Even when your iPhone’s battery appears completely drained, a reserve of power remains, enabling several essential functions. This “power reserve” feature allows certain functionalities to persist for up to five hours, offering a lifeline in critical situations. One of the most valuable of these is the ability to make payments for public transport via Express Mode. This allows users to seamlessly tap their iPhone on compatible transit systems, even with a depleted battery, as long as Express Mode is enabled and a payment card is linked. Similarly, car keys stored in the Apple Wallet can also be used to unlock and start compatible vehicles, providing continued access even without sufficient battery power to turn on the phone’s display. It’s important to note that while these features are active, repeated use will eventually drain the power reserve.
Express Mode offers a convenient way to utilize public transport and car key features without needing to unlock the iPhone. This function works with compatible transit systems and vehicle models, allowing users to simply tap their iPhone against the reader, much like a contactless card. Express Mode is typically enabled by default, but users can choose their preferred payment card within the Wallet app settings. While incredibly useful, it’s crucial to remember that Express Mode is limited to transit and car key functionalities, and cannot be used for other payment methods like Apple Pay in stores. This focused application ensures the power reserve is prioritized for essential travel needs when the battery is low.
Beyond payments and car access, a drained iPhone can still be located using the Find My network, provided the device has an ultra-wideband (UWB) chip. This technology, available on iPhone 11 models and later, allows these devices to be detected by other iPhones within the Find My network, even when powered off or with a critically low battery. This feature provides an additional layer of security and peace of mind for users, increasing the chances of recovering a lost or stolen device. The UWB chip broadcasts a low-energy signal that can be picked up by nearby Apple devices, relaying the approximate location back to the owner. This functionality is crucial for locating a lost phone, especially when the battery has died, making traditional tracking methods unavailable.
The Find My network doesn’t require the lost iPhone to be actively powered on or connected to a network. As long as there’s some residual power reserve, the UWB chip can emit a signal, allowing other Apple devices to detect its presence and relay its location. This is particularly helpful in situations where the phone has been lost or stolen, as it provides a means of tracking the device even when it’s turned off or has a depleted battery. This silent beacon significantly increases the probability of recovering a lost device. It’s important to emphasize that this feature relies on the proximity of other active Apple devices; in sparsely populated areas, the effectiveness of the Find My network may be limited.
Apple continues to enhance the functionality of even a seemingly powerless iPhone. With iOS 18 and later updates, the time can now be displayed even when the battery is critically low. Simply pressing the power button will briefly reveal the time and battery icon, providing a quick check without significantly draining the remaining power reserve. This small but useful feature adds another layer of practicality to the power reserve mode. Alongside the time display, a message indicating “iPhone is Findable” will also appear if the Find My feature is enabled, reassuring users that their device can still be located even in a low-power state.
Setting up Express Mode is straightforward and can be managed within the Wallet app. Users select their desired card or pass, access card details, and then enable Express Transit Settings or Express Mode. This process allows users to specify which card they wish to use for transit payments when using Express Mode. Similarly, setting up car keys in the Apple Wallet involves adding the virtual key and following the manufacturer’s instructions. Once configured, these features offer seamless access to transport and vehicles, even when the iPhone’s battery is depleted. Ensuring these features are properly configured in advance can save valuable time and prevent potential difficulties in situations where battery life is critical.
