iPhone users say Apple’s iOS 17 update is RUINING battery life, with reports of running out of charge within hours – here’s what to do if your phone is affected

Ever since Apple launched its long-awaited iOS 17 update last night, millions of eager iPhone users have rushed to download it.

However, it seems many are already regretting their decision, amid claims that the latest update is draining battery life.

Complaints have taken X (formerly Twitter) by storm in the last 24 hours, as users say the latest version of iOS 17 has ruined their device’s battery.

One user wrote: “Is iOS 17 killing anyone else’s battery?” while another added: “Battery life has been TERRIBLE so far on iOS 17.”

Others said their juice dropped “sharply” following the update, while another admitted they were too eager to download it.

“I’m afraid to upgrade to iOS 17 due to fear of what might happen to my battery,” they wrote.

iOS 17 was released just yesterday as Apple looked to make major changes to messaging and FaceTime on iPhones.

The update includes several exciting new features, including customizable contact posters, real-time voice messages, and the ability to share contact details simply by tapping your iPhone with another.

However, many users claim that the update is also causing harm to their iPhone’s battery life.

“iPhone battery life drops dramatically after updating to iOS 17,” one person wrote on X.

Another added: “@AppleSupport @Apple battery drains badly after updating to iOS 17.”

One even claimed that their device was overheating due to the update, writing: “iOS 17 overheated my phone big time, I’ve never seen it this slow.”

While Apple has yet to comment on these issues, it’s actually quite normal to experience battery drain following power-intensive updates.

It can sometimes take hours and even days for software changes to be finalized, meaning battery health can vary in the meantime, according to ZDNET.

“Installing a new operating system on an iPhone activates a lot of things in the background, from indexing to battery recalibration, and this can go on for hours or even days,” Adrian Kingsley-Hughes, a researcher at ZDNet, previously explained.

“Not only does this consume energy, but recalibrating the battery can give the impression that the battery is draining more quickly when in reality this is not the case.”

However, if the problems last longer, it might be a good idea to check your phone’s maximum battery capacity.

An iPhone’s ability to hold a charge decreases as the battery chemically ages, which could result in fewer hours of use and poorer performance between charges.

Maximum capacity is found in the Battery tab found in the Settings menu on an iPhone’s home page.

If you need to replace the battery, you will see an “important battery message” indicating that its health has significantly deteriorated.

But if you previously replaced your battery at a non-Apple phone store, this information may not be viewable.

An “unknown part” pop-up may appear instead. When you click on it, it may say: “We can’t verify that this iPhone has an original Apple battery.” Health information not available for this battery.’

Users should also check to see if the “vampire setting,” more commonly known as Wi-Fi Assist, is also turned on.

Whether you’re streaming Netflix on the bus or downloading a file in the mountains, this can be an incredibly useful tool when you’re on the move.

But users should be aware that it can also quickly reduce battery life, with the tool automatically enabled on all iPhones.

Finally, Apple recommends users take a number of other steps to maximize battery life.

Keeping your device away from extreme temperatures above 35°C (95°F) is critical to preserving battery life.

Some cases should also be removed while charging a device if they generate excessive heat, to avoid unexpected device shutdowns.

For long-term health, Apple advises users to avoid “storing” their phone at 100% or letting it run out of battery completely.

Keeping a device fully charged for an extended period of time can actually degrade battery capacity, which is why charging it to 50% might actually be better in most cases.

MailOnline has contacted Apple for comment.