Does Workyard drain my battery?
Generally, no. Workyard's location tracking is built to minimize battery usage, and complaints about high drain are often a misreading of how phone battery reports work.
Guideline: Workyard should not be draining more than 20% as reported in phone settings. If it appears to be, the number is almost certainly being misread — see below.
How Workyard keeps battery usage low
Workyard's location tracking is designed to conserve battery throughout a shift:
The app enters stationary mode when no movement is detected for 10+ minutes — it stops collecting location data and preserves battery until movement resumes.
Recent app updates have significantly improved battery efficiency across both iOS and Android.
The main exception: workers who drive a lot — 50+ miles in a day — will see higher battery usage because continuous movement keeps location tracking active throughout the shift.
How to read phone battery reports correctly
This is the most common source of confusion. When a phone shows "Workyard: 31% battery used," that does not mean Workyard used 31% of a full charge.
It means Workyard used 31% of whatever the phone consumed that day. If the phone only used 20% of its total battery, Workyard's real drain was approximately 6% of a full charge.
Think of it like a pie chart — the percentages always add up to 100% of what was used, not 100% of what was available. A small pie divided up still adds to 100%.
How to check Workyard's actual battery usage
iPhone (iOS)
Open Settings
Tap Battery
Scroll down to see battery usage by app
Toggle between Last 24 Hours and Last 10 Days
Android
Open Settings
Tap Battery (or Device Care → Battery on Samsung)
Tap Battery Usage to see a breakdown by app
Android: Fix battery restriction settings
Some Android devices — especially Samsung — have aggressive battery optimization enabled by default. This can interfere with Workyard running in the background and may also inflate the battery percentage shown in reports.
To fix it:
Go to Settings → Apps → Workyard → Battery and set to Unrestricted
Go to Settings → Device Care → Battery → Background Usage Limits and make sure Workyard is not listedas a restricted app
For a full walkthrough: How to protect GPS on Workyard from being shut down on Android
Tips for workers on older phones or in the field all day
Keep the app updated. Recent releases include battery and GPS improvements.
Reduce screen brightness — the display is typically the biggest battery drain, not apps.
Enable Low Power Mode (iPhone) or Battery Saver (Android) to stretch battery through a full shift.
Close unused background apps.
Portable chargers (power banks) are the most practical solution for crews with no access to charging during the day.
Still seeing unusually high battery usage?
Reach out to Workyard support at help@workyard.com with a screenshot of your battery usage screen. Our team can help identify if something unexpected is happening on the device.