03-06-2020 12:39 PM - edited 01-05-2022 11:04 AM
I noticed that my tablet still connects to the cell system even when the sim card isn't in it. I can't do anything cellular (but it does look like I might be able to make emergency calls??), but it has little bars to say how strong the signal is and it got me thinking, maybe the tablet is using battery to seek out and communicate with the cell network.
The cell signal at home is weak and I read long ago that one of the biggest drains on a batter is when it's seeking out and trying to connect to a weak signal.
So how do I tell the tablet to stop trying to communicate when there's no sim card in it? Will the picture of the aeroplane work and still give me access to wi-fi?
Any other hints on saving battery life on a cellular tablet?
(sorry for the low-tech skills)
Solved! Go to Solution.
03-06-2020 02:50 PM
@mpcdesign wrote:
- Close the apps when they are not using; so, every app is running in the background when they are on another app
@mpcdesign little note here: this advice can actually work against you, depending on the app, how you have the app configured, and your app usage patterns. If the app is something that likes to refresh a feed automatically in the background (Facebook, Instagram, that type of thing) and you don't have it set to control that, then yes leaving it in the background can be detrimental to your battery life. However, if the apps are fairly static when not being actively used, and/or you go to them frequently, you're actually better to leave them running. The power consumed by re-opening the app every time you want to use it can actually outweigh the power consumed running in the background (for a well-behaved and configured app).
03-06-2020 01:59 PM
@mpcdesign wrote:@ichor, my parents drive me crazy, they do this to their tablets all the time.
gosh, it's like standing in front of the fridge with the door open complaining about the electrical bill.
Thank you so much for the list.
@mpcdesign wrote:Another thing, when was the ast time you updated the OS on your tablet.
Yesterday.
It's still fairly new to me, so I'm trying to make it will ask me before updating apps. With the old tablet, I used to update everything once a week when charging. But this one seems to want to update on its own schedule.
03-06-2020 01:24 PM
@ichor, my parents drive me crazy, they do this to their tablets all the time.
They don't....
@ichor, do the opposite as per above, and your battery will be conserved. Go under your Settings > Power for most of these, or manually turn off each one.
Another thing, when was the ast time you updated the OS on your tablet.
03-06-2020 01:02 PM
I turn my tablets that don't have a celluar service to airplane mode and then turn WiFi on from there. For WiFi turn off open network notification. These measures do save a bit of power but not that much.
03-06-2020 12:57 PM
@ichor Airplane mode helps. it doesn't allow you to use your phone data and sim card signal, but allows to use WIFI.
03-06-2020 12:46 PM
it says Samsung on the outside. I think it might be galaxy tab something.
I tried turning cell data off in the 'settings' (looks like a cog) menu but it still had the little bars telling me how strong the cell service is.
I tried the aeroplane picture and it let me turn wi-fi back on without the cell bars being on. This might do the trick.
03-06-2020 12:45 PM - edited 03-06-2020 12:48 PM
I use airplane mode, if you don't it will be constantly scanning.
Then enable WiFi
Also make sure that tablet can go into sleep with WiFi turned on, if you don't and forget to turn off WiFi it will devour your battery. That way you don't have to charge for days if you are light user
03-06-2020 12:42 PM - edited 03-06-2020 12:42 PM
What brand and model of tablet do you have ? You should be able to turn off data in the settings.