Tips for Extending Your iPhone's Lifespan

Making an iPhone last longer requires regular updates, storage management, and mindful charging practices.

### Tips to Extend the Life of Your iPhone
* 📱  If you don't upgrade your iPhone every year due to cost and minimal changes, it's essential to know how to **make your current device last longer**.
* 🔄  Staying updated with iOS updates is crucial as they help **protect against hackers and malware**, with Apple providing **at least 5 years of security updates**, as seen with the iPhone 6s receiving **almost 8 years**.
* 💾  Regularly updating your apps and managing storage by deleting unnecessary files is vital for optimal performance; you can check storage usage in settings under **iPhone storage**.
* 🌐  Clearing your web browser cache every month or two can help **speed up your device**, especially if using Safari, where you can **remove website data through settings**.
* 🔋  If your battery health is declining, consider **replacing the battery** instead of the whole phone, with DIY kits available from **$15 to $60**, while Apple charges around **$70 for older models**.
* ⚡  To prolong battery life, avoid charging to **100%**, keep your phone **cool**, and disable features like **5G and location services** when not needed to conserve energy.
* 🔕  Additionally, turning off haptic feedback, auto-brightness, and lock screen widgets can help **save battery life**, ensuring your iPhone remains **functional for as long as possible**.
* 💬  Feel free to share your tips or ask questions in the comments, and explore more resources for **maintaining your iPhone effectively**.

If you're like me, you don't buy a new iPhone every year, which is why it's all the more important for you to know how you can make your current iPhone last as long as possible. Of course, don't even worry; I've got tips for you. A new iPhone is right around the corner, but I don't upgrade annually because, to be so real with you, iPhones are expensive, and because the changes between models tend to be small anyway. So here's what I do to make my iPhone last longer and what you can do too. First, stay on top of iOS updates. They help keep hackers and malware out of this thing, which is important because that stuff could slow your phone down and compromise your data. Apple guarantees at least 5 years of security updates, but you could get more. The iPhone 6s got almost 8 years of them, for example. Your phone may also prompt you to install them, but I've linked an article below on how to do it if it doesn't. You should also keep your apps

up to date, so they align with whatever version of iOS you're on. You can automate this in settings by scrolling down to app store and toggling on app update. Not having enough storage makes it hard to do the things you probably use your iPhone for the most. I can't take photos, I can't upload TikToks for my job, and I can't download those very important security updates I was just talking about. So, this is your friendly reminder to delete any apps, photos, etc., that you don't need, and back up anything you want to save. You can see what's taking up the most space by opening settings, selecting General, and then iPhone storage. You may even see tips on how to free up some space right away. My fellow CET, Patrick Holland, also has a wonderful, very comprehensive video on how to back up your iPhone to iCloud or your computer. It's linked on screen and in the description. Surfing the web clogs your cache and slows your phone down, so you should clear your cache about once every month or two to speed things up again. If

you use Safari, open settings, scroll down to Safari, and then down to Advanced. Tap website data, then remove all website data, and select remove now, and voila, cache cleared. Now, warning: if you clear your cache in Safari on your iPhone, the caches of any other Apple devices signed into your iCloud will also be wiped. So, you'll need to sign back into any websites you were logged into on those devices. If you use Chrome or Firefox, you can clear your cache by going into the settings for those apps. You can see how your battery is doing in settings by scrolling down to battery and selecting battery health. But if it's in bad shape, you probably already know that. That being said, you can just replace the battery instead of the entire phone. If you want to do it yourself, I fix it sells kits and third-party batteries. I've seen the kits cost as little as $15 for older models like the iPhone 4 or up to $60 for newer models. My colleague Andrew Langson did a battery replacement himself and found it to be quite easy.

you could also get your battery replaced at an Apple authorized service provider or the Apple Store. The oldest iPhone they currently replace the battery for is the 5S, and the cost estimate is $70, while the estimate for replacing a 15 Pro Max battery is $100. So, it could be less expensive to replace the battery yourself. Third-party repair shops are another option, but they vary in legitimacy, so be sure to do your research if you decide to go that route. But okay, replacing the battery is a lot of work, and there are things you can do to make it last as long as possible before it gets to that point. Charging your phone right to 100% can strain the battery, so there's a setting that learns when you typically plug your phone into charge and when you unplug it, so that it doesn't finish charging until right before you usually take it off the charger. This setting should be on by default, but you can check in the settings app by scrolling down to battery, then tapping charging optimization, and making sure optimized battery charging is selected. Apple says

that to prevent irreversible heat damage to your iPhone battery, you shouldn't expose it to temperatures above 95° F. So, don't keep your phone in direct sunlight on a hot day or in a space that heats up easily, like the car. Speaking of heat, if your phone gets hot when you charge it, take the case off before you plug it in so that heat doesn't get trapped and damage the battery. Battery and refrain from using processor-intensive apps like games while your phone is charging because that combo could also cause your phone to get too hot. Okay, now maybe you're thinking of upgrading within the next year, but your battery is really struggling. Here are a few quick settings you can turn off to save some juice in the meantime. There's a smart data feature that switches between 4G LTE and 5G based on how you use your phone, but staying on 4G LTE can help you save battery. So, to turn off 5G, open settings, select cellular, tap cellular data options, then voice and data, and select

LTE location services can, of course, be very useful or even crucial to have on, but turning them off in moments when you don't need them for safety or navigation can help you save battery. Just open settings, select privacy and security, and toggle off location services. Your phone is also always searching for Wi-Fi networks while you're out and about by default, which can eat into that battery, but you can toggle Wi-Fi off in the control center or in settings. If you have the haptic keyboard on that vibrates as you type, it could also be draining your battery. Apple says haptic feedback might affect the battery life of your iPhone. To turn it off, open settings, select sounds and haptics, scroll down to keyboard feedback, and turn off haptic. The always-on display can also be a battery drainer, but you can toggle it off in the display and brightness section of the settings app. Your phone automatically changes its brightness based on how much light it senses. To turn that off, open settings, scroll down to accessibility, select display and text size, and scroll

down to toggle auto brightness off. I love my lock screen widgets, so I'm very sad to say that they can also drain your battery. To get rid of them, press down on your lock screen, tap customize, select the lock screen wallpaper, tap the widget box, and then tap the minus buttons, or just press down to switch to another widget. Please let me know if you have any questions in the comments below, and feel free to share any tips you have on making your iPhone last. You can also check out cat.com for even more advice on this stuff. Thank you so much for watching.

Tips to Make Your iPhone Last Longer

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Staying on top of iOS updates is crucial for security and performance, with Apple offering at least 5 years of updates.

Keeping apps up to date and managing storage by deleting unnecessary items can improve functionality.

Regularly clearing your web cache can also help speed up your iPhone.

Clearing Cache and Battery Replacement for iPhone

To clear the cache in Safari on your iPhone, go to settings, scroll to Safari, then Advanced, and remove all website data.

Clearing the cache will also affect other Apple devices signed into your iCloud.

For battery replacement, DIY kits are available for as low as $15, while Apple offers replacements for $70 to $100, depending on the model.

Tips to Prevent iPhone Battery Damage and Save Power

To avoid irreversible heat damage, keep your iPhone below 95° F and remove the case while charging.

Turning off 5G, location services, and Wi-Fi can help conserve battery life.

Additionally, disabling haptic feedback and the always-on display, as well as turning off automatic brightness adjustment, can further save power.

Lock screen widgets can drain your iPhone's battery, so consider removing them.

To customize, press down on the lock screen, select the wallpaper, and remove or switch widgets.

For more tips on making your iPhone last, check out cat.

com and share your own tips in the comments.