What Android's Battery Saver and Adaptive Battery do, what they limit, and how to check which apps use the most battery.
Battery Saver is an Android mode that extends battery life by limiting background activity, visual effects, location checks and some sync until you charge. Adaptive Battery is a separate, always-on feature that learns which apps you use and limits battery use of apps you rarely open.
Background app refresh and sync, some location use, 'Hey Google' and visual effects; the dark theme may turn on. Notifications from some apps can arrive late. It can turn on automatically at a chosen battery level.
Settings > Battery > Battery usage shows which apps used the most since the last full charge. Per app, the battery setting can be Unrestricted, Optimized (default) or Restricted.
Messengers and alarm apps may need Unrestricted battery use to deliver notifications on time; some manufacturers add extra battery managers with their own settings.
Last updated: 2026-10-08
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