How To Calibrate iPhone Battery

The iPhone features remarkable battery life, however, non every user experiences acme performance. It is essential to calibrate the lithium-ion battery periodically. This commodity details the process for maintaining your iPhone's battery, which will ensure more accurate battery metering. This method also applies to the iPad and iPod Touch, as well as most other devices with lithium-ion "smart" batteries.

Why Calibrate?

Lithium-ion batteries degrade as they age and undergo repeated charging and discharging cycles. Operating systems, such as iOS, track the battery'southward operating range. Regardless of clothing and age, battery tracking requires occasional aligning. Battery scale helps iOS re-calculate the range of bombardment life. 1 should calibrate the battery periodically (every i – 3 months) and after every major iOS update. If you upgrade iOS and notice diminished battery life, inaccurate bombardment metering or unexpected shutdowns, try calibrating the battery before anything else.

Bombardment University, an online potency on batteries of all types, recommends calibrating smart batteries:

The chemical battery representing the bodily free energy storage remains the master while the digital battery provides peripheral support past relying on the information obtained from accuse and discharge cycles. But like all fine machines, precise settings begin to shift and demand aligning. The same happens with an SMBus battery that too crave periodic calibration. The instructions for an Apple tree iPad reads: "For proper reporting of SoC, be sure to go through at least one full charge/discharge cycle per month.

graph showing need for iPhone battery calibration
image credit: https://batteryuniversity.com/index.php/learn/article/battery_calibration

It'south of import not to confuse calibration with regular charging practices. Your iPhone's bombardment will terminal longer if you charge your device often, before it gets downwardly to 0%. Ideally, you lot should plug your device into a charger before it goes below xx%. These are ideals and not practical for most people. In real life, many people demand a full day'south charge. With battery replacements from Apple tree every bit low as $49, it's an easier solution than closely-managed charging. For those who beloved niggling and want to keep their battery in optimal status, delight read "How To Extend iPhone Battery Lifespan".

With every iOS update, new features are added, some of which affect battery life. Apple's engineers often better some aspects of battery life, while also introducing battery-intensive features, such as background updates. Allowing the battery to fully drain and recharge calibrates iOS to discover the total range of battery life. Some people are skeptical of this theory, and since few know the inner workings of iOS, it may sound superstitious. Enquiry and feel have proven otherwise.

iPhone xi, 12, 13 Running iOS 14.5 or Later Don't Crave Calibration

Before yous begin the calibration process, information technology's essential to know your iPhone'due south model number. Newer devices running iOS 14.v or after do not require transmission calibration. These models include the iPhone xi and after.

Apple tree'due south newest devices and operating systems at present include applied science to recalibrate battery statistics when necessary. This automated maintenance routine runs without user intervention whenever the battery needs calibration.

To check your battery's status, tap on Settings > Battery > Bombardment Wellness. If the recalibration process is running, users see the post-obit:

Your battery health reporting organization is recalibrating Maximum Capacity and Peak Performance Capability. This process may take a few weeks. Learn more than…

Apple's recalibration process will also determine if your iPhone'southward battery needs replacement. Devices with deteriorating batteries will display this bulletin on the Battery Health screen:

Recalibration of the battery health reporting system was not successful. An Apple Authorized Service Provider can replace the battery free of accuse to restore total functioning and capacity. More about service options…

Of course, you can nonetheless calibrate your iPhone battery by following the steps in this article. I have a brand new iPhone 13 Pro Max, and I calibrated the bombardment about a week after unboxing. It appears to have extended battery life significantly. Apart from this first-time calibration, I top off my phone equally needed, performing calibration just every 1-three months. I unremarkably do information technology a few weeks after installing a major iOS update.

How To Calibrate the iPhone Bombardment

The first footstep is to drain the bombardment completely. This should be accomplished with normal use, simply sometimes this may non be an selection. After all, you don't want to head off to piece of work with 2% battery life left. Sometimes that two% can last a few hours. It's all-time to drain the battery when y'all tin practise without your device for several hours, peradventure before bedtime. If you still have a little charge left and information technology's near time to sleep, yous can drain the bombardment more aggressively. To expedite battery drainage, turn on the flashlight, plow up the brightness, and play a video, preferably streaming over the Internet.

Once your device powers off due to insufficient battery charge, it'south all-time to exit it for some time. If possible, get out it overnight and don't charge information technology until the post-obit morning time. This is non ever an option, and if it's too inconvenient, skip this footstep. Allowing the device to sit overnight will further drain the battery. Y'all may notice that even when your iPhone runs out of juice and powers downwardly, when you immediately plug it back in, you lot will run into it at two-iii% charge. This is partly due to the fact that some bombardment life was remaining when it powered down. To keep your data condom, iOS has to power down before the battery is fully drained. Otherwise, it would close off without being able to save its state to secondary storage.

Next, plug your iPhone into the charger. Keep it in the charger until it's at to the lowest degree 100% charged. If possible, go along it in the charger longer. According to Apple tree, 100% means that you will get the expected bombardment life, only the device can charge across this.

So, here'due south how things work: Apple does in fact display the iPad (and iPhone and iPod Touch) as 100 percent charged merely earlier a device reaches a completely charged land. At that indicate, information technology will keep charging to 100 percent, then discharge a bit and charge support to 100 percent, repeating that process until the device is unplugged.

Doing then allows devices to maintain an optimum charge, Apple VP Michael Tchao told AllThingsD today.

"That circuitry is designed then you lot can continue your device plugged in as long equally yous would similar," Tchao said. "Information technology's a nifty characteristic that'south always been in iOS."

Keeping the device in the charger after information technology reaches 100% volition ensure it is fully charged. Two boosted hours should do it.

It is best to charge your iPhone when it is off. After y'all plug in the charger, your iPhone volition automatically showtime upwardly in a few minutes. When information technology is back online, but concur down the sleep/wake button and slide your finger over the off switch. Your iPhone will charge faster when it is off. It will also generate less heat, which volition extend overall battery life.

If you plough your iPhone off to accuse, brand sure to gauge how long it will take to charge beyond 100%. Three hours is a safe bet for an iPhone 11. My iPhone 6 will charge to 100% in iii hours, merely the extra two hours ensures that it is fully charged — beyond 100%.

Newer iPhone models, such as the 13 Pro Max, may accept longer to charge, depending on the power source. This device, in detail, has a much larger battery than whatsoever other iPhone. An iPhone 13 Pro Max tin can but use 27 watts when charging. If your charger puts out more than electric current, the iPhone's power IC will merely use 27 watts.

I prefer to charge my iPhone 13 Pro Max with an older Apple 5 watt charger. Doing so minimizes heat and preserves battery life. Of course, it takes much longer to accuse the battery fully. Still, if I shut down my iPhone, it charges fully from a completely drained bombardment in 3-4 hours. I tin utilize my iPhone when charging, and it's withal absurd to the touch. However, when I calibrated my iPhone 13 Pro Max a few days after buy, I turned information technology off while charging.

Now that your device is fully charged, y'all should reset it. This is done past holding down the sleep/wake button (on the elevation of the device) and home button, until the Apple logo appears. If you have a newer iPhone, without a concrete Abode button, concur the volume up and sleep/wake button. Your device will kicking up and is at present reset. Remove the charging cable when your device is upwardly and running.

Stride By Step Battery Calibration

The post-obit process is what I consider to exist the gold standard of iPhone battery calibration. For some, it might not be possible to follow all of these steps. If you are an on-phone call professional or hopelessly addicted to your iPhone, you might not be able to turn off your iPhone overnight or even for a few hours. At the bare minimum, you need to drain the battery until the device shuts off, charge your iPhone to 100%, and reset it by holding down the slumber/wake and domicile buttons until you see the Apple logo.

ane. Apply your iPhone until it shuts off automatically. If information technology is virtually 0% battery life and you desire to drain information technology faster, turn on the flashlight, turn up screen effulgence all the way and play a video, preferably streaming from the Internet.

2. Permit your iPhone sit down overnight to bleed the battery further.

3. Plug your iPhone in and expect for it to ability up. Make sure to utilise the charger supplied by Apple tree or one that runs at the same wattage and amperage.

4. Hold down the sleep/wake button and swipe "slide to power off".

5. Let your iPhone accuse for at least 3 hours. Older iPhones should be charged for five hours. The charge progress indicator is non displayed while your iPhone is turned off.

6. With the charging cable still connected, press the sleep/wake button for about a second to start up your iPhone.

7. When the iPhone has booted up, hold down the sleep/wake and home buttons until you lot see the Apple logo. If you lot have a newer iPhone, without a physical Domicile button, hold the volume up and slumber/wake button.

8. When your iPhone is back online, remove the charging cable.

Addressing the Critics

Numerous critics of bombardment calibration have emerged. They mail service (often nasty) comments and there'south fifty-fifty a top-ranking commodity debunking battery calibration, specifically mentioning this Appledystopia article. Riddled with contradictions, confusion and conflation, their main argument is that completely draining a lithium-ion bombardment is harmful. This is partially true, just bombardment calibration is not done every day. Battery scale is performed periodically, no more than than one time every one to three months.

Draining your iPhone's battery isn't that harmful. Most people practise this quite frequently, in the process of using their iPhone throughout the day. It's non optimal, but it will not totally destroy your battery. The do good of calibration outweighs running your iPhone down to 0% once every few months. Your device will accept a more than accurate battery meter. With more authentic battery metering, in that location won't exist any unpleasant surprises, such as missing that important briefing call because your iPhone went from xxx% to v% in 30 minutes.

On the opposite side, they fence that fully charging an iPhone as well damages the bombardment. Apple already has applied science in place to carefully manage the final 20% of the charging procedure. Once your battery charge progresses over 80%, the iPhone's ability IC reduces charge current. This is known as a trickle charge. Reducing the accuse stresses the bombardment less than running at full current. This is all the more reason you need to calibrate your iPhone bombardment. Your iPhone relies on accurate battery metering to determine when the trickle charge starts. Calibration helps ensure that the iPhone's smart battery is accurate.

Critics suggest that calibration, past running the battery between two extremes, will do more than harm than adept. Once more, this is a process that'south done once every 1-3 months. Most people drain their iPhone bombardment from employ. They charge their iPhone all the mode. If y'all practise this methodically and throw in a system reset, you've just calibrated your iPhone. There'south naught mysterious or damaging about this procedure. Everything is done within normal operating parameters of the device. People run their bombardment from 0% to 100% every twenty-four hours, for years on finish. The whole point of calibration is to take an accurate bombardment meter. Performing calibration periodically won't diminish iPhone battery lifespan. In fact, you can get more life out of a failing battery with calibration. Calibration ensures that processes such as trickle charging are more precise, every bit they rely on accurate battery statistics. Read the comments — they're testimonials to battery calibration.

Critics of this commodity don't tell their readers to turn off their iPhones while charging. When an iPhone is on and plugged in, it generates more heat while charging, which will shorten the bombardment'southward lifespan. Despite this fact, most people volition leave their iPhone on while charging. They'll even continue to use it, even when it's warm to the bear on. Information technology'southward easier and more than convenient to do then, just it does harm the battery.

The Appledystopia battery calibration guide, still, recommends turning the iPhone off, which charges the battery with less heat than typical charging.  The bombardment also charges faster this way, as the device is no longer consuming ability. The notion that calibration harms a bombardment is bunk. Everything is washed within normal operating procedures. iPhone users run their battery down every twenty-four hour period. They accuse their device to 100% all the fourth dimension. To characterization this behavior damaging is delusional. Appledystopia isn't trying to alter the way you utilize your iPhone every day. This article is but outlines a procedure to calibrate the iPhone's bombardment meter. I feel sorry for the poor soul who'south suckered into using 60% of their battery range, and then they can make their battery last for a few more than weeks. Such people can't come across the forest for the copse!

Critics of this article contradict themselves. I ane paw, they suggest that Apple successfully manages all aspects of battery charging, including calibration. They silently fixed this result, according to some. And then, in their same article or annotate, they contend that draining and fully charging the battery is incredibly harmful. Which one is it? Does Apple provide users with a device that'southward harmful to fully accuse and belch? Or do they manage every attribute of charging, including calibration? The answers are a flake complex, but they're not the polarized contradictions that my critics spew forth. Information technology's condom to fully charge and discharge your bombardment, but not optimal.

Apple devices, to date, still need battery scale. This includes the new iPhone 11 line. Apple has not silently fixed this issue. Information technology's truthful that Apple has made advances in battery management, merely their website neither condones nor dismisses battery scale. In my research, I have constitute iPhone users who had their device batteries calibrated at the Apple Store.

Some brands of smartphone exercise not need to be calibrated. Google's Pixel line doesn't need calibration, and they specifically mention this on their battery care folio. Information technology's unclear how they manage diminishing battery lifespan on their device. Critics of this article claim that Apple tree has done the same matter, but they won't mention information technology. That'southward a big assumption to make. They could easily report this self-calibrating feature on their bombardment direction folio.

It makes sense for them to remain silent about calibration. About people volition just get to the Apple Store and mayhap buy something while in that location. Information technology makes their product seem inferior. They have made no indication whatsoever that battery calibration is part of iOS 13 or whatsoever new release. Battery calibration requires that the user run the battery downwards to 0% and back to 100%, to determine the total range. Apple may do this discretely if this behavior occurs. If that'southward the case, all the same, users can still follow this guide to initiate calibration themselves. Some may always top off their iPhone and never run the total range. When Apple admits that battery calibration is no longer necessary, I volition be the first to update this guide. Until and then, I'll stick with the prove at hand.

Critics take a cheap shot, claiming that I advocate turning on the flashlight, amplifying screen brightness and other measures to rapidly drain the battery. Yes, but merely if you're close to 0%. My critics didn't miss that, yet their writing indicates that this is a long-running process. It'due south their pathetic attempt to create a straw man. I never propose turning every bell and whistle on and all the way up, in order to drain an iPhone from 100% to 0%. That's an intentional deception put forth by my critics.

Bombardment calibration isn't but backed up past anecdotes. Although many people have noticed significant improvement in battery meter accurateness, there's proof across these accounts. Battery Academy provides some of the all-time information on lithium ion battery care. They wrote a whole article on how to calibrate a smart battery, which has been referenced by Appledystopia several times. Their guide is an excellent resources, however, it's not specific to the iPhone.

If battery calibration works for y'all, or not, allow Appledystopia know! Drop a comment below.

Make Your iPhone's Battery Final Longer

A lot of people visit this site because their iPhone's battery is shot. Calibration can assistance in some cases, merely it is not a panacea. If scale doesn't amend your iPhone'south battery life, it may be time to supervene upon the bombardment. Fortunately, you lot can prolong the lifespan of your new battery by following a few tips. For more information, please read "How To Extend iPhone Bombardment Lifespan".

More Data

Many users are skeptical of this process and feel information technology is superstitious. I hope I have shed lite on the reasons why y'all should calibrate your iPhone bombardment. If yous doubt this article, take screenshots of your battery life (Settings > General > Usage) before and later on conditioning the battery. I have found this process to piece of work. Of class, your bombardment may bleed at unlike rates depending on use. For more information and tips almost lithium-ion batteries, delight read this commodity.