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01Where to find battery health on iPhone
To check iPhone battery health, open Settings, tap Battery, then Battery Health. The top number, Maximum Capacity, is the one most people are after.
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Open Settings > Battery
It's a few rows down the main Settings list, with a green battery icon.
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Tap Battery Health
On iPhone 15 and later it's labeled Battery Health. On iPhone 14 and earlier, look for Battery Health & Charging. Very old iOS versions don't have the screen at all, so update first if it's missing.
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Read Maximum Capacity
Shown as a percentage. 100% means the battery holds as much as it did new. On recent iOS versions the Battery Health row may show a one-word status such as Normal; tap it to see the percentage.
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Check Peak Performance Capability
A line of text below the percentage. "Your battery is currently supporting normal peak performance" is what you want to see.
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Find the cycle count (iPhone 15 and later)
Newer models show Cycle Count too. You'll also find it in Settings > General > About, along with the battery's manufacture date and first use date.
iPhone 14 and earlier don't show a cycle count in Settings. Maximum Capacity is still the number that matters most.
02What your Maximum Capacity percentage means
Every lithium-ion battery loses capacity as it ages. The question isn't whether yours has dropped, it's whether it has dropped faster than it should.
| Maximum Capacity | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 95–100% | Close to new | Nothing |
| 85–94% | Normal wear for a phone a year or two old | Nothing, maybe tweak charging habits |
| 80–84% | Approaching Apple's line | Budget for a replacement in the next year |
| Below 80% | Considered worn | Replace if battery life bothers you |
| "Service" message | iOS has flagged the battery | Book a battery replacement |
At 85%, an iPhone that used to finish the day with 30% left might now finish around 15%. If that's fine for your routine, there's no reason to rush. If you're hunting for outlets by 4 p.m., the number confirms what you already know. For a fuller take on where to draw the line, see what is a good battery health percentage.
03Cycle count: the number that explains the percentage
One charge cycle is 100% of the battery's capacity used, whether that happens in one go or across several partial top-ups. Charging from 50% to 100% twice counts as one cycle, not two.
About 80% capacity after 1,000 full cycles (iPhone 15 and later) or 500 cycles (iPhone 14 and earlier)Apple's design target under normal conditions.
That gives you a fair test. If your iPhone 16 shows 86% at 400 cycles, it's aging normally. If it shows 82% at 250 cycles, something has been wearing it faster than usual, most often heat. Phones that live on a car dashboard, charge under a pillow or run games while charging tend to age early. Phone overheating while charging covers the fixes.
04Messages you might see, and what they mean
- "Supporting normal peak performance." All good. No performance limits are being applied.
- Performance management applied. The phone shut down unexpectedly because the battery couldn't deliver enough power, so iOS is limiting peak performance to prevent it happening again. You'll see an option to disable it. A battery replacement fixes the cause.
- "Your battery's health is significantly degraded." Apple recommends a service. You may also see Service next to the capacity.
- "Unable to verify this iPhone has a genuine Apple battery." The battery was replaced with a part iOS can't verify. The phone still works, but health readings may not be shown or may not be reliable.
- A one-word status like Normal. That's the summary row in Battery settings. Tap it for Maximum Capacity and the rest.
Slower apps and a phone that dies at 20% in the cold are both classic signs of a tired battery, even before the percentage gets dramatic.
05Habits that slow battery wear
You can't reverse lost capacity, but you can make the rest last. Heat and long stretches at 100% do the most damage. Your charger choice matters far less than people think.
If your phone stops at 80% and you didn't expect it, that's usually the Charge Limit or heat, not a fault. Why your iPhone stops charging at 80% explains both.
06Replace the battery, or work around it?
+Replace it if
- Capacity is under 80% or shows Service
- Performance management has kicked in
- You plan to keep the phone another year or more
- It shuts down before 0% in normal use
–Hold off if
- You're upgrading within a few months
- Capacity is in the mid-80s and the day still works
- A power bank on busy days solves the gap
A battery replacement from Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider uses a genuine part, so Battery Health keeps reporting accurately afterward. Check Apple's repair page for the price for your model, since it varies.
A small power bank turns a worn battery from a problem into a minor annoyance.
Questions people ask
What is a good battery health on an iPhone?
Anything from 80% to 100% is within normal range, with newer phones usually in the 90s. Apple designs iPhone 15 and later to keep about 80% after 1,000 cycles, and earlier models after 500. Below 80%, most people notice shorter battery life.
How do I check my iPhone's battery cycle count?
On iPhone 15 and later, go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health, or Settings > General > About, where it's listed with the manufacture and first use dates. iPhone 14 and earlier don't show a cycle count in Settings.
Does fast charging hurt iPhone battery health?
Not in any way you'd notice with a proper USB-C PD charger. iOS controls the charging speed and slows it as the battery fills. Heat is the bigger risk, so avoid charging somewhere hot.
Can battery health go back up?
Not really. Lost capacity is permanent. The reading can shift a point or two as iOS recalibrates, but the only way to restore it is a new battery.
Why does my iPhone show Service next to battery health?
iOS has found the battery's capacity or performance has dropped enough that it recommends a replacement. The phone still works, but battery life and peak performance may suffer until it's serviced.