iPhone users say ‘horrific’ Apple iOS 14.6 update is draining their battery

iPhone users who have installed Apple’s new software update, iOS 14.6, are complaining that it’s draining their entire battery within hours. 

Apple’s Community Forum is littered with complaints about the update, which Apple released to users on May 24. 

One user on the forum posted the message: ‘My battery life on iOS 14.6 is terrible what can be done to fix?’

Another said: ‘I’ve never seen this battery drain before. This is really serious issue!’ 

Shockingly, some iPhone models are reportedly draining completely in as little as two hours, users reveal. 

Another person with an iPhone 7 said: ‘The situation is so bad that I can not work with the iPhone 7 for 2 hours and it runs out of charge.’ 

An owner of Apple’s latest flagship model said: ‘My iPhone 12 battery health is at 96% and chargers [sic] fine until I updated to iOS 14.6. 

‘My phone charged over night and the battery % is only at 30% and keeps on draining. Is anyone having the same issue after updating to iOS 14.6?’

Users also took to Twitter to register their disgruntlement. One user told Apple: ‘After updating 14.6 iphone SE Battery is draining very fast. Please try to solve this Battery problem.’ 

Another user, @andymanuel, said: ‘I noticed that after updating to iOS 14.6, my battery gets stuck at 80% when charging.’   

Another told @AppleSupport: ‘I installed iOS 14.6 & now my battery drains in a few hours and the phone gets hot. What gives?’

MailOnline has contacted Apple for comment regarding the issue and any official advice for iOS 14.6 users. 

YouTube channel iAppleBytes also found ‘horrific results’ in battery performance with iOS 14.6, as shown in its video review.

The video shows seven iPhone models running iOS 14.6 as they lose battery power – and all but one all conk out within five hours. 

This problem was especially pronounced on older models iPhone SE and iPhone 6S, as well as the iPhone SE 2, which isn’t even old – it was only released last year.  

‘I have seen many comments that it takes about a week for battery performance to optimise itself after an iOS update,’ iAppleBytes says. 

‘[But] this video was shot three days after iOS 14.6 was installed, so it had time to settle in.’ 

This seems to contradict advice from another Apple forum user, who suggested the battery needs time to recalibrate after an update.  

‘Typically, when upgrading to a new iOS release, there is a number of activities that need to complete in the background even after the install finishes, they said. 

‘It is best to wait a day or two, using the phone as you normally would, before you can get a more accurate picture of any excessive battery draining issues.’ 

iOS 14.6 includes support for Apple Card Family, allowing Apple Card (the firm’s own credit card) to be shared with up to five people, as well as Podcast subscription options and added capabilities for people using AirTag, its new tracking device. 

Apple released iOS 14.6 only a month after it released iOS 14.5, which came with some big updates. 

iOS 14.5 includes support for unlocking an iPhone with Apple Watch while wearing a face mask, as well as a controversial feature called App Tracking Transparency. 

Generally, Apple releases a major software update each autumn to accompany a new iPhone model (for example, iOS 14 last year) but adds incremental updates throughout the year (e.g., 14.5, 14.6). 

Apple is likely to reveal its next major update, iOS 15, at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC 2021), which runs from June 7 to 11.  

According to Bloomberg, Apple is ‘readying a major revamp of its mobile software’ for iOS 15, which would be released in time for Apple’s next flagship iPhone (likely to be called iPhone 13).

Prominent changes for iOS 15 will be an updated Lock Screen and ‘additional privacy protections’, Bloomberg said, citing ‘people with knowledge of the matter’.     

Although WWDC is scheduled to last four days, the first day is the one to watch.

This is when Apple CEO Tim Cook will take the stage to share the latest and greatest Apple devices and software to-date.

The other days are designed for developers to participate and learn about software and other technologies.

‘We are working to make WWDC 21 our biggest and best yet, and are excited to offer Apple developers new tools to support them as they create apps that change the way we live, work, and play,’ said Susan Prescott, Apple’s vice president of worldwide developer relations. 

Apple is set to reveal iPhone 13 in September or October. According to rumours, it could see the end of the black ‘notch’ at the top of the screen. 

Killing off the notch for good would be welcome news for the thousands of Apple fans who have considered it an unsightly blemish.