How to Turn Off Throttling on iPhone iOS 11.3

If your iPhone feels slower after updating to iOS 11.3, you may be experiencing the performance management feature (commonly called throttling) that Apple introduced to prevent unexpected shutdowns on older batteries. This guide shows you how to turn it off, what happens when you do, and what to consider before disabling it.

What You’ll Need

• An iPhone running iOS 11.3 or later (the feature is available on iPhone 6, 6 Plus, 6s, 6s Plus, SE, 7, and 7 Plus)
• Your iPhone’s passcode (to confirm the change)
• At least 20% battery charge (recommended to avoid issues during the process)

Step-by-Step

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone. It’s the icon with gears.
2. Tap “Battery” in the Settings menu. This is usually near the top, below “Do Not Disturb” and above “Privacy.”
3. Tap “Battery Health” (on iOS 11.3 and later). This section shows your battery’s maximum capacity and whether performance management is active.
4. Look for the “Peak Performance Capability” section. If your iPhone has experienced an unexpected shutdown, you’ll see a message like: “This iPhone has experienced an unexpected shutdown because the battery was unable to deliver the necessary peak power. You have manually disabled performance management protection.”
5. Tap “Disable” next to the message about performance management. A pop-up will appear explaining what disabling means.
6. Read the warning carefully. It will tell you that disabling the feature may cause unexpected shutdowns. If you still want to proceed, tap “Disable” again to confirm.
7. Enter your passcode if prompted, then tap “Done” or “OK” to finish.
8. Verify the change. The Battery Health screen should now show “Peak Performance Capability” as “Normal” or simply state that performance management is off.

Common Mistakes

• Not checking if the option is available: The “Disable” option only appears if your iPhone has actually experienced an unexpected shutdown. If you don’t see it, your battery is healthy enough and throttling isn’t active.
• Confusing “Disable” with “Turn Off”: The button says “Disable” not “Off.” Tapping it disables the performance management feature, which is exactly what you want.
• Forgetting that the feature can re-enable: If your iPhone experiences another unexpected shutdown, iOS will automatically turn performance management back on. You’ll need to repeat these steps if you want to disable it again.
• Assuming it’s a one-time fix: Disabling throttling doesn’t replace a worn battery. If your battery health is below 80%, you may still see slowdowns or shutdowns regardless of this setting.

Tips

• Check your battery health first: If your Maximum Capacity is above 80%, you may not need to disable anything. If it’s below 80%, consider replacing the battery instead of just disabling throttling—it’s a more permanent solution.
• Monitor your phone after disabling: For a few days, note if your iPhone shuts down unexpectedly, especially in cold weather or when the battery is low. If it does, you may want to re-enable throttling to avoid data loss.
• Use low power mode if you’re worried: If you disable throttling but want to reduce strain on the battery, turn on Low Power Mode (Settings > Battery > Low Power Mode). This reduces performance slightly but not as aggressively as throttling.
• Update iOS: If you’re still on an older version, updating to the latest iOS may improve battery management and give you more control.

Troubleshooting

If the steps don’t work as expected, try the following:

• No “Disable” button appears: This means your iPhone has not experienced an unexpected shutdown, so throttling isn’t active. There’s nothing to disable. If you’re still seeing slowdowns, it could be due to low storage, an old app, or a failing battery that hasn’t triggered the shutdown yet.
• The option reappears after a few days: As mentioned, iOS will re-enable throttling if another unexpected shutdown occurs. Check if your battery health has dropped significantly. If so, consider replacing the battery.
• Your iPhone is still slow after disabling: Throttling may not be the cause. Try restarting your iPhone, freeing up storage (Settings > General > iPhone Storage), or checking if a specific app is using too much CPU (Settings > Battery > Battery Usage).
• You can’t find Battery Health: This feature is only available on iPhone 6 and later. If you have an older model, you won’t see it. Also, ensure you’re on iOS 11.3 or later (Settings > General > About > Software Version).

Frequently Asked Questions

Will disabling throttling damage my battery?

No, it won’t damage the battery physically. However, it may cause unexpected shutdowns because the battery can’t deliver peak power. This is not harmful to the battery, but it can be inconvenient and may lead to data loss if the phone shuts down while you’re using it.

How do I know if my iPhone is being throttled?

Go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health. If you see a message about unexpected shutdowns and a “Disable” button, throttling is active. If you see “Peak Performance Capability” as “Normal,” it’s not.

Will disabling throttling make my iPhone faster?

It can, especially if the throttling was causing noticeable lag. However, if your battery is severely degraded, the phone may still be slow because the processor is being limited by the battery’s ability to supply power.

Can I re-enable throttling after disabling it?

Yes, but only automatically. If your iPhone experiences another unexpected shutdown, iOS will re-enable performance management. There’s no manual switch to turn it back on—you’d have to wait for that to happen.

Is throttling the same as a battery replacement?

No. Throttling is a software feature that reduces performance to prevent shutdowns. Replacing the battery addresses the root cause—the battery’s inability to deliver peak power—and is the recommended long-term solution.

Does this work on all iOS versions?

The steps apply to iOS 11.3 and later. In later versions, the location and wording may slightly change, but the general process remains the same. On iOS 12 and later, you’ll still find Battery Health under Settings > Battery.

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