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Easy tips to save your phone's battery life while playing 'Pokémon GO'

pikachu charging phone
Every Pokémon masters' dream. Megan Willett/Tech Insider

"Pokémon GO" has fans all over the world walking around, trying to catch them all. It’s making people have to exercise more by walking outside and is even leading some people to invade their neighbors' yard in an attempt to get those sweet, sweet, Pokémon.

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But if you're a player, you may have noticed that your phone’s battery is taking a major hit every time you open the app and walk around. The game is using both your GPS and camera to play the game, which is a part of why it's so draining.

The battery drainage is a known issue to creator Niantic, according to Game Rant. Hopefully the company is working around the clock to fix it, in addition to all the other bugs in the game. 

So is battery drainage just an evitable part of becoming a Pokémon master? What can you do aside from carry a portable battery and charger around with you wherever you go?

Luckily, there are a few solutions that some people have said works for them. The first is actually an in-game "battery saver" option that let’s you turn off the part of the game that uses your camera and allows you to see the Pokémon "in real life." Sure, part of the fun of "Pokémon GO" is seeing a Squirtle in your living room instead of in a simulator, but that’s just the price every true Pokémon master may have to pay.

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pokemon GO settings
Megan Willett/Tech Insider

First, click your Pokéball at the bottom of your screen. This is what you'll see:

In the top corner, you'll see a "settings" option. Click in and you'll get an option to turn on the battery saver mode. Check the circle and you're done.

pokemon GO settings battery
Megan Willett/Tech Insider

 

"Pokemon GO" Database, which also has amazing tips for playing the game FYI, also suggests not zooming in and out of the map, turning off the sound, and avoiding gyms unless you’re focused on training and battling.

Plus there are the obvious ways of saving your phone’s battery in general, such as adjusting screen brightness and turning off Bluetooth and/or Wi-Fi.

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The biggest drain of the app by far is keeping the game open at all times so you're alerted to nearby Pokémon and the app keeps counting your steps to earn you points and help you hatch eggs. For what it’s worth, Nintendo also sells a not-at-all nerdy "Pokémon GO" Plus wristband that "provides an easy and convenient way to catch Pokémon and collect items [...] without having to look at your smartphone." 

It’s currently sold out, which speaks to just how many other trainers need this to help save battery life.

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