Smartphone batteries typically show more noticeable signs of wear after 1.5 to 2 years of daily use. However, experts say you can extend your battery’s overall lifespan by making smart choices when charging and using your device. The best way to do this involves limiting how much your battery charges when plugged in, which Android users can do by enabling optimized battery charging. Below, you’ll find step-by-step instructions on enabling the 80 percent limit, along with other helpful battery optimization features available for Android devices.
Set Your Android Device to Stop Charging at 80 Percent
Many phone manufacturers and battery experts recommend limiting charging to around 80 percent for one simple reason: it prolongs your battery’s overall lifespan. Lithium-ion batteries (the kind found in most smartphones) are chemically sensitive to high-voltage stress. When a battery sits at or near a 100 percent charge for prolonged periods, it experiences more strain, accelerating wear on its cells.
Now, Android users can change the settings on their phones to enable an 80 percent limit on their charging. This optimized battery charging feature works when plugged into an outlet and using a power bank.
Note: This walkthrough was completed using a Google Pixel 7a running Android 15. The exact placement and wording of these settings may vary.
Open your device Settings, then scroll and tap Battery.
From the available options, select Charging Optimization. In the next menu, toggle on Use Charging Optimization.
Choose Limit to 80%. Your device will stop charging anytime it is plugged in and the battery reaches 80 percent charge.
To achieve the same result as above on a Samsung phone, navigate to Settings -> Battery -> Battery Protection.
Use Android Adaptive Charging
Like the 80 percent limit, Google’s Adaptive Charging feature preserves battery health by controlling the speed at which your device charges. The idea is to let the phone steadily charge over several hours instead of topping it off as quickly as possible. This minimizes the battery’s time in the 80 to 100 percent range to prevent premature aging.
To enable Adaptive Charging, go to Settings -> Battery -> Charging Optimization.
Verify Use Charging Optimization is set to On, then choose Adaptive Charging from the available options.
Now, any time you charge your phone, it will spread its charge time out as long as you have the device plugged in. This works best if you have an alarm set or other settings enabled that allow your device to learn your habits.
Enable Battery Saver to Charge Less Frequently
Optimized battery charging controls how your device replenishes the battery. But this isn’t the only way to protect your battery. You can also take precautions to control how your battery drains.
As the name implies, Battery Saver is a setting you can toggle on to preserve your battery life. This tells the device to kill non-essential tasks running in the background, lower data usage, and more. It’s a great way to preserve battery life when traveling, but also keeps you from charging your device as frequently on a daily basis.
To turn on Battery Saver, go to Settings -> Battery.
Next, tap Battery Saver to enter the battery saving menu.
You will need to toggle on Use Battery Saver. Then, you can choose between Standard Battery Saver or Extreme Battery Saver. Read each description before deciding, but know you can toggle between the two anytime.
Adaptive Battery: Another Battery Use Optimization
With Adaptive Battery, your Android phone will study your usage and then make choices related to performance to extend the life of your battery when it is not charging. For instance, your phone may disable notifications when in your pocket and not in active use, or it may reduce consumption during the work day when you are on the phone less.
You can enable this feature by going to Settings -> Battery -> Battery Saver.
In the Adaptive Battery section, toggle on Use Adaptive Battery.
Take Care of Your Smartphone Battery
All the tips mentioned above will help extend your Android phone’s battery life and ensure you can use your device when needed. Additionally, you can change display and usage settings to save power or download a third-party app to alert you when your battery is charged.
Image credit: Canva. All screenshots by Megan Glosson.
