One too many charging mistakes on your iPhone can add up — and have negative consequences on your phone’s battery. If you’ve been a little “casual” with your phone charging routine lately and are noticing your accessories are a little worn out or you’re charging your phone just about anywhere, you could be unknowingly chipping away at your device.
It’s time to get a handle on charging, once and for all.
Adopting healthy charging habits doesn’t take a lot of effort or time and really just requires being aware of some of these iPhone charging mistakes and not making them. Here are some of the biggest charging mistakes many make — consider this your “Don’t” list.
Don’t Use Cheap Charging Accessories
The market is flooded with cheap charging accessories that are competing against Apple’s rather steadily priced, more expensive accessories. But the problem with these chargers isn’t that they don’t work, it’s that they sometimes work so fast that they can deliver a charge to your phone that isn’t compatible with your device. While your Apple device may require a specific kind of charge, these chargers aren’t necessarily delivering the goods. This can cause your phone to heat up and, over time, wear down the battery.
Always choose charging cables and accessories that are labeled “Apple-certified” to ensure you’re using the correct equipment.
Don’t Charge Your Phone in the Hot Car
Charge your phone in the car while you drive — as long as the windows are open or the air conditioner is on and your device isn’t in direct sunlight. But the moment you place your phone on the console under the sun’s hot rays and charge it, all of that heat can speedily cause your phone to get run down and temporarily stop working. You may even receive an alert on your device that lets you know your phone needs to cool down. Heat is basically the mortal enemy of your phone’s battery.
Don’t Use Frayed Charging Cables
Charging cable wires may become worn and frayed over time. But the moment you notice this happening, replace them. A frayed cable not only can be an electrical risk, but it can interfere with the charging process.
Don’t Charge Your Phone When the Port is Dirty
On occasion, your iPhone charging port can get dirty and filled with gunk like dust and debris. It couldn’t be simpler to clean — you can use a dry Q-Tip or just blow air into it. But continuing to charge your phone while the port is dirty interferes with your phone’s ability to charge efficiently.
Don’t Use Your Phone While It’s Charging
Hand’s off your phone — temporarily. If you can avoid using your device while it is charging, it will not only charge more efficiently and rapidly, but you’ll avoid asking it to work harder, which creates heat — and, as you already know, excessive heat is bad news for your battery.
Stop making these common charging mistakes and you’ll help save your phone battery from faster degradation and enjoy a more positive iPhone user experience.
