Aging lithium-ion batteries in your iPhone will eventually lose their ability to hold a charge – and that can be very frustrating, especially if you're out all day. If this happens to you, you have several solutions:you can upgrade to the latest iPhone, start carrying a battery charger with you, or — simply replace the battery.
To first identify if your battery is ready for a change, you can check your current battery health by going to "Settings"> "Battery"> "Battery Health ". This is where you can find out the current maximum capacity of your battery. A small notice at the very top may appear if your iPhone battery is ready for an exchange.
If you've decided to replace the battery, you have two choices:do it yourself or hire someone else – like Apple – to do it. Doing it yourself presents several risks – you void any remaining warranty and you risk breaking your phone. But if you prefer to do it yourself, there are plenty of guides online and the process is easier than you might imagine.
For those willing to take on this task, a good place to start is iFixit, which has a very detailed explanation of how to do it (e.g. here's one to use if you own a iPhone 11). There are also a variety of YouTube videos available that offer step-by-step instructions. The process involves unscrewing the back of the phone, slightly heating the bottom edge of the phone, using suction cups to remove the screen, and following several steps to remove and replace the battery.
Before you begin, you'll need smartphone repair tools, which can cost around $13 (iFixit highly recommends adding a suction tool called the iSclack). Some sellers on Amazon even sell iPhone battery replacement kits for this purpose, which can cost around $25 or so.
Be aware that if you choose to do it yourself and you have a water resistant phone, your phone will no longer be water resistant once you open it. Also, there's a good chance your operating system will recognize that there's no more Apple-made battery in your phone, which means you may get an occasional warning and the Battery Health app will not work.
If you'd rather have someone else replace the battery and don't risk tampering with your device, Apple offers replacements under several conditions, according to its website. If your iPhone is under warranty or you have AppleCare+ and Apple deems the battery faulty, repairs are free. But if the problem is due to some other factor that isn't covered by AppleCare+ — or if you're not covered by that or a warranty — you'll have to pay a $49 service fee for an iPhone SE (2nd generation) up to an iPhone 8 Plus, or a $69 charge for newer models.
You can either ship your phone in for repairs or go to an Apple Store. A physical store repair could be completed in a single visit or, in more complex cases, take up to three to five days, according to Apple. Shipping will take a little longer because you have to wait for Apple to send you a box to pick up your iPhone. Also, if your phone is out of warranty, you will be charged $6.95 for shipping.
If Apple replaces your battery for you, the iPhone should continue to be water resistant.
If all of this doesn't work for you, your schedule, or your budget, there may also be third-party vendors that offer iPhone repair services in your area. But their quality – and whether they use a sealing adhesive to maintain water resistance – varies by supplier, so always check reviews and ask questions.
Updated September 17, 2021 3:45 PM ET: This article was originally published on December 21, 2017 and has been updated to reflect changes in service, device, and operating system.
