How do I keep my Apple battery healthy?

Answered by Randy McIntyre

To keep your Apple battery healthy, there are a few key tips to follow:

1. Store it half-charged: If you’re storing your device for an extended period, it’s best to keep the battery at around 50% charge. This helps prevent the battery from draining completely or being fully charged, which can degrade its overall health.

2. Avoid extreme charge levels: It’s important not to fully charge or fully discharge your device’s battery on a regular basis. This means avoiding constantly charging your device to 100% or letting it completely drain before recharging. Instead, aim to keep the battery level between 20% and 80% for optimal performance.

3. Power down when not in use: When you’re not actively using your device, it’s a good idea to power it down to avoid unnecessary battery drain. This is especially important if you’re storing your device for a long period. By turning it off, you minimize any background processes that may consume power.

4. Keep it cool and dry: Excessive heat and moisture can negatively impact battery health. Therefore, it’s crucial to store your device in a cool and moisture-free environment, ideally below 32°C (90°F). Extreme temperatures can cause the battery to degrade faster, so avoiding exposure to extreme heat or cold is essential.

5. Avoid overcharging: It’s a common misconception that leaving your device plugged in overnight or for an extended period will damage the battery. However, modern Apple devices are designed to stop charging once they reach 100%, preventing overcharging. So, leaving your device plugged in overnight occasionally should not harm the battery.

6. Use optimized battery charging: If you have iOS 13 or later, your Apple device has a feature called optimized battery charging. This feature learns your daily charging patterns and helps slow down battery aging by reducing the time your device spends fully charged. It does this by temporarily pausing charging past 80% until you need to use your device.

7. Update your software: Apple often releases software updates that include battery optimizations. Keeping your device’s software up to date ensures you benefit from these improvements, which can help maintain battery health.

8. Avoid extreme temperatures during use: While it’s important to store your device in a cool environment, you should also be mindful of the temperature when using it. Using your device in extreme heat or cold conditions can impact battery performance and lifespan.

By following these tips, you can help keep your Apple battery healthy and ensure it lasts as long as possible. Remember to store it half-charged in a cool, dry place, avoid extreme charge levels, power down when not in use, and keep your software up to date.