Are you holding your iPhone for as long as possible? Make sure you keep your battery healthy

We may be gearing up for the iPhone 16 reveal, but not everyone is in a rush to upgrade their phone. You likely won’t be missing out on many new features if you already own an iPhone 15 or iPhone 15 Pro , and even devices released in 2018 like the iPhone XR can enjoy the new iOS 18 update. If you want to keep your iPhone as long as possible, one of the best ways (besides getting a good phone case) is to protect your device’s battery and maintain its health.

Battery lifespan, not to be confused with battery lifespan, is the amount of time your battery lasts before you need to replace it. The rechargeable battery in your iPhone should (hopefully) last at least a few years at its best, but that depends on a variety of factors, including ambient temperatures, how you charge your battery, damage from drops, or a defective battery. (“Battery lifespan,” on the other hand, is the amount of time your battery can power your phone before it needs to be recharged.)

Read more: Is iPhone suffering from battery aging problem?

If you’re not sure what to do to extend the life of your iPhone’s battery, who better to turn to than Apple? Below, you’ll find a few tips from the company itself that will help you avoid having to replace your battery sooner rather than later.

For more, check out the latest iPhone 16 rumors and why iOS 18 could be a game-changer.

And now, about the battery tips…

First, check if Optimized Battery Charging is enabled

Although you can’t overcharge a battery, can puts a little stress on your battery when you charge it to 100%. To limit that stress, your iPhone has a setting that learns from your daily charging routine (let’s say you always plug your phone in right before you go to bed and unplug it in the morning). Then, it waits to charge past 80% until just before you need it, instead of quickly charging all the way to 100%.

This can help reduce battery aging, and while the setting should be enabled by default, it’s still a good idea to check that it’s turned on. Institutionsgo to Battery > Battery Health and Charging and make sure that Optimized battery charging is enabled.

Keep your iPhone away from extreme temperatures

Your iPhone battery lifespan can be affected by extreme temperatures. Higher temperatures increase the rate of chemical reactions in the battery, causing the battery to work harder and faster, which also causes it to deteriorate more quickly.

According to Apple, it’s important to avoid exposing your iPhone to temperatures above 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35 degrees Celsius) to prevent permanent damage. Luckily, the solution is simple: keep your iPhone away from high temperatures. If you’re at the beach, don’t leave your iPhone on your towel in direct sunlight. Instead, throw it in a bag or throw a shirt over it for protection. Also, don’t leave your iPhone in the car for extended periods of time, especially on a hot day.

Apple does have a few settings to prevent overheating and damage, such as turning off your phone or preventing further charging if your phone gets too hot, but you don’t want to rely on these features to protect your phone’s battery. It’s better to take preventative measures than to wait until your iPhone overheats.

You may need to remove your iPhone from its case

If your iPhone gets hot when you charge it, you may want to take your case off first. Certain cases, especially bulky, more protective ones, can trap heat and cause your iPhone to overheat, affecting your battery life.

In addition to removing the case, consider avoiding processor-intensive apps, such as games, when your phone is charging. Using these apps while charging can also cause your phone to overheat.

How to Protect iPhone Batteries During Long-Term Storage

Maybe you got a new phone and want to put your old iPhone away for a while. To preserve battery life, here’s what to do before you put it away:

• Make sure the charge stays around 50%. You don’t want the battery to be full or empty before you turn the device off. Otherwise, the battery may not hold a charge (if it’s full) or it may lose capacity and last less long (if it’s empty).
• Turn off your iPhone. This prevents your phone from consuming more battery.
• Store your phone in a cool and moisture-free placeIdeally, the temperature should be below 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius).
• If you don’t use your iPhone for more than six months, turn it on and charge it to 50% every six months.

If you store your iPhone for an extended period of time, the battery may be low. This means you may need to charge the phone for 20 minutes before you can use it again.

For more information, check out how to preview iOS 18 on your phone and how much the iPhone 16 could cost.