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How to fix Google Nexus 5X Battery Woes

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I have just bought myself a Google Nexus 5x.  I love the simplicity, and while it is the less powerful brother if the latest Nexus series, I like how small(ish) and light it is. And it is cheaper than the other one. And of course, it runs vanilla Android.  As vanilla as it gets.

However, go around the reading Nexus 5X reviews, and one thing keeps featuring over and over again, the disappointing battery life. As I have just moved over the Huawei G8, which actually has a very impressive battery life, I am feeling it even more than normal. The G8 actually gives you a very comfortable all day battery life, and it can actually last over the weekend as well. I have been to London, taken lots of photos, and got back home with still 20-30% left. The Nexus 5X though, only really was letting me struggle before I got home from a normal day of work, and often I would have to charge it at work. The fact that it comes with a USB C instead of a micro USB also means that you can’t just charge it anywhere. USB C hasn’t been widely adapted yet, meaning very few devices support it, and often it just wouldn’t charge from a regular USB charger, even if you have the appropriate cable or adapter.

Frustrating as this was, I tried many things, and kept looking at battery consumption. This is what I repeatedly saw, over and over again.

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Android OS and System seemed to be eating up most of my resources. Why though, and if that is the case, then what hope do I have to fix it? Well, at least one thing was obvious, whatever was eating my battery life, was part of the OS.

So I did a bit of logical thinking, and looked at what really is my phone doing the most? The answer was surprisingly simple. A couple of things:

  • Constantly listening to me, in case I say OK Google
  • Constantly talking to apps to fetch me cards for Google Now

It was a thought, but there is no harm in trying, eh. So I went about disabling both of them, and found that it actually made a massive difference. For example, today, being Sunday, I disconnected my phone from the charger at 10am. It is now half 1. The battery is at a comfortable 87%. I would have been at around 60% easily by now, if older trends were to be believed.

As such, I have prepared a guide for you on how to disable both Google Voice Search and Google Now:

Disable Google Voice Search

Step 1: Go to your Google App

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This can be done in two ways, you can either hit the ‘Google Search Bar’ on top of your home screen, or just go to the Google app via your Google Apps folder, or through the App Drawer.

Step 2: Go to Settings

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This can be achieved by hitting the ‘three bars’ icon on the top left.

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And then hitting Settings on the folder that appears.

Step 3: Go to ‘Voice’ Settings

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Step 4: Click on ‘OK Google’ Detection

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Step 5: Turn off the appropriate settings

You can turn them off for always, or just on in the Google app.

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Disable Google Now Cards

Step 1: Go to your Google App

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This can be done in two ways, you can either hit the ‘Google Search Bar’ on top of your home screen, or just go to the Google app via your Google Apps folder, or through the App Drawer.

Step 2: Go to Settings

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This can be achieved by hitting the ‘three bars’ icon on the top left.

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And then hitting Settings on the folder that appears.

Step 3: Go to ‘Now Cards’ Settings

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Step 4: Disable ‘Show Cards’

 

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As you disable it, you will find that it will ask if you want to disable it for all your devices, or just this one. Choose whatever you prefer, but as long as you disable for this particular device, it should improve your battery life.

Once done with both of these, you should notice a great improvement in your phone’s battery life.

Of course, this works on most Android phones, so by all means, go for it on whatever phone you may have.

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