Is leaving Wi-Fi on all the time supposed to be a big battery drain?

**Eazy123** · 06-23-2010, 12:58 PM

The other day I went all morning at work without using my Evo. Had Wi-Fi shut off, and by noon, my battery was at 83%.

Today I decided to not use the Evo until noon, but with Wi-Fi on. It was almost exactly the same. I don't have a Wi-Fi signal at all at work, either.

So what is the mentality of having to have Wi-Fi shut off to preserve battery life...is there really a reason for it, or is it speculation?

**wormdood** · 06-23-2010, 01:02 PM

WiFi uses less power than mobile data. I see big difference with WiFi on at home versus places with no WiFi and am using mobile data.

**azkevman** · 06-23-2010, 01:07 PM

When a decent wifi signal is present, then using wifi over mobile data will be less battery consuming. If wifi is left on, and there is no signal then the phone will constantly be searching for a wifi signal and therefore more battery will be consumed than if it were off.

However, there is an option in the wireless settings to have wifi sleep when the screen is off. If you have the settings configured this way, then this would explain why you didnt see much of a difference when you were in a area with no wifi signal.

Do you know which way you have your setting configured?

**Dukins** · 06-23-2010, 01:21 PM

Basically have your wifi turned off to search for wireless. If you have it not to check for wireless then your battery should be fine. But if you have search for wireless connection that is a big battery drain.

**Eazy123** · 06-23-2010, 02:25 PM

Where do I see this setting? I don't know if it's searching automatically or if it sleeps when the screen is off. All I see is Wi-Fi Disconnected (although I have it on), and notify me when wireless is in range (off).

**Gekko** · 06-23-2010, 02:32 PM

i am in the minority but i believe you will consume significant battery power leaving WIFI on. remember - when your phone is on now you have 2 radios running - the 3G radio AND WIFI.

**Malacoda** · 06-23-2010, 02:47 PM

I have WiFi on at all times, but set not to search and notify me of networks. I have wireless networks at both home and at work that I connect to. I get about the same life out of my EVO as I did my iPhone 3GS, which is pretty much 7 am to 11 pm with 20%-30% battery remaining, sometimes more.

**Eazy123** · 06-23-2010, 02:53 PM

Is there a way to just set it to connect automatically to the connections you have remembered, but not search unless you ask it to?

**Malacoda** · 06-23-2010, 03:16 PM

Settings > Wireless & Network > Wi-Fi settings > Network notification

Uncheck that. You will have to manually connect to each network you want, but after that it remembers and connects. If you ever want to have it not connect to a given network, long-tap and hit "Forget network".

**wrecklass** · 06-23-2010, 03:58 PM

Originally Posted by Gekko

i am in the minority but i believe you will consume significant battery power leaving WIFI on. remember - when your phone is on now you have 2 radios running - the 3G radio AND WIFI.

I'm not at all sure that is true. When I have wifi on there is no 3G icon and an app I use to monitor 3G usage shows no connection. When I turn of wifi I can clearly see the 3G connection start up.

For me with wifi on at home I get much better battery life than when on 3G.

**fonefanatic** · 06-23-2010, 04:03 PM

I leave my WiFI on all the time and do not have the network notification unchecked. I am still seeing 12 + hours of use out of the battery. I guess if I wanted more life I could turn it off but I do not see a point since my battery still has plenty of charge when I plug it in at night

**chaosrecords** · 06-23-2010, 08:38 PM

Leaving wifi on all the time shouldnt cause any issues unless you are leeching from someone else with a poor signal, or are in an area where your phone is constantly jumping from connection to connection.

Biggest problem is when you have 2 of the same home networks by lazy people who dont secure their wifi. you will find 4-5 different "linksys" SSID's going down the road and if you are set to one unsecured it will try to constantly jump and connect to them.

As far as battery life goes. If you have a WiFi connection at home. LEAVE IT ON. Its much less strain on the phone to use Wifi versus the phones internal radio ( and usually its much faster also unless you have a really ****ty ISP)

**YBCold** · 06-23-2010, 08:53 PM

I'm like most of you, I have Wifi at home and at work so I leave the wifi on all the time. I also take the phone off the charger 7am - 10pm and still have over 30% left on average.

**jhamilton3#CB** · 06-23-2010, 09:05 PM

Always have my WiFi on at home and always get good battery life because of it. Pretty simple decision for me.

**fr4nk1yn** · 06-23-2010, 09:31 PM

Some like to post "theories" about it. I've tested it on my Touch Pro, Palm Pre and on the Evo.
There's a slight difference, for the better, when connected to wifi. Not connected to wifi I've noticed no difference.

**gspam1** · 06-24-2010, 12:10 AM

Originally Posted by fr4nk1yn

Some like to post "theories" about it. I've tested it on my Touch Pro, Palm Pre and on the Evo.
There's a slight difference, for the better, when connected to wifi. Not connected to wifi I've noticed no difference.

Are you saying that leaving Wifi on all the time wasn't much of a battery drain in your tests?

**BMW** · 06-24-2010, 10:17 AM

I see better battery life with wifi, but coming from WinMo, this makes no sense. I could keep my Touch Pro 2 on 3G (EVDO) for days on end without much drain, but not with the Evo.

I am getting more convinced that there is something wrong with the phone radio or drivers for it. My only problem with battery drain is when the phone data is on. Turn that off, and the battery is fine all day.

Brent