Lithium-ion batteries, like the ones found in iPhones, are finite resources that naturally degrade over time. Most batteries are good for at least 2 to 3 years, often longer, but how do you know when to replace your iPhone battery?
Here are the tips on how to know when to change your iPhone battery.
How your iPhone battery works
iPhone batteries use lithium-ion technology. As Apple describes on it’s website, iPhone lithium-ion batteries work in charge cycles. You complete one charge cycle when you’ve used (discharged) an amount that represents 100% of your battery’s capacity — but not necessarily all from one charge. As Apple notes, you might use 75% of your battery’s capacity one day, then recharge it fully overnight. If you use 25% the next day, you will have discharged a total of 100%, and the two days will add up to one charge cycle. It could take several days to complete a cycle. The capacity of any type of battery will diminish after a certain amount of recharging. With lithium-ion batteries, the capacity diminishes slightly with each complete charge cycle. Apple lithium-ion batteries are designed to retain 80% of their original capacity for a high number of charge cycles, which varies depending on the product.
According to Apple, you can charge your iPhone lithium-ion battery whenever you want. There’s no need to let it discharge 100% before recharging. The iPhone lithium-ion battery uses fast charging to quickly reach 80% of its capacity, then switches to slower trickle charging. The amount of time it takes to reach that first 80% will vary depending on your settings and which device you’re charging. Software may limit charging above 80% when the recommended battery temperatures are exceeded. This combined process not only lets you get out and about sooner, it also extends the lifespan of your battery.
iPhone battery issues to look out for
When your iPhone battery has a higher chemical age, you’re more likely to experience issues such as:
- Unexpected shutdowns
- Longer app launch times
- Lower frame rates while scrolling
- Backlight dimming (which can be overridden in Control Center)
- Lower speaker volume by up to -3dB
- Gradual frame rate reductions in some apps
- During the most extreme cases, the camera flash will be disabled as visible in the camera UI
- Apps refreshing in background might require reloading upon launch
How can I tell if my iPhone battery needs replacing?
Review your iPhone battery health
- Go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health or Battery Health & Charging.
- Look for the Maximum Capacity percentage. If it’s below 80%, you should get your iPhone battery replaced.
iPhone battery’s maximum capacity
The Battery Health screen includes information on maximum battery capacity and peak performance capability.
Maximum battery capacity measures the device battery capacity relative to when it was new. A battery will have lower capacity as the battery chemically ages, which might result in fewer hours of usage between charges. Depending upon the length of time between when the iPhone was made and when it’s activated, your battery capacity might show as slightly less than 100 percent.
On iPhone battery and performance page, Apple says that the Batteries of iPhone 14 models and earlier are designed to retain 80 percent of their original capacity at 500 complete charge cycles when operating under ideal conditions. On the other hand, batteries of iPhone 15 models are designed to retain 80 percent of their original capacity at 1000 complete charge cycles when operating under ideal conditions. With all models, the exact capacity percentage depends on how the devices are regularly used and charged. You should get a battery replacement message if the maximum capacity is below 80%.
As your battery health degrades, so can its ability to deliver peak performance. The Battery Health screen includes a section for Peak Performance Capability where the following messages might appear.
Performance is normal
When the battery condition can support normal peak performance and does not have the performance management features applied, you’ll see this message:
Your battery is currently supporting normal peak performance.
Performance management applied
When the performance management features have been applied, you’ll see this message:
This iPhone has experienced an unexpected shutdown because the battery was unable to deliver the necessary peak power. Performance management has been applied to help prevent this from happening again. Disable…
Note that if you disable performance management, you can’t turn it back on. It will be turned on again automatically if an unexpected shutdown occurs. The option to disable will also be available.
Performance management turned off
If you disable the applied performance-management feature, you’ll see this message:
This iPhone has experienced an unexpected shutdown because the battery was unable to deliver the necessary peak power. You have manually disabled performance management protections.
If the device experiences another unexpected shutdown, the performance-management features will be reapplied. The option to disable will also be available.
Battery health degraded
If battery health has degraded significantly, the below message will also appear:
Your battery’s health is significantly degraded. An Apple Authorized Service Provider can replace the battery to restore full performance and capacity.
This message doesn’t indicate a safety issue. You can still use your battery. However, you might experience more noticeable battery and performance issues. A new replacement battery will improve your experience.
Unable to verify
If you see the message below, it means that the battery in your iPhone is unable to be verified. This message applies to iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR, and later.
Unable to verify this iPhone has a genuine Apple battery. Details from this battery may not be accurate.
The battery health information on this screen might not be accurate. According to Apple, This message don’t affect your ability to use your iPhone or your battery. To have your battery checked, contact an Apple Authorized Service Provider.
How to replace your iPhone battery
As i mentioned earlier, Apple generally recommends replacing your iPhone battery when it falls below 80% maximum capacity. To avoid damage that could cause overheating, fire, or injury, only a trained technician should replace your iPhone battery. Here are ways to replace your iPhone battery:
- You can arrange to mail your iPhone directly to Apple. If you choose this option, there will be a shipping cost (in the USA, it is $6.95) regardless of warranty status. Apple usually ships back your device within 3 to 5 days.
- You can make an appointment and take your iPhone to an Apple Store. They will probably replace it while you are there. It is usually a quick process.
- If you do not want to mail it or if there isn’t an Apple Store around, the third option is to take it to an Apple authorized service provider. You can ask Apple about the store nearest you.
For most customers, visiting a professional repair provider with certified technicians who use genuine Apple parts is the safest and most reliable way to get your iPhone battery replaced. However, if you want to order a new battery and do the swap yourself, iFixit has a guide that can guide you through the steps. Just keep in mind that if your DIY iPhone battery replacement goes wrong, don’t expect Apple to bail you out. If Apple finds out you opened up your iPhone and tried to replace the battery, they almost certainly won’t fix your iPhone.
The potential for problems plus the cost of purchasing a special toolkit and a replacement battery is enough for me to tell you that’s replacing your iPhone battery on your own is probably not worth risk.
How much will it cost?
iPhone battery replacement cost varies from $49 to $119. AppleCare Plus subscribers can get a free battery replacement if their device’s battery holds less than 80 percent of it’s original capacity. Check out our guide to review potential costs if you want to get your iPhone battery replaced by Apple. Fees may vary if you get your battery replaced elsewhere.
How to extend the life of your iPhone battery
While there’s no way to stop your iPhone battery from aging, you can slow that process by following some best practices. Here are a few tips directly from Apple that’ll help keep you from having to replace your iPhone battery sooner rather than later:
- Use a quality charger and cable. If you use a wireless charger, make sure that it has a built-in cooling or avoid wireless charging. Charging your iPhone with a non-Apple charger that doesn’t comply with Apple’s safety standards, can damage your battery.
- Avoid using your iPhone while it’s charging. Using your iPhone while it’s charging can cause it to overheat, affecting the battery’s life span.
- When possible, unplug your iPhone after it has fully charged.
- Make sure Optimized Battery Charging is enabled. Optimized Battery Charging is designed to reduce the wear on your battery and improve its lifespan by reducing the time your iPhone spends fully charged. Go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging and make sure that Optimized Battery Charging is toggled on.
- Don’t expose your iPhone to extreme temperatures. According to Apple, it’s important to avoid using or charging your device in ambient temperatures higher than 95° F (35° C), which can permanently reduce battery lifespan.
- Take off the phone case if you use one. Certain cases, especially the bulkier and more protective ones, can trap heat and make the iPhone overheat, affecting the battery’s life span. To reduce the effect of heat and prevent overheating, take off the phone case before charging your iPhone.
- If you’re putting your iPhone away for longer than six months, turn it on and charge it to 50% every half a year. You should also store your phone in a cool and moisture-free environment.