This Pokemon GO battery saver tip might save you from the charge drain

For precious extra minutes chasing Pidgeys.

Pokémon GO is delighting pedestrians the world over, but given all the map usage, augmented reality and lack of run-in-background mode, it can be a huge battery drain.

The app's 'Battery saver' mode doesn't seem to make much difference, but a simple hack is spreading that might help a little. Pokémon GO uses Google Maps API, so, in theory, making the area of map you most frequently visit offline should reduce the amount of time the app has to talk to Google Maps and thus boost your battery life and make the game run more smoothly.

Here are the simple steps:

1. Open Google Maps

2. Go to Settings

3. Go to Offline Area

4. Tap the + sign

5. Choose your area

This should stop the map from needing to refresh. Several users who have done this have noted a small increase in battery life. We’ve reached out to Pokémon GO develop Niantic for confirmation on whether, and to what extent, it helps.

Read more: Pokemon GO: Multiplayer trading is coming, developer teases