HTC M8 for Windows poor battery life

[WIndowsNerd]

Curious as to whether or not anyone else has intermittent poor battery life with their HTC M8 for Windows phone.  My phone on occasion, although it has happening more regularly, will become extremely hot and the battery will drain rapidly.  This is happening when the phone is on standby, with no apps open in the background and very few apps allowed to run in the background.  I can lose 20% of my battery in an hour to two hours.  I have already received a replacement device and turning the data radio off stops the problem.  Then if I leave it off for a while the problem goes away once I turn it back on.  I am assuming it could be the SIM card as my Nokia Lumia Icon had the exact same settings and it never shows these same problems.

[vzw_customer_support]

Let's get to the bottom of this issue WIndowsNerd! When did these battery and overheating issues start? You mention that it happens on occasions and more regularly lately, did it start after downloading a particular application? SIM cards are free at any corporate Verizon Wireless store, feel free to stop by one and get a replacement http://bit.ly/3SdsA

AntonioC_VZW Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/VZWSupport

[WIndowsNerd]

A couple of months after I bought, so it has been going on for about two months.  My app collection has not changed since I bought so I cannot tell you exactly which app has been causing it.  However, it is entirely possible that an update to one of the apps has been causing it.  As I said my Nokia Lumia Icon has the exact the same collection of apps and same settings as my M8 and it has not had any of these problems.

A while back I was having difficulty reconnecting to the network after the connection would drop.  Sometimes resetting my data connection, turning the radio off and then back on would remedy the problem.  Other times I would have to restart my phone in order to get a connection once again to the Verizon network.  Now I contacted support about the problem and the person who helped me did something to reset the connection.  The battery life issues may have been due to this.  The reason I did not bring this up is because I just remembered actually.  I would not see why resetting the connection would cause this though.  However, it does seem the phone it is constantly pinging the network for updates.

Because as I said it drains on standby without any apps actively open.  Although I do have news apps that are allowed to run in the background.  However, so does my Icon and it does not have these problems.

[VCZ]

I am experiencing the same issue and it seems the issue is directly related to SMS messaging.  After performing a restart, the phone is fine and runs cool even with Music, Video and a few apps running.  As soon as I receive an SMS message, the phone begins to overheat with a few minutes and battery starts to drain at a rapid pace.  In some cases batter can go from 80% to 20% in less than an hour if left unattended.  Restarting the phone stops the heat and battery drain until I once again receive an SMS message.

I just ordered a replacement phone today, but from the original post here, it seems this will do nothing and this is most likely software bug.  I have noticed several updates to the native Messaging app in recent weeks and wonder if one of those updates could be the culprit.  My issue started about a month after I purchased the phone in Sep 2014.

Note: read reports of location services, Cortana and Live tile apps being the culprit, but from all of my testing none of these items make a difference.  The only constant is SMS messaging.

I hope somebody else can confirm this and maybe Verizon/HTC can address with a software update.

[vzw_customer_support]

VCZ,

Sorry to see that you are experiencing that trouble as well. Sounds like you went as far as a warranty replacement of the phone itself. Is that correct? Are you having the same trouble with the replacement? Have you replaced the SIM card?

BrianP_VZW
Follow Us on Twitter @VZWSupport

[WIndowsNerd]

It is draining extremely fast as we speak.  So much so that I just turned it off.  The replacement is just as unusable as the original phone.  The sad thing is the original phone did not do this.  No I have replaced the SIM card in it.  I bought this phone to replace another phone which became damaged but it looks like there is no use for the M8.  Turning the phone off and then back on does not fix the issue.  I mean within the course of 5 minutes the battery life dropped 6%.  This is ridiculous.  It also indicates the phone is on 3G so I am wondering if because it is unable to find LTE service that might be causing the problems.  I know Verizon is in the process of shutting down all or most of your 3G service.

[lparsons21]

I had this happen a couple times.

Since then I have turned on battery saver and turned off WIFI sense and it has not occurred since.

[WIndowsNerd]

Thanks.  I have already done those things to no avail.

[xonnia]

I JUST replaced my M8 for this same issue, like both phones are sitting beside me while the "new" one re-downlaods my apps and such.....  I was hoping it was a random bad battery cause i've only had the phone for a few months...   this doesn't give me much hope that the "new" phone will be any better, uhg.   It's so annoying to change phones that if this doesn't work i wont be happy.

[primortal]

Ditch VZW for the replacement and contact HTC directly for a replacement.

[WIndowsNerd]

Well I may have found a fix to my problem but it is too soon to say with complete certainty.  Anyway, I noticed that I had Verizon Integrated Messaging running and after turning it off I have not yet had the overheating issue resurface.  It has been a couple of days now and I so far I have been able to message without ruining my battery life.  So I think the issue I was having was in fact related to messaging and the root cause was Verizon Integrated Messaging.  Also, I have recalled after receiving my replacement device Integrated Messaging was not enabled and my battery performance was fine.  Hopefully, my issue is now fixed and for those of you who are having the same issue it may be worth seeing if integrated messaging is off.  Good luck.

[xonnia]

ya know that makes sense.... it was probably around the time i enabled Verizon integrated messaging (VIM) that mine started over heating...   I was planning on redoing it on my new phone to, perhaps i'll wait.  I never used it anyways as it never seemed to sync with my desktop pc like it was supposed to.   I hope you report back and that everything stays good to go!  It would be nice if VIM was the issue, then maybe Version can look into the app and see what is going on.

[primortal]

WIndowsNerd wrote:

Well I may have found a fix to my problem but it is too soon to say with complete certainty.  Anyway, I noticed that I had Verizon Integrated Messaging running and after turning it off I have not yet had the overheating issue resurface.  It has been a couple of days now and I so far I have been able to message without ruining my battery life.  So I think the issue I was having was in fact related to messaging and the root cause was Verizon Integrated Messaging.  Also, I have recalled after receiving my replacement device Integrated Messaging was not enabled and my battery performance was fine.  Hopefully, my issue is now fixed and for those of you who are having the same issue it may be worth seeing if integrated messaging is off.  Good luck.

If it's true that crappy Verizon Integrated Messaging is the issue...

It's amazing that this problem was missed in VZW extensive testing.  How can that be????

Goes to show you that VZW doesn't really test anything but uses it as an excuse to delay things *cough* Windows Phone 8.1 + Cyan *cough*

Call support and tell them so they can pretend to say they'll fix it

[Tidbits]

It was never the apps. Verizon doesn't even write them itself. I still put money on that it's XLTE and not the apps. Whether it is call quality, reception, amd or security of the network. We still can't verify the source that said it was the app. So far I have gathered it's a low level tech stating their opinions.

Honestly I expect apps that run 24/7 in the background to eat battery. I do that with Skype and it eats a lot of battery.

[primortal]

You know were on a different topic, it's not about the apps delaying the release of WP 8.1 right?

The poster was having massive battery issues and it turns out to be Verizon Integrated Messaging app that was the culprit.  It's not OS related because there other cross messaging apps like WhatsApps works without chewing through the battery.  Verizon's apps have been and always will be poorly developed.  It could also be HTC's firmware in managing the battery.  It boils down to VZW not properly testing the application.

I have 5 applications that are permitted to run in the background, Skype included and they do not chew through my battery at all.  The only app that is taking my battery is the Microsoft Health app and that because I have Bluetooth enabled 24/7 because of my Microsoft Band synching.  Right now I have to charge my phone every 2 days now instead of 3-4 days.

[Tidbits]

Also I addressed Messenger is a background app always running.  So it should eat more battery than most apps. Similarly like Skype if you make it sync real time and not just running in the background through it's settings. You'll notice you'll lose some more battery life than you are now.  That's what appears to me.  I easily lose 12 hours to Skype if I have it set up that way.  So I guess we can simply chalk it up to YRMV.

I was merely responding to this portion with that reply.  Sorry if you took it the wrong way, or I possibly took the comment the wrong way.

Goes to show you that VZW doesn't really test anything but uses it as an excuse to delay things *cough* Windows Phone 8.1 + Cyan *cough*

[primortal]

It's understood that the app is always running in the background and that's a given.  I have Facebook always running and I get notifications/updates constantly and it uses less than 1% of my battery.

Were do you see the setting for sync in real time?  I only see:

• Skype message notification On/Off
• Messenger message notifications On/Off
• Location Access On/Off
• Always prompt before calling external link On/Off
• High-contrast (dark) On/Off

My comment was do to VZW pushing back on the update because of supposed quality issues and turn around and couldn't quality control their own app.

[Tidbits]

On windows devices it doesn't fully run things in the background. It does similarly what iOS does. Oh surprisingly what OSX does too which I just realized. That's a total different discussion and I think it's a GOOD thing for mobile platforms.

On Android devices the setting is there to force sync and eat battery life considerably. I tend to receive thousands of messages a day just from Skype alone. It's one of the reasons why I like WP for daily things just I can't use it daily because devs don't write their apps I love to use for WP. I have even offered to write them the app for free and was rejected.  Sadly out of 4,500 employees only 8 of us like Windows Phone.

[WIndowsNerd]

Well I am at a lost again.  My phone is beginning to display the same problems as before even with Verizon Integrated Messaging off.  Now it first began to show problems when I updated two apps.  I deleted one of them, kept the other, restarted the phone, sent a text message and the phone started acting up again.  I have since deleted the other app and am not certain what effect that will have.  This app was allowed to run in the background but I did not open it after restarting my phone.  I am completely fed up and I think it is time I switch carriers as you morons at Verizon cannot provide a simple software update.  I think someone else deserves a chance next and the best part is my M8 for Windows is no longer under contract.  FIX THIS!!  You are basically robbing your customers Verizon and I think we all certainly appreciate it.

[xonnia]

that sucks, do you recall the names of the two apps you installed???     I've been out of contract with Verizon for years now cause I have an older one with unlimited data / tethering which I love! (can get ping/ms times as fast as my crappy cable ISP with my phone). 

I'm more inclined to utilize my insurance and get a new phone each time just to annoy them than leave.  Can't change phones for a year or so when i can expense another one so at this rate it could be like 4-5 replacement phones in that time..... 

it would be nice to a VzW rep come back to this thread....

[Fallout152]

I'm glad to see I'm not the only person that has been having this issue. I got my M8 a month ago and have been through two since with the same issue. Random overheating and massive battery drain. When it's running smoothly the life is great, but when it overheats I'm losing 20- 60% battery in just an hour or two. I've tried every little battery saving trick I could find (unpinning apps, opening every app on my phone at least once, not letting apps run in the background, uninstalling skype, location tracking off, turning off integrated messaging, making sure I have everything closed when I finish using it, wifi search off and a dozen more little ones I can't even remember). I have the warranty, but what's the point of getting a replacement if this problem has already plagued me through two devices already? I have yet to contact HTC, but anyone I've contacted at Verizon is clueless. The most frustrating thing is how random it is. I have found no cause to the problem and my phone is completely unreliable.