Last updated: October 2026.
Photo by Alexander Andrews on Unsplash
If your phone that once lasted a full day now needs a charger by evening, the battery has probably worn down. Every lithium-ion battery loses capacity with age, and the good news is that most iPhones and many Android phones can now tell you how much. This guide shows where to find battery health on iPhone and on popular Android brands, what the numbers mean, when a replacement makes sense and which charging habits slow the wear.
How to check battery health on iPhone
Apple shows battery health on iPhone 11 and later, but the menu name depends on your model.
iPhone 15 and newer
- Open Settings.
- Tap Battery.
- Tap Battery Health.
This screen lists Maximum Capacity, the cycle count, the month the battery was manufactured, its first-use date, and whether Apple recommends a replacement. The iPhone 15 series needs iOS 17.4 or later for this view.
iPhone 11, 12, 13 and 14
- Open Settings.
- Tap Battery.
- Tap Battery Health & Charging.
Here you will see Maximum Capacity and a line called Peak Performance Capability.
What "Maximum Capacity" means
Maximum Capacity compares how much charge your battery can hold today with what it held when new. A figure of 88% means a full charge now gives you roughly 88% of the original running time. A brand-new iPhone can show slightly under 100% if it sat in storage for a long time before activation.
Apple says it designs batteries in iPhone 14 and earlier to keep 80% of their original capacity after 500 full charge cycles, and iPhone 15 and later to keep 80% after 1,000 cycles, under ideal conditions. Real results depend on how you use and charge the phone. One cycle means using 100% of capacity in total, even if spread over several days.
What "Peak Performance Capability" means
An old battery can struggle to supply sudden bursts of power, which can make the phone shut down unexpectedly. The messages you may see include:
- Normal peak performance: the battery is coping fine and no limits are applied.
- Performance management applied: the phone has had an unexpected shutdown, so iOS is limiting peak performance to avoid another. You can turn this off, but it switches back on automatically if another shutdown happens.
- Battery health significantly degraded: Apple suggests a replacement at an authorised service provider. Apple says this is not a safety warning.
- Unable to verify: the iPhone cannot confirm it has a genuine Apple battery, so the readings may be unreliable.
How to check battery health on Android
Android has no single standard here. Whether you get a health percentage depends on the brand, the model and the software version. Menu names below can differ on your phone, especially after updates.
| Brand | Where to look | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Google Pixel (8a and newer) | Settings > Battery > Battery health | Estimated capacity and a status (Normal or Reduced) |
| Google Pixel (6a to 8 Pro) | Settings > Battery > Battery health | Battery health assistance setting; Google says no health status is shown |
| Samsung Galaxy | Samsung Members app > Support > Phone diagnostics > Battery status; on some One UI 7 and later models, Settings > Battery > Battery information | Normal, Weak or Bad rating; percentage and cycle count on some newer models |
| OnePlus, Oppo, Realme | Settings > Battery > Battery health (on recent software) | Maximum capacity percentage |
| Xiaomi, Redmi, Poco | Settings > Battery > Battery protection (HyperOS, selected models) | Battery health percentage, sometimes cycle count |
| Vivo, iQOO | Settings > Battery > Battery health and charging (selected models) | Maximum capacity percentage |
| Motorola, Nothing | Usually no built-in health screen | Use a third-party app (see below) |
Google Pixel
Google's help page says Pixel 8a and later models show a battery health status under Settings > Battery > Battery health. The status reads Normal, or Reduced once capacity drops below 80%. The same phones show the cycle count, manufacture date and first-use date under Settings > About phone > Battery information. Pixel 6a, 7, 7 Pro, 7a, 8 and 8 Pro do not show a health status.
Samsung Galaxy
The method that works on most Galaxy phones is the pre-installed Samsung Members app:
- Open Samsung Members.
- Go to the Support tab.
- Under Phone diagnostics, tap Get started.
- Tap Battery status and read the result.
Samsung rates the battery as Normal, Weak or Bad. "Bad" means battery life has dropped a lot, and Samsung suggests visiting a service centre. Newer models such as the Galaxy S25 series also show a health percentage and cycle count under Settings > Battery > Battery information, but reports suggest this is not yet visible on every unit or in every market, including some Indian models.
OnePlus, Xiaomi, Vivo and others
On recent OxygenOS versions, OnePlus shows a Battery health page with a maximum capacity percentage, and Oppo and Realme phones on ColorOS or Realme UI tend to follow a similar layout. Xiaomi added a battery health reading inside Battery protection on HyperOS, though it has arrived on some models earlier than others. If you cannot find these menus, search "battery health" in the Settings search bar.
Dialer codes: worth a try, but not reliable
You may see "secret codes" recommended online. Some genuinely open hidden menus, but results vary a lot:
- *#*#4636#*#* opens a testing menu on many Android phones. On some models it includes a Battery information page; on many newer phones that page is missing or does not show a health figure.
- *#0228# opens a battery status screen on some Samsung phones, showing voltage and charge level rather than a clear health percentage.
These codes may do nothing on your phone, and that does not mean anything is wrong.
No built-in option? Use an app
Apps such as AccuBattery estimate capacity by measuring charge going in while you charge. Treat the result as a rough guide that improves after several charges.
What percentage means it is time to replace the battery?
The common benchmark is 80%. Google recommends replacing a Pixel battery when capacity drops below 80% or the phone reaches its rated cycle count (about 800 cycles for Pixel 3 to Pixel 8 Pro, and about 1,000 for Pixel 8a and later). Apple's own design targets are also built around keeping 80% capacity.
Also consider a replacement if:
- the phone shuts down suddenly at 15–30% charge;
- you see "Service", "Reduced", "Bad" or "Degraded" on the health screen;
- the back or screen is lifting, which can signal a swollen battery. Stop pressing on it and get it checked quickly.
Always use the brand's authorised service centre for replacements. Cheap local batteries may not report health correctly, and on iPhone they can trigger the "Unable to verify" message.
Habits that slow battery wear
Keep the phone cool
Heat is the biggest enemy. Apple advises against charging or leaving your iPhone in hot places such as direct sun, and Google suggests avoiding more than six hours above 35°C. In an Indian summer, keep it off car dashboards and avoid gaming while it charges.
Avoid sitting at 100% for hours
Keeping the battery roughly between 20% and 80% is widely recommended because full charges held for long periods add stress. Use the built-in tools:
- iPhone 15 and later: Settings > Battery > Charging lets you set a limit of 80%, 85%, 90%, 95% or 100%. Optimised Battery Charging works when the limit is 100%.
- iPhone 14 and earlier: turn on Optimised Battery Charging in Battery Health & Charging. It learns your routine and holds charging at 80% until you usually unplug.
- Pixel: use Adaptive Charging, and keep Battery health assistance on (available on Pixel 6a and later), which gradually adjusts charging as the battery ages.
- Samsung (One UI 6.1 and later): Settings > Battery > Battery protection offers Basic, Adaptive and Maximum (stops at 80%). Older One UI versions offer a single 85% limit.
- OnePlus and Xiaomi: look for Optimised charging or an 80% charging limit under Settings > Battery; exact names vary by model.
Other simple habits
Use a good-quality or brand-certified charger, install software updates, and store a spare phone about half charged rather than empty.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 85% battery health bad?
No. The battery holds slightly less than when new; most brands treat 80% as the point to consider a replacement.
Does fast charging damage the battery?
Fast charging produces more heat, and heat speeds up wear. Phones manage this by slowing the charge as the battery fills. Charging in a cool spot and avoiding heavy use while charging reduces the impact.
Why does my Android phone not show battery health?
It depends on the brand, model and software version. Check for updates, search "battery health" in Settings, try the brand's support app (Samsung Members on Galaxy phones), or use a third-party estimate app.
Can battery health go back up?
Not really. The reading may shift slightly as the phone recalibrates, but only a new battery restores lost capacity.
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