Hidden Android features can silently drain your smartphone battery

A Google Pixel 10 Pro owner discovered that background Wi-Fi and Bluetooth scanning continues to operate even after disabling these modules, consuming battery power. Disabling scanning in location settings reduced overnight drain from 5–6% to 1%. These features are needed for location accuracy, but turning them off may affect device finding and indoor navigation.

A Google Pixel 10 Pro owner conducted a week-long experiment and found that background Wi-Fi and Bluetooth scanning continues to work even after disabling these modules, silently draining the battery. The smartphone lost about 5–6% charge overnight in standby mode. After disabling both functions in location settings, the drain dropped to 1%. These features are needed for improved indoor geolocation accuracy, but turning them off may degrade location determination and device-finding services. The article references MakeUseOf and is practical in nature.