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How can I keep "Battery Saver" enabled, even when my device is charging?

I travel a lot on multi-day excursions where I don't have access to power, so I charge my phone with a battery bank. It seems silly that Android automatically disables "Battery Saver" mode when my phone is charging. Just because my phone is charging doesn't mean I'm not interested in saving power.

How can I force "Battery Saver" mode to remain enabled, even when charging my Android device?

Ideally I'd like to do this without installing any closed-source software.

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3 Answers 3

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If your device is rooted, this Magisk module claims to do what you are asking (not tested by me)

How can I force "Battery Saver" mode to remain enabled, even when charging my Android device?

Apparently, this is not possible.. You are trying to make changes at a system level by creating an option that doesn't exist (always use battery saver mode), whereas other answers that you quoted in comments were only invoking existing options under some conditions). Hence, what you are left with is the option of making battery saver more effective by clubbing it with other options like doze etc.

Quoting from XDA thread Meet Buoy, a FOSS battery saver configuration tool!

Sticky Low Power​

Buoy also enables something called "sticky" low power mode. Usually, when the device is plugged in and unplugged, the low power mode is then disabled. However, sticky mode re-applies low power mode afterwards to continue saving battery.

(Emphasis supplied to highlight why it is not possible)

Therefore, it is better to customize the battery-saver state to maximize on battery availability while reducing charging duration

  • Buoy is open-sourced with a bunch of features that make battery saver mode behave from typical to aggressive, thereby increasing your battery life and reducing your charging time.

This appears to support only upto Android 12, but a developer has forked it by building upon it and naming it Saver Tuner (download from GitHub Releases/F-Droid)

Screenshots show the amount of customization possible

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On Android 12 there is the ability to prevent "Battery Saver" from turning off when charged. So I have "Turn off when charged" disabled on my phone.

I also have the "Schedule" set so that the "Battery Saver" kicks in when the phone hits 75% (the highest % I could choose)

Edit: This is a "Good Enough" answer since it means that Battery Saver stays active and engages again as soon as the battery hits 75%. It also avoids the need for extra apps or hacks that can affect the phone's stability or battery usage.

I use my phone primarily for notifications and texting and never for entertainment so I usually get 6 days of battery life out of my Moto G Pure.

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    Please note that this question isn't about turning off Battery Saver when charged. It's about keeping the phone in Battery Saver mode during the charge -- to conserve energy in the battery that's charging the battery.
    – Michael Altfield
    Commented Jul 15 at 20:41
  • Based on my quick experiment with Pixel 3a, Android 12L, the Battery Saver automatically turned off during charging, but turned back on when plugged out. So I'm afraid this doesn't really solve OP's problem, while it might be an alternative solution for someone else.
    – Andrew T. ♦
    Commented Jul 16 at 14:00
  • @MichaelAltfield, I added an Edit indicating that this is my "Good Enough" solution to this problem.
    – AnthonyVO
    Commented Jul 17 at 15:16
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The best option I've found is to turn the phone off while charging it.

Even still, the screen turns on when you do this. I wish there were a way to prevent that needless waste of energy.

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  • I often do the same. As a way to lower power use during charging, but not turn the device off, I often enable airplane mode. Also, to reduce battery consumption, I also typically have all apps set to never run in the background.
    – End Antisemitic Hate
    Commented Jul 17 at 22:58
  • Don't forget to keep the device plugged in for a minute or two (or three) when you turn it back on. Android phones use a tremendous amount of energy during boot and for a few minutes thereafter.
    – End Antisemitic Hate
    Commented Jul 17 at 23:00

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