Repair guide
How to Replace an iPhone Battery (and When Not To)
If your battery health is under 80% or the phone dies at 20%, it's time. Here's how to check, how to swap it yourself, and when a pro is the safer call.
Replace your battery when Battery Health drops below 80%, or the phone shuts off with charge left. An iPhone battery swap takes about an hour at home and is a moderate job. Samsung and Pixel batteries are glued in much harder, so for those we recommend a pro.
- DifficultyModerate (iPhone) · Hard (most Android)
- Time45–90 minutes
- ModelsiPhone X and newer
- CostBattery + ~$30 tools
⚠️ Battery safety: read this first
- Drain the battery below 25% before you start. A full lithium battery is much more dangerous if punctured.
- Never use metal tools to pry the battery. Use plastic cards and isopropyl alcohol only.
- Swollen battery? Stop. Don't press, bend or puncture it. Put the phone somewhere non-flammable and bring it to a pro.
- If a battery starts smoking or hissing, get it outside onto concrete and step away. Don't use water on it in a closed room.
- Recycle the old battery at a battery drop-off. Never put it in the trash.
Check your battery health first
- Open Settings → Battery → Battery Health (on some versions, Battery Health & Charging).
- Look at Maximum Capacity. Below 80% means the battery is worn.
- If you see "Peak performance capability" warnings or "Service", replace it.
- Samsung: open the Samsung Members app → Support → Phone diagnostics → Battery status.
- Pixel: Settings → Battery → Battery health (on supported models and recent Android versions).
- If the phone dies early, gets hot while charging, or the back is bulging, replace it.
Tools and parts
Tools
- P2 pentalobe, Y000 tri-point and Phillips #000 screwdrivers
- Suction handle and plastic opening picks
- Spudger and an old plastic card
- Hair dryer or heat pad
- Isopropyl alcohol (90%+) and a dropper
- Tweezers
Parts
- Replacement battery for your exact model, with new adhesive strips
- Display adhesive gasket (you'll break the old seal)
Step-by-step: replace an iPhone battery
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Drain and power off. Run the battery below 25%, then turn the phone off.
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Open the screen. Remove the two bottom pentalobe screws, heat the edges, lift with a suction handle and slice the adhesive with picks. Follow steps 1–6 in our iPhone screen guide, it's the same process.
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Disconnect the battery. Remove the connector bracket and pop the battery connector straight up with a spudger.
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Disconnect and set aside the screen. Unplug the display and sensor connectors so you have room to work without straining the cables.
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Pull the adhesive strips. Find the pull tabs at the bottom edge of the battery. Pull each strip slowly, keeping it flat and low, almost parallel to the phone. Slow and steady: fast pulls snap them.
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If a strip breaks, use alcohol. Drip a few drops of isopropyl alcohol under the battery edge and wait a minute. Then slide a plastic card under to lift it. Never pry hard or use metal. Never bend the battery.
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Fit the new battery. Stick the new adhesive strips on, line the battery up, and press it down gently. Connect the screen, then connect the battery last.
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Test it. Power on. Check that it boots, charges, and shows a sensible percentage. Then power off and disconnect the battery again to close up.
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Seal and close. Clean the old screen adhesive, apply the new gasket, reconnect everything (battery last), close the screen, and reinstall the bottom screws.
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Calibrate. Use the phone normally, then charge it to 100% without interruption. The percentage reading settles in after a few cycles.
Expect this message
On iPhone XS and newer, a non-genuine battery shows "Unable to verify this iPhone has a genuine Apple battery" or "Unknown part" in Settings, and Battery Health may not show a percentage. The battery still works. Genuine Apple parts avoid the message.
What about Samsung and Pixel?
On most Galaxy and Pixel phones you go in through the back glass, which is glued on and cracks easily. The battery is then held with strong adhesive, and many models need the wireless charging coil or other parts removed first. It's doable, but the risk of cracking the back or puncturing the battery is real.
Our honest advice: for Android battery swaps, have a technician do it.
When to go to a pro
- The battery is swollen, or the screen is lifting off the frame
- It's a Samsung, Pixel or other glued-back Android phone
- The phone has had water damage
- You want a genuine battery that shows full health info
Make your new battery last
- Turn on Optimized Charging (iPhone) or Adaptive Charging / Protect battery (Android).
- Avoid heat. Don't charge under your pillow or leave the phone in a hot car.
- You don't need to drain to 0%. Topping up is fine.
More tips in fast charging explained.
Battery or new phone?
A new battery makes an old phone feel new again, as long as the phone still gets software updates. If it doesn't, it's time to upgrade. Our Premium-grade refurbished phones come with a brand-new battery.
FAQ
When should I replace my phone battery?
When Battery Health is under 80%, the phone shuts off with charge remaining, it gets unusually hot, or the battery is swollen.
Is it safe to replace an iPhone battery myself?
It's reasonably safe if you drain it below 25%, use only plastic tools near the battery, and stop if it's swollen. The main risk is puncturing the battery while removing it.
Why does my iPhone say "unknown part" after a battery replacement?
Apple pairs batteries to the phone. Non-genuine batteries, or genuine ones installed without Apple's calibration, show that notice. The battery still works.
How long does a phone battery last?
Most phone batteries wear to around 80% after roughly two to three years of normal use, depending on heat and how you charge.
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