Does turning off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth save battery?

Yes, turning off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth can save battery life on your device. Both technologies consume power, even when you're not actively using them. Here's how:

1. Wi-Fi and Battery Usage

  • Wi-Fi uses power to maintain a connection to a network, even if you're not actively using the internet. When Wi-Fi is on, your device is constantly scanning for networks and staying connected to your router or hotspot. This can drain battery, especially if your device is constantly searching for a stronger signal or if the Wi-Fi network is weak.
  • Turning off Wi-Fi when you're not using it, or when you're out of range of a network, helps conserve battery by preventing your device from using energy on maintaining a connection.

2. Bluetooth and Battery Usage

  • Bluetooth also uses battery power, even if you're not actively connected to any devices. When Bluetooth is enabled, your device continuously scans for nearby Bluetooth devices to connect with, which consumes energy.
  • Turning off Bluetooth when not in use will stop your device from searching for new devices, thus saving battery.

3. Situations Where Turning Off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Saves Battery

  • When you're not connected to a network or device: If you're not using Wi-Fi to access the internet or Bluetooth to connect to speakers, headphones, or other accessories, turning both off will prevent them from draining battery.
  • In areas with poor signal strength: Both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth will consume more power when the signal is weak because your device will use more energy to maintain or find a better connection.
  • When you're using your device in a power-saving mode: In situations where you're trying to extend battery life (like during travel or when you don’t have access to a charger), turning off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth can help maximize battery longevity.

4. Overall Battery Impact

  • Wi-Fi typically uses more battery than Bluetooth when both are active, but the impact varies depending on the device and the specific use case.
  • In general, turning both off will reduce background power consumption and extend battery life, especially if you don't need them for specific tasks.

Conclusion

Turning off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth when they aren't in use can definitely help conserve battery life, as both technologies continuously use power for scanning and maintaining connections. If you're looking to extend battery life, especially when you're not using these features, it’s a good idea to disable them until you need them again.

Back to blog