To check battery health on iPhone, open Settings, tap Battery, then tap Battery Health on iPhone 15 or later, or Battery Health & Charging on iPhone 14 or earlier. Apple says every iPhone shows information about your battery's capacity there, and iPhone 15 or later also shows battery health, cycle count, manufacture date and first use date, as of Nov 2026.
That's the whole answer, but there are two catches. The menu has a different name depending on your model, so older guides send people hunting for a label that isn't there. And the extra details are tied to the model: Apple lists cycle count and the two dates for iPhone 15 or later, so on an older iPhone, expect the capacity information only.
Where the battery health screen lives on your model
| Your iPhone | What to tap | What Apple says you'll see |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone 15 or later | Settings, then Battery, then Battery Health | Capacity, plus battery health, cycle count, manufacture date and first use date |
| iPhone 14 or earlier | Settings, then Battery, then Battery Health & Charging | Information about the battery's capacity |
| iPhone Duo | Settings, then Battery, then the battery health screen | Details for each battery, which can differ slightly with normal use; Battery Health reports on the battery system as a whole |
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap Battery.
- Tap Battery Health if you've got an iPhone 15 or later, or Battery Health & Charging on an iPhone 14 or earlier.
- Read the capacity information. On iPhone 15 or later, the same screen carries the cycle count, manufacture date and first use date.
If your menus don't match any of this, check you're on a current version of iOS first, because Apple writes its guide per version. My guide to updating your iPhone covers that.
What the health screen can and can't tell you
Apple's own line on this is that battery life and charge cycles vary with use and settings. So two iPhones of the same age can show quite different figures, and that doesn't mean one of them is faulty. For getting the most out of the battery over its lifespan, Apple points to its separate iPhone Battery and Performance article.
Where I find these details most useful is buying or selling second hand. On an iPhone 15 or later, the first use date tells you how long the phone's been in someone's pocket, and the cycle count tells you how hard it's been worked, which is far more than the listing usually says.
And if the battery does need replacing, Apple says it should be serviced or recycled by Apple or an Apple Authorised Service Provider.
Reading the rest of the Battery screen
Settings, then Battery, shows more than health. Apple describes a Daily Usage section that compares today with previous days. When your use is about the same as usual or lower, it's shown in blue; when it's higher than usual for that time of day, it's shown in orange. Either way, iPhone highlights the top three apps or system activities behind it.
Tap View All Battery Usage, then a day, to see today and the previous week. Scroll down for the App and System Activity list, and tap any app for its usage day by day. Apple explains the labels you'll see under each app like this:
| Label | What Apple says it means |
|---|---|
| On screen | The app was open and visible. A long stretch of screen time can explain higher use than on previous days. |
| Background | The app was working out of sight, such as directions, playing music, syncing photos or fetching mail. |
| Cellular coverage | The app was used where the signal was low, which used more battery. |
| Notifications | The app woke the phone to check for new information. Changing its notification settings can cut how often that happens. |
The same screen also shows when the battery was last fully charged and when it came off the charger. While it's charging, iPhone gives estimated times to reach four-fifths and to reach full.
Three settings worth changing once you've looked
Optimized Battery Charging
Apple says this feature reduces the time your battery sits fully charged by pausing at four-fifths, then finishing closer to when you usually unplug. Apple's example: if you normally unplug at 7 a.m., charging may pause overnight and finish just before then. It needs a routine to learn, so it works best at home or the office and may not kick in when you're travelling or somewhere new, in which case the phone charges straight to full.
To switch it on or off: on iPhone 14 or earlier, go to Settings, Battery, Battery Health & Charging. On iPhone 15 or later, go to Settings, Battery, Charging. Need a full charge sooner? Settings, then Battery, then Resume Charging overrides it for that charge.
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Low Power Mode
Low Power Mode cuts how much power the phone uses when the battery's low, while keeping calls, messages, email and the internet working. Apple notes some tasks may run more slowly, and on models with a ProMotion display it caps the refresh rate at 60 frames per second. It switches itself off once the phone charges to four-fifths or more. On iPhone 14 or earlier, it's under Settings, Battery, Low Power Mode; on iPhone 15 or later, Settings, Battery, Power Mode, Low Power Mode. You can also add it to Control Centre.
Adaptive Power
This one's limited to iPhone 15 Pro or later, not the standard iPhone 15, which catches people out. Apple says it's on by default on supported models and uses on-device intelligence to predict heavier days, then lowers screen brightness, limits background activity and adjusts performance. It can also turn on Low Power Mode by itself when the battery drops to a fifth. Find it under Settings, Battery, Power Mode. You're told the first time it kicks in, then only on days when the battery's draining faster than usual, and switching those notifications off doesn't stop it working.
If you're comparing battery features because you're thinking of changing phones, I've set the two big options side by side in Samsung vs iPhone.
What I'd do with the numbers
I'd check the health screen once, note the capacity and, on iPhone 15 or later, the cycle count, then leave Optimized Battery Charging and Adaptive Power on to do their jobs. I'd skip running Low Power Mode all day as a habit, because Apple says tasks can slow down, and it switches off at four-fifths anyway. If the screen suggests the battery's struggling, I'd go to Apple or an Apple Authorised Service Provider rather than a market stall.
Frequently asked questions
Why can't I find Battery Health & Charging on my iPhone?
On iPhone 15 or later, Apple calls the screen Battery Health, and the Optimized Battery Charging switch lives under Settings, Battery, Charging instead. Battery Health & Charging is the label on iPhone 14 or earlier.
Why doesn't my iPhone show a cycle count?
Apple lists battery health, cycle count, manufacture date and first use date as extra details on iPhone 15 or later. Older models show information about the battery's capacity.
Why has my iPhone stopped charging partway overnight?
That's usually Optimized Battery Charging, which Apple says pauses at four-fifths and finishes closer to when you normally unplug. To charge to full now, go to Settings, Battery and tap Resume Charging.
Does Low Power Mode turn itself off?
Yes. Apple says Low Power Mode switches off automatically when the iPhone charges to four-fifths or higher.
Who should replace my iPhone battery?
Apple says the iPhone battery should be serviced or recycled by Apple or an Apple Authorised Service Provider.
