the display refresh rate on iPhones with ProMotion.
Calls, texts, the internet, and all your apps still work normally.
Why does the battery keep turning yellow?
- You tapped Low Power Mode on the 20% warning. When your battery drops to 20%, iPhone offers to turn it on.
- A Shortcuts automation turns it on. Open the Shortcuts app, tap Automation, and look for one that sets Low Power Mode.
- It stays on until 80%. If you charge to less than 80%, Low Power Mode stays on until you turn it off.
Is it bad to leave Low Power Mode on?
No. It doesn’t harm the battery, and you can leave it on as long as you like if you don’t mind the reduced background activity. Some people keep it on all day to stretch battery life.
Frequently asked questions
Does a yellow battery mean my battery is failing?
No. To check battery health, go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health (on older iOS versions, Battery Health & Charging). If the maximum capacity is low, consider a battery replacement.
Why is my battery icon yellow while charging?
Low Power Mode is still on. It turns off automatically when the battery reaches 80%.
Does Low Power Mode make my iPhone charge faster?
Slightly, because the phone does less in the background while it charges.
Can I turn on Low Power Mode automatically?
Yes. In the Shortcuts app, create a personal automation for Battery Level (for example, falls below 30%) with the action Set Low Power Mode.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.