How to Calibrate iPhone Battery in a Few Easy Steps

Many smartphone users, whether they own an iPhone or an Android device, often face the common issue of poor battery life. Regardless of your choice of smartphone, heavy usage throughout the day can lead to a situation where your battery struggles to last until the evening. However, there is a way you can improve the battery life of your iPhone, which is calibrating your iPhone battery.

But how to calibrate an iPhone battery? For iPhones running iOS 14.5 and newer, the battery calibration process happens automatically, although you can monitor its progress in Settings under Battery > Battery Health. In the case of older iPhones, you can recalibrate the battery by draining it, charging it fully, and restarting the device immediately.

Below is an updated guide on calibrating your iPhone running the latest iOS 17. This method works on any iPhone model running any iOS version. We recommend you calibrate your iPhone at least once a month. However, if you are buying a replacement battery or a brand new battery, you should calibrate your iPhone battery immediately after replacement.

This article will comprehensively guide you on how to calibrate your iPhone’s battery, why you should calibrate it, and after-calibration steps, along with some tips for saving your iPhone battery.

Know Your iPhone Model Before Starting to Calibrate an iPhone's Battery

Before initiating the calibration process, it's crucial to be aware of your iPhone's model number. For newer devices running iOS 14.5 or later, manual calibration is not necessary. This group encompasses iPhone models starting from the iPhone 11 and later.

Apple's most recent devices and operating systems have integrated technology for recalibrating battery statistics as needed. This automated maintenance procedure operates efficiently without requiring user intervention whenever battery calibration is needed.

Monitoring the iOS Recalibration Process

To verify the recalibration status of your battery, navigate to Settings > Battery > Battery Health. When the recalibration process is in progress, users will observe the following:

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

Apple's recalibration process will also assess whether your iPhone's battery requires replacement. iPhones with declining batteries will show the following message 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 charge to restore full performance and capacity. More about service options…”

Benefits of Calibrating Your iPhone's Battery

Calibrating your iPhone's battery is also called resetting the battery. It is an important but often overlooked aspect of iPhone maintenance. Many people don’t pay attention to its significance, and only a few people invest their time to follow the required steps.

Without a properly calibrated battery, you may encounter issues such as faster drainage of the battery, inaccurate and unpredictable battery percentage readings, and a shortened overall battery lifespan. If your iPhone unexpectedly powers off due to battery issues, poor calibration is likely the cause.

Several factors can lead to a battery becoming improperly calibrated. This includes software updates, introducing new features, background app refreshes, and even everyday usage. Even if you haven't observed any calibration issues, doing the steps given below will help ensure that all the ions in the battery function, hence enhancing the battery's peak performance. While regular calibration may not be necessary, it's a good step, especially if you have an older iPhone or face battery problems that other measures couldn't resolve.

Getting Ready to Calibrate Your iPhone's Battery

Before starting the calibration process, it's essential to take specific preparatory steps. These steps primarily involve deactivating various features and services to minimize power draw.

This helps ensure accurate readings during the calibration process. Once you've completed the battery reset, you can re-enable these options. Additionally, you should also confirm that you have not accidentally activated Low Power Mode, which can be done by navigating to Settings > Battery.

Disabling Location Services

To turn off location services on your iPhone, follow these instructions:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Scroll down and select Privacy & Security.
3. Tap on Location Services at the top.
4. Toggle off Location Services.

Remember, Location Services can be valuable for tracking a lost iPhone, so be sure to re-enable this feature after completing the calibration process.

Disabling Background App Refresh

To deactivate the background app refresh feature on your iPhone, follow these steps:

1. Open the Settings app and tap General.
2. Choose Background App Refresh.
3. Tap Background App Refresh once more.
4. Select the "Off" option.

Reducing Your Screen Brightness

To decrease the screen brightness on your iPhone, follow these steps:

1. Launch the Settings app.
2. Scroll down and choose Display & Brightness.
3. Slide the Brightness slider to the left.

Disabling Automatic App Updates

To stop automatic app updates, follow these three steps:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Scroll down and select App Store.
3. Under Automatic Downloads, switch off the App Updates option.

How to Calibrate iPhone Battery

Now, you're prepared to calibrate your iPhone's battery. Be aware that this process requires a lot of patience, as you'll need to wait for a couple of full charge and discharge cycles to complete.

In this procedure, you don’t need any third-party tools or applications. Anything you come across in the App Store that claims to reset your iPhone's battery is either unnecessary or can be a potential scam. The iPhone's battery calibration can be easily done without the need for additional assistance.

Step 1: Drain Your iPhone's Battery

The initial step involves fully draining your iPhone's battery. This can occur during regular use. If you want the process completed quickly, you can play a long video on YouTube with the volume set to the maximum level.

Step 2: Allow Three Hours

You may have observed that your iPhone automatically powers down even when there's a small percentage of battery remaining. This is programmed and provides the smartphone with an opportunity to preserve the current state of your apps to prevent data loss.

It's crucial to allow the remaining battery life to deplete fully. You have to be patient during this step till the battery is fully drained. The longer you can wait, the more effective the process will be, but waiting for at least three hours is enough. If you have more time, leaving it overnight is the most preferred approach.

Step 3: Recharge Your iPhone

Now, it's time for your iPhone battery to refill. To do this step perfectly, be sure to follow these guidelines strictly:

• Utilize a wall socket for charging instead of a computer.
• It is ideal if you use an official Apple charger. At the very least, ensure you use a high-quality USB-C cable or a reliable Lightning cable if you have an iPhone 15 (or a later model), and avoid using inexpensive, imitation cables.
• Allow your phone to charge for a few hours even after it displays a battery level of 100 percent. This step is crucial to ensure that you maximize the battery's capacity and facilitate the proper calibration process.

Step 4: Drain Your iPhone Battery Again

Now, it's time to repeat the entire process. Follow the same steps as before: completely drain your iPhone’s battery. You can use it normally or play videos on a loop to expedite the process.

Step 5: Allow Three More Hours

It might feel repetitive, but the more patiently you do these steps, the more chances you will have of successfully calibrating an iPhone’s battery. Once more, ensure you deplete the last remnants of your iPhone's battery. As previously mentioned, the longer you can leave it, the better.

Step 6: Recharge Your iPhone A Second Time

To conclude the process, you need to recharge your iPhone again. Follow the same instructions as before, making sure to let your phone continue charging for a few hours even after it reaches a full charge.

Finally, it's time to re-enable the services and functions you previously disabled. Turn Location Services, Background Refresh, and Automatic Updates back on, and return the screen brightness to its normal level. And there you have it! Your iPhone's battery has now been successfully recalibrated.

Activating Optimized Battery Charging After Calibration

Once your iPhone or iPad has been successfully calibrated, it's essential to take steps to prolong the need for another calibration, ideally for an extended period.

The most effective method for achieving this is to activate Optimized Battery Charging on your iPhone. With this feature enabled, your iPhone adapts to your regular charging patterns and restricts charging beyond 80% until you're going to use it.

To enable Optimized Battery Charging, go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging > Optimized Battery Charging and switch it on. This feature helps slow down the aging of your iPhone's battery, preventing rapid degradation of its maximum capacity.

Tips to Save Battery Life on your iPhone

Here are some simple tips to help you save battery life on your iPhone:

• Enable Optimized Battery Charging: Go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging and turn on Optimized Battery Charging. This feature helps your battery age more slowly by limiting charging to 80% until you need it.
• Use Low Power Mode: Activate Low Power Mode under Settings > Battery when your battery is running low. This reduces background activity and extends your battery life.
• Turn on Auto-Brightness: Enable Auto-Brightness in Settings > Display & Brightness. This adjusts your screen's brightness to suit your surroundings, conserving power.
• Enable Reduce Motion: In Settings > Accessibility > Motion, turn on Reduce Motion to minimize dynamic screen effects, which can save battery.
• Limit Your Screen's Refresh Rate: On newer iPhones, you can reduce the screen's refresh rate in Settings > Display & Brightness > Refresh Rate. Choosing a lower rate can help save battery.
• Turn off Background App Refresh: In Settings > General > Background App Refresh, disable this feature for apps you don't need refreshing in the background.
• Limit Location Services: In Settings > Privacy > Location Services, select apps and set their location access to "While Using" or "Never" to conserve battery.
• Disable Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and AirDrop: When not in use, turn off Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and AirDrop to prevent them from searching for connections continuously.
• Update iOS: Keep your iPhone updated with the latest iOS version. Updates often include optimizations that can enhance battery life.
• Avoid Extreme Temperatures: Extreme heat or cold can harm your battery. Keep your iPhone in a moderate temperature environment whenever possible.
• Stop Closing Apps: Don't obsessively close apps from the App Switcher. iOS manages apps efficiently, and force-closing them may use more power.
• Turn Off Keyboard Haptics: Under Settings > Accessibility > Touch > Haptic Touch, you can disable keyboard haptics to save battery life.

By following these simple steps, you can maximize your iPhone's battery and enjoy more extended usage between charges.

Conclusion

Calibrating your iPhone's battery can significantly improve its performance, extending its lifespan and ensuring accurate battery readings. It's a simple process that anyone can undertake, and it's especially valuable if you have an older iPhone or have been facing battery issues. With the added benefit of Optimized Battery Charging and other battery-saving tips, you can maximize your iPhone's battery life, ensuring it serves you well throughout the day. Taking these steps will help you keep your device running smoothly and efficiently.