Table of content
Published on: 01.08.2023 | updated on: 09.04.2024
Are you worried about the deteriorating battery health of your iPhone and want to replace the battery? This DIY iPhone battery replacement guide is for you.
The iPhone battery, like other electronic consumables, can run out pretty quickly. The rate at which the iPhone battery health deteriorates depends on the intensity of the usage. However, it is safe to assume that an average iPhone battery has a life of about 2-3 years before it needs replacing. Problems can happen because of different reasons and situations, and we are trying to cover as many scenarios as possible and give solutions for all.
If your phone is showing signs of slow charging, overheating or not holding charge long you may need a new battery. The battery can be replaced by a professional or you can do a DIY repair. It is important to follow the steps provided to ensure the battery replacement has been done correctly. You can rent the tool kit from Apple or buy the tools outright to keep incase you need them for future repairs. There is a check list below that you need to go through before attempting to fix the phone yourself. If after starting you are not confident a professional can assist you.
Note: Attempting to replace the iPhone battery will void the warranty and compromise the phone's waterproof capability. On iPhone 13 and higher replacing the battery will display a non-genuine battery error even if the replaced battery is an original Apple product.
It is recommended to get the iPhone battery replaced when the battery health falls below 80 or after the 500 life cycles. If you want to avoid paying hefty repair costs, here’s how to replace the iPhone battery yourself. Below is a price comparison for Apple and SImply Fixable to help you understand their average battery replacement costs. Now, for a DIY cost, you need to take into consideration the tools you will need and the battery part for your model phone. The tool kit to rent from Apple is $49.
If you wish to get your phone professionally repaired, you have two great options Apple who installs genuine parts, or Simply Fixable who partners with reputable and legit companies to offer quality repair services.
Here, we provide you with the average repair prices from Simply Fixable to get your iPhone repaired professionally.
Cost |
Simply Fixable |
Apple |
Avg. iPhone battery replacement cost |
$111.04 |
$85.15 |
Table. iPhone battery replacement cost
*Data in the given table is based on Simply Fixable's market research and the official Apple website
Apple has a new program that has surfaced which is called the
Self-Service Repair program. It gives you the chance to fix your phone, or MacBook at home without the costly repairs of visiting a professional repair store. You can access the tools, guides, and equipment you need to make the repair yourself. The iPhone 12 and above are covered, but some are limited in different areas, so you will need to check if your area and model are covered. It's a great idea for those who are tech-savvy. If you aren’t but would like to try to repair a device you can hire the equipment to try first before committing to the expense of buying your own tools and equipment.
Many mistakes can occur when you are new to conducting DIY repairs on your phone. Let’s take a look at the common ones.
It is important that you carry out thorough research and use friendly, easy-to-use steps to ensure you understand what to do in each step. Failing to do this can lead to confusion, and that is when mistakes happen. Know exactly what you need first and have it ready to ensure you have a smooth process.
When it comes to buying a new battery, you need to ensure that you are buying from a reputable company. Buying batteries off eBay and other online platforms like that will not guarantee getting a quality phone part. Most are cheap and nasty and can cause damage to your phone.
It is important that you enquire about your warranty and insurance before carrying out any repairs. If your phone is under any type of warranty like Applecare, and you carry out DIY repairs, it can void your warranty. You also need to check as some insurance companies will only allow you to use their choice of a repair store. Applecare may offer cheaper rates on repairs or free of charge it will depending on the cause of the problem.
If you are experiencing issues with your iPhone battery, such as a decreased battery life, overheating, slow charging, or random shutdowns, then it might be time to consider replacing the battery. It is important to note that while some issues, like a cracked screen or a malfunctioning button, can be fixed with a DIY repair, complex internal issues may require professional expertise.
It's important to evaluate your technical abilities and knowledge of iPhone repairs. When attempting DIY repairs, such as dismantling and reassembling delicate components, you need confidence and the skills to complete the job successfully. Without it you can cause further problems.
Tools and parts availability are essential. It is important to have the necessary tools and parts ready before starting. It can be difficult to complete the job efficiently without the specific tools and parts.
Make sure to conduct thorough research to find dependable repair guides and tutorials that are tailored to your phone model. It is important to follow the instructions provided by trustworthy sources carefully and systematically to reduce the likelihood of making any mistakes.
It is important to work within a clean and clutter-free area. If you are working with clutter and other tools, the iPhone parts and tools can become mixed up with the others or lost. Have a dedicated working area where everything to do with the iPhone repair is kept close together.
Completing a backup is important to keep your data safe. Most repairs don’t cause data loss but in case of complications, there is always a low risk, so backing up the phone allows for a piece of mind that you can retain your data if needed.
Know the risks that are involved with the type of iPhone repair you are about to do. There are risks, such as causing further damage to the phone if this occurs, it will cost more to get a professional to fix the mistake and the original problem. It’s important you understand this before carrying out the repair yourself.
When attempting DIY repairs, it's important to acknowledge that they can be time-consuming, especially if you're new to the process. To ensure you do your best, it's essential to allocate enough time and practice patience without rushing. This approach will help you avoid errors.
If you're new to repairs, it's best to begin with simpler tasks. Building up your confidence and experience before attempting more challenging repairs is important.
There is plenty of community support out there to help you in the repair process. Online forums are a great place to seek advice and chat with others who may have the same problem. They may be able to help guide you or figure out where you are going wrong.
Taking on a complex repair without the necessary knowledge and skills can be risky and may lead to irreversible damage. By seeking help when needed, you can ensure that the repair is completed safely and effectively.
To test if a replaced battery is working, you can follow the instructions below:
Go to your settings
Go to battery, then battery health and charging
Here, you can see the battery capacity, whether the battery needs a service, and whether it is functioning correctly.
To replace the iPhone battery, you will need the following tools.
Having all these tools makes the repair quite easy. So, to relieve yourself from the stress of making the repair complicated, you should have all the tools.
You have a few options for where you can get your parts from. If you are looking for a budget-friendly option, you can choose to get high-quality products from a third-party option like MobileSentrix. If you prefer genuine parts and don’t mind paying the higher price, then you can source your parts from Apple.
If you have never tinkered with an iPhone before, replacing the battery can be a handful of a chore. To replace the battery, you will need access to the internal components of the iPhone. This means the front screen has to be removed.
All things considered, an average iPhone battery replacement will take anywhere from 2-5 hours, depending on how comfortable you are using the tools. So, be prepared to sacrifice a Sunday afternoon, but it will be worth it.
Replacing the iPhone battery is not an easy task. Professional repair technicians undergo rigorous training before attempting the repair. Doing it as a DIY project, you are bound to run into complex scenarios. Therefore, on a difficulty level scale of 1-10, the iPhone battery replacement gets a 7.
When you have a damaged iPhone battery, you may experience the following symptoms:
The phone feels hot, especially after charging
Battery health is under 80%
Takes longer to charge
Doesn’t hold charge for a long time
Performance is slowing down
The back of the phone is swelled
The phone shuts down randomly
The battery can decrease quickly
The phone won’t turn on when it’s disconnected from the charger
There are many things that you can do to look after the health of your battery and to avoid a broken iPhone battery Check out our friendly hints that you can apply to your phone.
Enable low power mode - With this mode enabled, the phone will stop apps like mail fetching and background processors refreshing which will help to save your battery. Once your phone is charged significantly, it will turn off low power mode.
Avoid overcharging your phone - When your phone reaches 80%, you can remove it from the charger. Charging higher than this is classed as overcharging and it can degrade the battery.
Keep the phone updated- when you update the phone, it helps thing to run smoothly and help to optimise parts of the phone like the battery and operating system.
An iPhone battery needs to be replaced after every 2-3 years. An iPhone battery can go up to 500 life cycles before it needs replacing. After 500 life cycles, the battery health drops below 80%, which indicates that the iPhone battery needs to be replaced.
Most iPhone users witness the battery health drop to 80% after 2 years. However, if the iPhone is used less frequently and charged every other day, the battery health does not deteriorate as quickly.
If you plan on keeping your iPhone for over three years, you will undergo this DIY repair process at least once, if not twice.
As the battery health degrades lower and lower you will experience a reduction in user performance. Your phone can become unreliable and eventually reusable. Taking note of when the battery is starting to degrade can help you to know when to get a replacement before further problems occur with the phone.
Yes, it certainly is. A degraded or failed battery is one of the most affordable iPhone repairs alongside screen repairs. It is also a quick and simple job meaning in most cases, you can have the phone back the same day or the next. If the phone is still working well and it isn't obsolete, there is no reason not to replace the battery to restore the function of your phone.
It is possible if you have the skills, the knowledge, and the right tools for the job. Making a mistake can mean more costly repairs from a professional, so if you are not confident, then it is wise to let the professionals handle the job. If you want to give it a go we have a friendly guide below on what you will need and just how you can change your iPhone battery at home.
Let’s look at ways to fix the damaged iPhone battery problem.
If you are confident and have experience taking apart iPhones, then you could change your iPhone battery at home by following the guide we provide below. Ensure you have everything you need, like the new battery and the tools, before starting. If you run into trouble, it’s a good idea to contact the repair store before making matters worse.
The professional repair store is the place to go when you don’t understand how to replace the battery yourself or when you don’t feel confident to carry out the repair job yourself.
If the repairs are severe and the phone isn’t worth the repairs, you might opt to buy a new phone instead. Unfortunately, iPhones do come with a high price tag, so bear this in mind when finalizing your decision to buy a new phone vs. repairing your old one. It can be a good idea to check with the repair team first in case the repairs are not as bad as you think.
There are several problems that can occur with the battery, and they can be rectified with a battery replacement.
When the battery is degraded, it doesn't function as well as before, and with many applications running in the background, it can struggle to keep up and ends up working harder, resulting in the battery overheating. A battery that overheats can cause severe damage to a phone. If you suspect the phone is overheating, you need to seek professional advice ASAP.
If you notice your battery is draining fast, it can be related to the battery. When the battery is not running at a good capacity, it will struggle to hold charge, and you may find it will give inaccurate battery percentage readings one minute, it will say 60%, then it can jump to 40%, then up to 70%.
You will find that the phone’s battery life can be pretty bad when the phone's battery is degraded and needs to be replaced. Unfortunately, you will have minor problems first, like phone battery draining quickly, but it can lead to more severe problems and even to the point where your phone no longer turns on anymore.
Does it seem like your phone is taking forever to charge? When a battery is losing its function, it can take over double the amount of time to charge than what it would when working at full capacity.
Replacing your iPhone battery yourself can be a daunting process however, it is one that can be achieved if you have the confidence, expertise, and patience to carry out the repair at home. If you have symptoms like phone overheating, charging slowly, or randomly turning off, then it may be time for a battery replacement. If you are unsure or lack the expertise to do the job yourself, there are local repair store choices that can have the battery replacement done for you right away.
Professional Content Creator
LinkedIn: Hollie Spooner
Hollie is a technical writer with over 15 years of experience specializing in creating content to help keep the rest of the world informed and updated on all tech-related subjects. Hollie has created content for many writing platforms in the tech and IT industry, and her passion for turning words into helpful articles is still growing. Hollie holds several certifications, like "Professional Article and Blog Writing", "Writing Editing and Publishing", "Creative Writing" and "Technology Digital Solutions" by Open Education and Thompsons Education Direct. When she isn’t creating content for the web, she is enjoying a crazy life with her family and friends.
State
Discover a stores nearby
Search by a zip code|city|state
Search in 12 partners, 7 state