How to Check Battery Health on iPhone (2026 Guide)

Worried that your iPhone doesn't last long? Or has the phone been feeling sluggish lately? Well, then you should check your iPhone's battery health. Battery health shows exactly how much of the original battery capacity is left on your iPhone. But if all this sounds too confusing, stick around as we show you how to check your iPhone's battery health and explain when to get your phone's battery replaced. 

Battery Health lets you check how much charge your iPhone's battery can hold. For example, if your iPhone has a 5,000mAh battery and the Battery Health is 80%, then it can only hold 4,000mAh of charge. It means your iPhone won't last as long as it originally did and will feel slower as iOS throttles performance to compensate for the degrading battery health. 

How to Check Battery Health on iPhone

Battery Health has been a built-in option in iPhones since iOS 11. But I have also found a couple of other methods while researching for this guide, and after testing them out on my iPhone Air and iPhone 13, here are the currently working ways to check the battery health of your iPhone. 

Check iPhone Battery Health Using Settings 

For those using iPhone 15 up to the latest iPhone 17 devices, they can check their phone's current battery health from the Settings app. 

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone and go to Battery > Battery Health.
2. The Maximum Capacity percentage is displayed here, along with the additional details.

The extra data available on the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Pro and later makes it significantly easier to assess the overall condition of the battery rather than relying on the capacity percentage alone.

Check Battery Health on iPhone 14 and Older Models

Those still using iPhone 14 and older iPhones can only check the battery health percentage from the Settings app, and here's how to do it: 

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone and go to Battery > Battery Health and Charging.
2. Here, check out the Maximum Capacity percentage at the top.

Find iPhone Charge Cycle Count in Settings 

The charge cycle shows how many times your iPhone's battery has been charged up to 100%. iPhone 15, iPhone 16 and iPhone 17 series users can check charge cycle count in the Settings app. 

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone and go to Battery > Battery Health.
2. Here, check the Cycle Count section to see how many times your iPhone has been charged to 100%.

View Charge Cycle on Older iPhones 

This method is best for someone who is purchasing a second-hand iPhone or those who have an older iPhone like the iPhone 11, 12, 13 or 14 and want to know about its actual charge cycle. 

1. First, you need to add the PowerUtil shortcut to your iPhone.
2. Now, launch the Settings app and go to Privacy and Security > Analytics and Improvements.

3. Make sure Share iPhone Analytics is toggled on. If it was not already on, leave it on for at least 24 hours before proceeding.
4. Next, go back to Settings > Privacy and Security > Analytics Data.
5. In the list of log files, look for a file with the name starting with Analytics followed by a date and open it.

6. Here, tap on the Share icon and select PowerUtil.
7. The shortcut will show the complete charge cycle data of your iPhone.

What Do the Battery Health Numbers Mean?

Now that you know how to check your iPhone battery health, you might be wondering what these numbers actually mean and when you should consider getting your iPhone's battery replaced. Here's a quick breakdown for that. 

• 100% to 85% – Battery is in Good Condition: A reading in this range indicates the battery is in optimal condition. Daily performance should match what the phone delivered when it was new. There is no reason to consider a replacement at this stage.
• 84% to 80% – Normal Wear, No Action Needed Yet: This range is normal for a phone that has been in use for a year or more. Most users will not notice a meaningful difference in battery life here. The battery is ageing, but a replacement is not necessary yet.
• Below 80% – Replacement Recommended: At less than 80%, Apple considers the battery to be degraded. At this point, the phone may not last as long, and iOS may enable performance management to prevent unexpected shutdowns. A battery replacement is highly recommended. 

How Does iPhone Battery Health Affect Performance?

Lower battery health also affects the performance of your iPhone. The way it works is, Apple dynamically throttles CPU and GPU speed during high-demand tasks if the battery is at lower battery health. This is done to prevent your iPhone randomly shutting down due to excessive use. 

iOS triggers performance throttling once it detects an unexpected shutdown. And once triggered, iOS keeps it turned on until you replace the battery and it returns to 100% health. 

You can check yourself whether your iPhone is throttling performance by going to Battery > Battery Health & Charging > Peak Performance Capability on iPhone 14 and older. If it displays a message, "Your battery's health is significantly degraded, and peak performance may be impacted", you need to get the battery replaced. 

How to Improve and Maintain iPhone Battery Health

Now, if you have a new iPhone and want to maintain the optimal battery health over a long time, then here is a list of the most effective ways to do so: 

• Activate Adaptive Power mode: You can use Adaptive Power Mode on your iPhone to allow Apple to extend the battery life automatically when it detects that your battery is draining faster than usual. To turn it on, go to Settings > Battery > Power Mode and turn on the Adaptive Power toggle. This only works on iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 16 and newer models.
• Enable Optimised Battery Charging: Optimised charging learns your charging patterns and holds the battery at 80% for most of the night, only charging to 100% shortly before the phone is unplugged. To enable it, go to Settings > Battery > Charging on iPhone 15 and later, or Settings > Battery > Battery Health and Charging on iPhone 14 and earlier.
• Use the 80% Charge Limit (iPhone 15 and Later): You can also set a max charging limit from 80% to 100%. Capping charging at 80% permanently is a more aggressive way to protect battery health and prolong your battery life. To enable it, go to Settings > Battery > Charging and select 80%.
• Avoid Extreme Temperatures: Heat degrades lithium-ion batteries faster than almost anything else. Leaving the phone in a hot car, charging it in direct sunlight, or running demanding apps while plugged in all generate heat that degrades the battery life.
• Avoid Draining to 0% Regularly: Lithium-ion batteries used in iPhones also age faster when you discharge them to 0%, as it stresses the battery. Keep at least 20% to 10% charge and plug it in timely.
• Remove the Case While Charging: Thick cases trap heat during charging, which contributes to battery degradation over time. Removing the case before charging, particularly overnight, helps keep temperatures down.

When Should You Replace Your iPhone Battery?

Now comes the most important question. When you should replace your iPhone battery since it helps you avoid those unnecessary issues related to lower battery health.

• Battery health has dropped below 80%: If your iPhone's battery health has dropped to 80% or below, then the phone will not only drain faster, but iOS will also throttle its performance.
• The "Your battery's health is significantly degraded" message appears: If this message is showing in Settings, it is worth acting on it promptly and getting your iPhone's battery replaced.
• Unexpected shutdowns: If your iPhone switched off on its own at 20% - 30%, the battery can no longer deliver the power the phone needs. This is one of the clearest signs of a degraded battery.
• The battery percentage drops within minutes: A healthy battery drains gradually. If the percentage is falling extremely quickly, like from 100% to 90% in minutes, then it is time to visit an Apple service centre.

That covers everything about checking and maintaining iPhone battery health. The battery health percentage and cycle count together give a clear picture of where your iPhone's battery health stands, and acting on them early goes a long way in keeping the phone running well. I hope I was able to thoroughly explain all the concepts and you found this guide useful.