iPhone’s yellow battery mystery solved as Apple mandates shift to iOS 26

If you have recently migrated to the iPhone ecosystem, you may have noticed the battery icon in your status bar transition from a healthy green to a distinct yellow. This often happens without any deliberate action on your part, leading many to wonder if their hardware is failing or if a specific setting has been triggered. In reality, this colour shift is a visual cue that your device has entered Low Power Mode.

Whilst it is one of Apple’s most effective tools for extending battery life, it essentially acts as a last line of defence to keep the handset operational for several additional hours when a charger isn’t nearby. It is quite difficult to enable this feature entirely by accident, though it isn’t impossible; a stray tap in the Control Centre or a well-meaning friend who borrowed the device could easily be the culprit.

What happens when Low Power Mode takes over

Turning this mode off is usually advisable if you are near a power source, as the trade-offs for saving energy are quite significant. Once the icon turns yellow, the iPhone begins to throttle several background processes to conserve juice. You will likely notice the screen dimming automatically and the Auto-Lock timer dropping to a mere 30 seconds.

For those using newer models with ProMotion technology, the refresh rate is capped at 60Hz, making animations feel slightly less fluid. Furthermore, the system pauses iCloud Photos synchronisation, limits the frequency of email retrieval, and restricts background app refreshes. Visual effects and certain automatic downloads are also suspended until the device is sufficiently charged or the mode is manually disabled.

Managing your power settings manually

If you find the performance dip frustrating, there are two primary ways to return your battery icon to its usual green state. The most straightforward method is through the Settings app, where you simply scroll down to the Battery section and toggle the Low Power Mode switch to the off position.

Alternatively, for a quicker fix, you can use the Control Centre by swiping down from the top-right corner of the screen. If you have the shortcut enabled, look for the icon that resembles a half-filled battery. Tapping this will immediately restore full functionality to your device, provided you aren’t concerned about the remaining charge.

Apple’s aggressive push towards iOS 26

While managing daily battery life is a minor concern, a more significant shift is occurring regarding how Apple handles its operating system updates. The tech giant has recently released iOS 18.7.3, which includes vital security patches, but there is a catch: it is only being offered to legacy hardware. Owners of newer iPhones are finding themselves boxed into a corner, forced to upgrade to the controversial iOS 26.2 if they wish to remain protected from digital threats.

This marks a departure from Apple’s previous stance. Earlier this year, users were given a choice to stick with the familiar iOS 18 architecture whilst still receiving security updates. Now, however, the company seems to be mandating the transition to the new “Liquid Glass” interface for anyone using a relatively modern handset. Specifically, iOS 18.7.3 is restricted to the iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR—devices that simply cannot run the newer software.

Security risks and the upgrade mandate

The pressure to upgrade is not merely about aesthetic preferences; it is a matter of urgent security. Apple has confirmed that staying on older versions like iOS 18.7.2 leaves the Safari browser and WebKit framework vulnerable to exploits that are already being utilised by bad actors. For users who find the Liquid Glass design or the functional changes of iOS 26 unappealing, the choice is a difficult one: accept the new software or leave the device open to active vulnerabilities.

Interestingly, this “forced march” approach has not yet been applied to the Mac. Apple continues to offer macOS 15.7.3 to all supported systems, allowing users to bypass the desktop version of the Liquid Glass interface for the time being. On the mobile front, however, the window for staying on iOS 18 has effectively slammed shut for the vast majority of users, as Apple has even moved to block workarounds that previously allowed access to older software versions via beta profiles.