How to Increase Battery Health on iPhone and Android, and How to Check It

Can you increase battery health back to 100%?

No setting, app or charging trick will raise real battery capacity. Apple describes maximum capacity as a measure of the battery relative to when it was new, and says all rechargeable batteries are consumables that lose capacity as they chemically age. That age depends on charge cycles, temperature history and how the phone was charged, not only on time.

One small exception: the number shown is an estimate, and estimates get corrected. Apple, for example, released a recalibration for iPhone 11 models in iOS 14.5 because some readings were inaccurate. A figure can move a little after an update. That is a correction, not the battery healing.

Apps that promise to repair or boost battery health cannot change the chemistry. Do not install them, and certainly do not give them extra permissions.

How to stop battery health from dropping so fast

These are the habits that the makers and Battery University point to. They slow the decline; none of them stop it.

• Keep it cool. Apple calls 16°C to 22°C the ideal zone and says ambient temperatures above 35°C can permanently damage battery capacity, and charging in that heat can damage it further. Google says to avoid 6 hours or more above 35°C.
• Do not leave the phone in a parked car or on a sunny dashboard. Apple says temperatures in parked cars can exceed the safe storage range of -20°C to 45°C.
• Turn on the charge protection your phone offers: Optimized Battery Charging or Charge Limit on iPhone, Battery protection on Samsung, Charging optimization on Pixel.
• Charge in partial top-ups if you like. Battery University says smaller discharges are less stressful than full ones.
• If the phone gets hot while charging in its case, Apple suggests taking it out of the case first.
• Storing a spare phone? Apple says charge it to about 50%, switch it off and keep it somewhere below 32°C. Google says at least 50% for storage longer than 30 days.
• Keep the software up to date. Apple and Google both list updates first in their battery advice.

• Best way to charge your phone

How to check battery health on iPhone

Open Settings, tap Battery, then Battery Health (on some models the menu is Battery Health & Charging). You will see Maximum Capacity and a Peak Performance Capability message.

Apple says batteries of iPhone 14 models and earlier are designed to keep 80% of their original capacity at 500 complete charge cycles under ideal conditions, and batteries of iPhone 15 models at 1,000 complete charge cycles. Apple's page, published 1 June 2026, gives those two figures; it does not list a separate figure for later models, so we do not either.

A brand-new iPhone can show slightly under 100%, Apple says, depending on the time between manufacture and activation.

• “Your battery is currently supporting normal peak performance” means all is well.
• “Performance management applied” means the phone has already shut down unexpectedly because the battery could not deliver peak power, so iOS is limiting peaks to stop it happening again.
• “Your battery's health is significantly degraded” is Apple's own suggestion to replace it. Apple says it is not a safety issue.
• “Unable to verify this iPhone has a genuine Apple battery” (iPhone XS, XR and later) means the battery could not be verified and the health figure may not be accurate.

How to check battery health on Samsung

Samsung does not show a percentage in Settings on most Galaxy phones. Its official check is the Samsung Members app: open Samsung Members, tap Support, tap Get Started under Phone diagnostics, then tap Battery status when the test finishes.

• Normal: no performance issues with the battery.
• Weak: Samsung says battery efficiency may have decreased because of long-term use or environmental conditions.
• Bad: Samsung says battery life has significantly degraded and suggests visiting a Samsung service centre.

• Samsung battery replacement in Pakistan

How to check battery health on Pixel and other Android phones

On Pixel 8a and later, open Settings > Battery > Battery health. Google shows Normal or Reduced, and Reduced means capacity is below 80%. Settings > About phone > Battery information shows the cycle count, manufacture date and date of first use. Google says Pixel 6a to Pixel 8 Pro do not show a battery health status.

Google's rating: Pixel 3 through Pixel 8 Pro and Pixel Fold should keep up to 80% capacity for about 800 cycles, and Pixel 8a and later for about 1,000 cycles. Google recommends a replacement below 80% or at those cycle counts.

For Xiaomi, Infinix, Tecno, Oppo, Vivo and realme, check Settings > Battery first. Some newer models show a health figure and some do not, and we could not find an official page covering every model. Third-party apps only estimate battery health, so treat their percentage as a rough guide.

When should you replace the battery?

Replace it when the phone stops getting you through your day, or when it shuts down unexpectedly. On iPhone, the degraded message and performance management are the clearest signs. Google's line for Pixel is 80% capacity or the rated cycle count. Samsung's line is a Bad result in Phone diagnostics.

A swollen battery is different. Google says a swollen battery can lift the screen and let liquid and dust in. Its advice is to leave the phone unused on a table, not to press the glass back, pry the phone open or try to fix it yourself, and to arrange a repair.

• iPhone battery replacement in Pakistan
• Battery health on used phones: what sellers' numbers mean

Buying a used phone? Check the battery yourself

A battery percentage in an ad is the seller's claim. Open the battery screen on the phone in front of you, look for the genuine-battery message on iPhone, and run Phone diagnostics on a Samsung. A replacement battery can show a good number and still be poor quality.

• Inspect a used phone before you pay
• Browse used phones for sale

How can I increase my iPhone battery health?

You cannot raise it. Maximum capacity falls as the battery chemically ages. You can slow the drop by keeping the phone cool, turning on Optimized Battery Charging or an 80% Charge Limit, and not leaving it at 100% in a hot place.

What is a normal iPhone battery health?

Apple says iPhone 14 and earlier batteries are designed to keep 80% of original capacity at 500 complete cycles, and iPhone 15 batteries at 1,000 cycles, under ideal conditions. Real results depend on use and heat.

How do I check battery health on a Samsung phone?

Open the Samsung Members app, tap Support, then Phone diagnostics, and check Battery status. It shows Normal, Weak or Bad.

Why is my battery health dropping so fast?

Heat and long periods at full charge are the usual causes. Apple says ambient temperatures above 35°C can permanently damage battery capacity, and charging in that heat can damage it further.

At what battery health should I replace my phone battery?

Google recommends replacing a Pixel battery below 80% capacity. On iPhone, replace it when Battery Health says the battery is significantly degraded or the phone shuts down unexpectedly. On Samsung, a Bad result in Phone diagnostics is the sign.