How to check battery health on iPhone

Unlike the iPad, which requires you to download desktop software to monitor the health of your battery, the iPhone has an in-built Battery Health Tool, which can easily help you do this.

It was in 2018 that Apple released an iOS software update that allowed users to carry out diagnostics for themselves. The update taught users how to check battery health on their iPhones.

This became important because the older their iPhone batteries got, the more frequent the charging sessions became since the phones couldn't hold full charges for long periods.

Unfortunately, this feature is only available on iOS 11.3 and after. Older models need to figure out alternative ways to monitor their battery health.

Unlike macOS, iOS does not indicate the number of cycle counts your battery has undergone, although the unwritten rule is that it should not go beyond 500 cycles.

To check your iPhone's health, go to Settings, then to the battery, and finally, click on Battery Health.

  • The first figure you'll be shown is your battery's "Maximum Capacity." This is simply an indication of your current battery capacity compared to when it was new. The longer you've had your battery, the lower this figure will be; the newer your iPhone and, therefore, your battery, the higher this number will be.

If the number is too low for comfort, get in touch with Apple, they can also run a test on your iPhone or give you another battery at a charge.

  • Beneath Maximum Capacity, you'll see the Peak Performance capability to show you if your battery is running well. If your battery is still new, then this will read, "Your battery is currently supporting normal peak performance." But if your battery has a problem, the diagnosis can read "Performance management is on," which usually means that the iPhone automatically restarted itself at some point.

Worst case scenario, if the battery is beyond repair and needs immediate replacement, the message should read "Can't check battery health."

And on the rare occasion that a brand-new iPhone turns out to have a problem with its battery, this will be revealed on the Battery Health page.

The Battery Health tool can serve several functions

  • It allows you to monitor the most draining apps and activities. So, if some of them are not essential to you, you can even uninstall them.
  • You can check on the general health of your battery to see when things are going south and when it needs replacement.
  • It can enable a low-power mode to lower some background activity
  • You can decipher whether to replace your battery depending on your diagnosis. You don't have to be caught unaware anymore. This gives you ample time to copy and download your data from your phone before it's too late.
  • You can also get more use and energy out of your current battery by learning what's harmful to your battery.

As mentioned before, the iOS Battery Health tool doesn't allow you to check your battery cycle counts, but you can bypass this challenge by using an app called coconutBattery 3. Start by downloading the app to your Mac desktop computer. Then connect your iPhone to the computer and launch the application. Through the app, you will see a display of information about your battery, among them the number of charge cycles your iPhone has undergone.

With all the information provided above, you should now be equipped to take care of your battery and make it last longer.

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