X

5 Battery-Killing Charging Mistakes To Avoid At All Costs For A Longer-Lasting iPhone

May 25, 2024 by Lisa Cupido

 
Shutterstock

Don’t make the mistake of thinking how, when, and where you charge your iPhone doesn’t matter — it does! Your charging habits often dictate the health of your phone’s battery. If you are struggling to maintain a charge on your device or you feel like it hasn’t been charging properly, the reason could be linked to one of these five common mistakes many people make when charging their devices.

You’re Using the Wrong Accessories

How can there be wrong and right charging accessories for your phone, you may be wondering — don’t they all serve the same purpose? Yes and no. While their goals are the same — to charge your phone — their methods for doing this could be different. If you are using an off-label charger that is cheap and not designed for your iPhone, it could be delivering a too-fast charge to your phone that causes damage.

A charger that charges your device too speedily can cause it to heat up. Since heat is death to a phone’s battery, this can lead to long-term damage over time. Always buy charging accessories that are Apple-certified for your device to avoid this problem.

You Charge Your Phone in Direct Sunlight


Check and see where your charger is located. If it’s in direct sunlight, whether that means on a desk in your home office by the window or in your car, this can cause damage to your device. Charging your phone creates heat, and when you add the heat of direct sunlight — you guessed it — more heat makes it more likely your phone battery can incur damage.


You Don’t Clean Your Phone’s Port


Occasionally blowing air into your phone’s charging port or gently cleaning it with a dry Q-tip can help clear it of dust and debris. This helps make your charging sessions more efficient.

Charging Your Phone for Hours


Today’s iPhone battery is not like yesterday’s battery — it is smarter and won’t be so readily effected if you overcharge your phone. But that doesn’t mean you should keep your phone on a charger all day long. Getting into the habit of charging your phone in spurts and keeping it in the sweet spot of between 30 and 80 percent charged is a good habit to adopt.


Don’t Use Frayed Cables


If your charging cables are frayed in any way, stop using them. Not only can they cause electrical hazards, but they can affect your charging sessions. Replace frayed wires and cables immediately.

Load more...