How to Check iPad Battery Usage and App Activity Records

If your iPad's battery seems to be draining faster than usual, the first step is to check the battery usage in the Settings app. You can see if today's usage is similar to or higher than usual, as well as the battery usage percentage for each app and system activity. Not only can you review today's usage, but you can also look at last week's records by date, including when the device was last fully charged and when it was disconnected from the charger. By comparing multiple items with records from the same date, you can distinguish between today's usage summary and individual activity information.

Steps to Check Today's Battery Usage

The daily usage time information compares today's battery usage to previous patterns. Therefore, instead of immediately suspecting a specific app, it's best to first assess how the current usage compares to what is typical for this time of day. The comparison results will be categorized as similar or low usage versus high usage, each indicated by different colors.

Open the Settings app on your iPad.
Tap on Battery.
In the daily usage section, check if today's battery usage is similar to, lower than, or higher than usual.

If the battery usage is nearly the same or less than usual for this time, it will be marked as 'similar or low usage' and shown in blue. If the usage is similar, the three apps or system activities that had the most significant impact on today's usage will be highlighted in blue. Conversely, if the battery usage is higher than usual for this time, it will be marked as 'high usage' and displayed in orange. In this case, the iPad will highlight three apps or system activities that may be the primary causes of the increased usage. Therefore, don't just look at the colors; also check the highlighted apps or system activities to investigate the reasons behind the comparison results.

💡 Editor's Practical Tip: Start by Suspecting Apps with Long 'Background' Times The 'Screen On' time reflects the hours you've actively used the device, which is unavoidable consumption. However, apps with abnormally long 'Background' times should be scrutinized. Turn off background app refresh or reduce notifications for those apps, then wait a day before checking the battery screen again to quickly narrow down the culprit app.

Comparing App Usage Today and Last Week

If it's difficult to determine the cause based solely on today's summary, select a date to view more detailed battery usage. This screen allows you to examine app and system activity usage for today and last week. The app and system activity section lists the battery percentage used by each app and system task, enabling you to compare where the battery was consumed. Tapping on an app or system activity will also show you the daily battery usage and details for that selected item.

Open the Settings app on your iPad.
Tap on Battery.
Tap on 'Show All Battery Usage.'
Select the date you want to check.
Scroll down to view app and system activity.
To see daily battery usage and activity details, tap on the app.

If you want to view today's app and system activity, you can also tap on Battery in the Settings app and scroll down. The app and system activity information is displayed based on battery usage percentages, allowing you to compare the displayed items with today's usage summary and previous date records. When checking a specific date from last week, select the date in 'Show All Battery Usage,' scroll down, and choose the app you want to explore further.

Understanding 'Screen On' and 'Background' Time

In the details of app or system activity, you may see the time the activity was displayed on the screen and the time it ran in the background, along with battery usage. A long 'Screen On' time may indicate higher battery usage compared to the previous day. This is a reference point for users to check if they spent a lot of time using the app or system activity on that day. Use this item as a benchmark to assess the duration of activities displayed on the screen.

Similarly, a long 'Background' time can also indicate higher battery usage than the previous day. Check if the activities displayed while you weren't directly viewing the screen are lengthy, allowing you to differentiate between which is more prominent: screen time or background time. Since 'Screen On' time and 'Background' time represent different activity durations, do not combine them as the same meaning; instead, examine each separately.

Checking Cellular Connection and Notification Items

If cellular connection is displayed in the app's detailed activity, it means that the app was used in an area with weak signal, resulting in higher battery consumption. This item indicates that you should consider not only the app's usage but also the connection environment at that time. Therefore, when this item appears, check both the app name and the cellular connection indication together.

Notification items indicate that the app or system activity used battery power to wake the device and check for new information. Therefore, check if notifications are displayed in the app and system activity list, and compare the displayed activities with the usage by date. Notification items should be read separately from screen time or background time, so it's advisable to look at how each item is labeled.

⚠️ Note: Battery Percentages are 'Relative Values' The battery usage percentages for app and system activities are calculated as relative values based on total usage for that day. On days with low total usage, the percentages may appear larger, but the actual consumption could be small. Additionally, the 'Cellular Connection' indication may not be an issue with the app itself but rather due to the communication environment (signal weakening) at that time, so do not make definitive judgments based on a single item.

Checking the Last Charging Point

If it's challenging to compare the current status based solely on usage records, you can also check the last charging point. The iPad displays when the battery was last fully charged and when it was disconnected from the charger. This information allows you to cross-reference charging times with battery usage.

Open the Settings app on your iPad.
Tap on Battery.
Check the last time the battery was fully charged and when it was disconnected from the charger.

The order of verification can be organized as follows: today's daily usage summary, app and system activity usage by date, screen time and background time, cellular connection and notification items, and the last charging point. Each item presents different information, so do not judge the overall battery usage situation based on just one item; instead, check the records from the same date together. First, confirm whether today's comparison results indicate similar or low usage versus high usage, then sequentially examine the highlighted apps or system activities and their details to easily distinguish the meaning of the records.

📌 Editor's 3-Point Summary

Compare today's usage in Settings > Battery — blue indicates normal levels, orange indicates high usage.
Check app and system activity ratios and details by date in 'Show All Battery Usage.'
Differentiate between 'Screen On,' 'Background,' cellular connection, and notification items, and cross-reference with the last charging point.

Understanding iPad Battery Usage and Performance - Apple Support (KR)