How to make your phone battery last longer

Lithium batteries wear out over time, but how you charge and use your phone makes a big difference in how fast that happens.

Habits that help

• Avoid running it down to 0% often; keeping it between 20% and 80% is ideal.
• Turn on the optimized charging built into iPhone and most Android phones.
• Don't leave it in the sun or charging under a pillow: heat does the most damage.
• Use certified chargers.

Settings that save power

• Auto-brightness and dark mode.
• Check which apps use your location in the background.
• Turn off notifications you don't need.

When to replace it

If the phone shuts off at 20% or more, gets hot while charging or the battery looks swollen, it's time to have it checked. A swollen battery shouldn't be used.