Understanding 'pagead2.googlesyndication' and battery drain on iPhone

Yes, changes made in iOS 26 may be causing Google ad services to consume more battery capacity. The bottom line is Google needs to update their services and websites will need to replace old scripts with new, iOS 26 compliant scripts.

You can reduce battery consumption several ways.

Use Content Blockers: Install a reputable ad blocker or content blocker app for Safari. These will prevent many ad scripts, including those from googlesyndication, from loading at all.

Close Unused Tabs and Apps: Frequently close browser tabs and apps, especially those showing lots of ads. This halts background ad activity.

Restrict Background App Refresh: Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh and turn it off for browsers or apps that show lots of ads.

Limit Tracking in Safari: Enable “Prevent Cross-Site Tracking” and “Block All Cookies” in Settings > Safari to reduce ad activity.

Review Installed Apps: Some free apps heavily rely on ad networks and can cause excessive usage. Switch to paid or ad-free versions where possible.

Clear Website Data: In Settings >Safari > Advanced > Website Data, clear website data periodically to remove stored scripts and cookies.

From what I can find, it is an ad tracker from Google, which is most commonly tied to Google services, like Chrome or other Google Apps. Without knowing what things you have on your iPhone, which are owned by Google, it would be difficult to know more about what is happening on your iPhone.

It’s happened to me too and idk why. I don’t have a single Google app installed, but of what I’ve researched on my own iPhone, these websites are coming from apps that have Google Ads (or whatever web related) running. These websites keep running on the background even if I delete cookies or reset my phone.

[Edited by Moderator]

You’re welcome!

Apple made changes from iOS 18.X.X to 26.X.X and the battery section has changed significantly. It’s possible Apple is using slightly different methodologies between devices. You would need to create a support ticket and escalate the ticket unilaterally it reaches senior support or engineering.

You need to have Apple perform diagnostics on your iPhone. It can be done in person at an Apple Retail Store or at an Apple Authorized Service Provider. You can also contact Apple Support and request remote diagnostics.

If you’re in the US please call  1-800-MY-APPLE or outside the US, consult the support articles below. In Canada call 1-800-263-3394

Contact Apple for support and service - Apple Support

Genius Bar Reservation and Apple Support Options - Apple

Explore Service Locations

Try Settings, Apps, Safari, Clear website history and data

Googleadsyndication is part of Google’s ad network.

You see it because it’s used by Google and any website or application that uses Google ads.

Thank you for your suggestions, they seem to have slightly worked. Since you posted I’ve deleted apps on my iPhone like Instagram, TikTok and Facebook in an effort to reduce apps that rely on google advertising, this has significantly reduced the screen time use of google syndication.

However, it’s still appearing in my screen time, despite these suggestions, with it being in my screen time report yesterday (only for a couple minutes, however it’s still there and was never there before).

It doesn’t appear in any of my other apple devices screen time reports other than my phone running iOS 26

TT618 wrote:

Mine seems to be overnight and I don’t know why, I do have quite a few Google apps but I am a student and use them a lot. I’m in the UK is there anything I can do?

https://discussions.apple.com/content/attachment/6bd7644c-2821-461f-8893-41b27b9813b2

The app/process may be on 100% of the time without using a lot of battery.

However your phone should be on charge all night every night

I have a similar screentime report with no google apps on my phone - only happening since the new iOS update? Is it possible that its apps like instagram?

Mine goes back to since I updated to iOS 26 - is that the same for you? I have updated to 26.0.1 and still have the issue…

Mine seems to be overnight and I don’t know why, I do have quite a few Google apps but I am a student and use them a lot. I’m in the UK is there anything I can do?

I have never had these cookie type processes show on my battery stats, maybe it only applies to iphones with the enhanced battery management.