Seemingly Harmless Charging Habits That Are Shortening Your Phone's Battery Life – Stop Now

Charging your phone to 100% every time may feel like the right thing to do, but it can actually shorten your battery’s lifespan. Thankfully, a few simple changes can help maintain its health and performance over time.

 

 

Proper charging habits are essential for preserving battery efficiency. Experts advise charging your phone when the battery drops below 20%, or around 30–40% for light users. Avoid topping it up to 100% too often, as this can degrade the battery faster.

Why is proper charging important?
Charging too frequently, especially when the battery is still at 50% or higher, can gradually reduce the battery’s overall performance. Overcharging also contributes to environmental pollution due to toxic elements like lead and cadmium in phone batteries.

When should you charge your phone?
Most professionals recommend only charging to 80–90% instead of a full charge. iPhones now offer “Optimized Battery Charging,” which learns your habits and delays charging to 100% until just before you usually unplug.

For more control, the “Charging Limit” feature on iPhones lets you set a cap between 80% and 100%. Go to:
Settings > Battery > Charging > Set Desired Limit

Additional charging tips:

• Avoid charging overnight

• Use certified cables and adapters

• Charge in cool, well-ventilated spaces

• Avoid using your phone while it’s charging

Habits that extend battery life:

• Turn on battery saver mode

• Disable unnecessary sounds, vibrations, and alerts

• Prevent overheating by keeping your phone away from heat sources

By following these tips, you can help your phone battery last longer and perform better every day.