No matter what you do, your iPhone® battery has a limited shelf life. As it ages, the battery slows—so a full charge won’t last as long. Most batteries are good for at least 2 to 3 years, often longer,but how do you know when to replace your iPhone battery?
At Asurion, we help millions of people maximize their tech. From extending the life of your phone to using cloud storage on your computer, our experts offer total tech care to millions. Here are our tips on how to know when to change your iPhone battery.
How your iPhone battery works
iPhones run on rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. They charge fast and pack more power into a lighter battery than ever before. Older iPhones are more prone to battery issues than newer models, which are built with advanced features that compensate for poor battery health. But all batteries degrade over time.
iPhone battery issues to look out for
If your phone is unexpectedly shutting down and you can’t get through a day with a single charge, you likely have battery problems. Other signs include sluggish apps and lower-than-usual speaker volume.
How to check your iPhone battery health
To check the health of your battery, make sure your phone is charged and then go to Settings > Battery and tap Battery Health. Here, you’ll find information on maximum capacity, performance capability, and important battery messages, as well as when to change your iPhone battery.
Let’s take a closer look at what you might find.
(Note: You need an iPhone 6 or later device running the iOS 11.3 or later operating system. If your iPhone can’t upgrade, contact an expert for help.)
IPHONE BATTERY’S MAXIMUM CAPACITY
This is where you’ll find a clear indication of whether you need to replace your battery. This percentage measures your phone’s battery capacity compared to when it was brand new. It starts out at 100% (or just under), and as the battery ages, capacity decreases, which means you get fewer hours between charges. If the number you see under Maximum Capacity is more than 80%, you have a healthy battery, according to Apple.
PERFORMANCE IS NORMAL
In your Battery Health screen, you’ll see the following message when your battery has the highest capacity available and works normally:
“Your battery is currently supporting normal peak performance.”
PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT APPLIED OR TURNED OFF
If your battery is causing slower load times or other performance issues, you may need an upgrade. In this case, you’ll see the following 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.”
If you turn off the applied performance management feature by tapping Disable…, this message will appear:
“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.”
Keep in mind, you can’t turn performance management back on once you turn it off. But it will automatically turn on again if your phone shuts down unexpectedly. You can also choose to disable it.
BATTERY HEALTH DEGRADED
When the capacity of your iPhone battery dips below 80%, you’ll see the following message:
“Your battery’s health is significantly degraded. An Apple Authorized Service Provider can replace the battery to restore full performance and capacity. More about service options…”
Don’t worry. This doesn’t mean you have a busted battery—it just means that yours holds less charge than it did when it was new. If you use your phone for email and social media, the battery might be just fine. But if you’re a gamer or power user, you’ll probably want to replace the battery.
BATTERY HEALTH UNKNOWN
When your phone can’t determine the health of the battery—perhaps due to an unknown or improperly installed battery—you’ll see this message:
“This iPhone is unable to determine battery health. An Apple Authorized Service Provider can service the battery.”
IMPORTANT BATTERY MESSAGE
If you have an iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR, and later, the following message means that your battery can’t be verified:
“Unable to verify this iPhone has a genuine Apple battery. Health information not available for this battery. Learn more…”
If you receive this message, it’s a good time to make an appointment with an iPhone repair expert. They can check out your battery and help you with next steps.
How to replace your iPhone battery
Replacing your battery is easy, cost-effective, and a great way to improve your phone’s lifespan. There are DIY battery replacement kits out there, but you need to know exactly what you’re doing, so your best bet is to contact an iPhone repair expert for help. Battery replacement costs start at $70, depending on your iPhone model.
How to extend the life of your iPhone battery
While there’s no way to stop your iPhone batteryfrom aging, you can slow that process by following some best practices, from updating your version of iOS to avoiding using your phone in extreme temperatures. To learn more, check out our guide to saving your iPhone battery.