The Charging Mistakes iPhone Experts Say You Should Avoid At All Costs Because They’re So Bad For Your Battery

Your iPhone is only as good as your iPhone battery. And the best way to keep that battery running at a high speed is by taking care to charge your phone correctly — each and every time you go to plug it in and power it up. Bad charging sessions can add up. And they can result in a phone that lags, doesn’t load pages quickly, and takes forever to download apps. We spoke with tech experts who outlined some of the most common charging mistakes you could be making that you should avoid at all costs because they’re so bad for your battery. The good news? They’re simple to avoid — so you can keep your battery in tip-top shape for longer. 

This one is a must: do not charge your iPhone with counterfeit lightning cables or charging bricks — not matter how much of a bargain they are, said David Attard, a digital consultant and web designer for CollectiveRay.com. Always use an MFi-certified charger with your iPhones to get a longer battery life,” Attard said. 

Spending a little more now on a better charger can mean saving money in the long run by not having to replace your battery. 

No matter how many tasks you have to complete, avoid using your iPhone until it’s fully finished charging. “It can overheat the device and deteriorate the battery health,” Attard said. “Last but not least, never charge your iPhone in the car on a sunny day. Overheating your phone causes the battery to degrade and hold a lesser charge in it, heat is your iPhone’s enemy.”

Peter King, the co-founder of Authority Builders, agrees that it is crucial to avoid using your phone when plugged in and to always leave it charging in an area with a temperature lower. “An immediate and trouble-free charge will thereafter be guaranteed,” King said. “Do your best to never leave your iPhone in your car’s panel because it receives a lot of sunlight and can make your iPhone hot, especially if you’re using a GPS or other comparable apps.”

In a nutshell: two of your phone battery’s mortal enemies include: cheap, counterfeit charging accessories that run it to the ground and excessive heat. Avoiding these will put your phone on the path to longevity (and save you money and frustrations).