You can replace an iPhone battery yourself with basic tools, or have Apple or a repair shop do it for you

An iPhone battery degrades over time. After about 500 charge cycles—roughly two years of normal use—the battery holds less charge and drains faster. When your phone shuts down at 20 percent battery or takes hours to charge, replacement is usually the next step. You have three main routes: Apple's official service, an authorized repair shop, or a DIY replacement with tools you can buy online.

Which route makes sense depends on your comfort with opening electronics, how much you want to spend, and how quickly you need it done. Apple charges between $69 and $99 depending on your model. Third-party shops often charge $40 to $80. Doing it yourself costs $20 to $40 for the battery and tools, but takes an hour or two and voids any remaining warranty.

Key Takeaways

  • Apple's official battery replacement costs $69 to $99 and takes three to five business days at most locations, but preserves your warranty.
  • Third-party repair shops charge less ($40 to $80) and often finish same-day, but quality varies and you lose water resistance if the seal is not resealed properly.
  • DIY replacement requires a pentalobe screwdriver, a suction cup, a plastic spudger, and the battery itself—all available as kits for $20 to $40.
  • Opening your iPhone yourself voids the warranty and risks damaging the screen or internal components if you slip with the tools.
  • Before replacing the battery, check Settings > Battery > Battery Health to confirm the battery is actually the problem, not a software issue.

Check your battery health first

Before you spend money or time on a replacement, confirm the battery is actually worn out. Open Settings, tap Battery, then Battery Health & Charging. You will see a percentage labeled "Maximum Capacity." If it is above 80 percent, the battery is still in good condition—the problem is likely something else, like a background app draining power or a software bug.

If the percentage is below 80 percent, the battery is degraded. Below 50 percent, replacement becomes more urgent because the phone may shut down unexpectedly even when the battery indicator shows charge remaining. This is Apple's way of protecting the phone from sudden power loss.

Getting Apple to replace the battery

Visit apple.com/support or call Apple Support to schedule a Genius Bar appointment at an Apple Store. You can also walk in to most locations, though wait times vary. Bring your phone and your Apple ID password. Apple will run a diagnostic to confirm the battery is the issue, then replace it while you wait or schedule a pickup time.

The cost is $69 for iPhone 11 and older models, $79 for iPhone 12 through 14, and $99 for iPhone 15. If your phone is still under warranty or covered by AppleCare+, the replacement may be free. The process takes 30 minutes to an hour in-store, or three to five business days if they need to order parts. Your warranty remains intact, and the phone is returned to factory water resistance.

Using a third-party repair shop

Independent repair shops and chains like iFixit, uBreakiFix, and Best Buy's Geek Squad all offer iPhone battery replacement. Prices range from $40 to $80 depending on the model and location. Many shops can complete the work same-day if you drop the phone off in the morning.

The trade-off is consistency. A reputable shop will use a quality battery and reseal the phone properly, but a careless one may not reapply the waterproof adhesive correctly, leaving your phone vulnerable to water damage. Before choosing a shop, check online reviews and ask whether they use original Apple batteries or third-party ones. Original batteries cost more but are more reliable. Also ask whether they reseal the phone with waterproof adhesive—some shops skip this step to save time.

Replacing the battery yourself

If you are comfortable opening electronics, you can buy a battery replacement kit online for $20 to $40. The kit includes the battery, a pentalobe screwdriver (the five-pointed tool Apple uses), a plastic spudger (a flat prying tool), a suction cup, and usually a guide. Popular kits come from iFixit, Amazon Basics, and brand-specific sellers on Amazon.

The basic steps are: power off the phone, remove the two pentalobe screws at the bottom, use the suction cup to lift the screen slightly, slide the spudger around the edge to separate the screen from the body, disconnect the battery connector inside, peel off the adhesive strips holding the old battery, slide in the new battery, reconnect the connector, and press the screen back down. The whole process takes 45 minutes to two hours depending on how carefully you work.

The main risks are cracking the screen if you pry too hard, damaging the ribbon cables that connect the screen to the logic board, or leaving the phone open too long and letting dust inside. If any of these happen, you are paying for a screen replacement or a new phone. You also lose any remaining warranty coverage the moment you open the phone.

What to expect after replacement

After a battery replacement, your phone should charge faster and hold a charge longer. Battery Health will reset to 100 percent (or close to it) if you used an original Apple battery, or to 95 to 99 percent if you used a third-party battery. The phone may take a few charge cycles to recalibrate—let it drain to 1 percent, then charge to 100 percent without interruption.

If you had the battery replaced at Apple or a reputable shop, the phone should feel like new. If you did it yourself or used a low-quality third-party battery, you may notice the phone still drains quickly or shuts down unexpectedly. This usually means the battery is counterfeit or defective. Contact the seller for a replacement.

When battery replacement is not the answer

Sometimes a phone that drains quickly or shuts down has a different problem. If Battery Health shows above 80 percent, the issue is likely a background app, a software bug, or a hardware problem with the charging port. Try these steps first: restart the phone, go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage and delete apps you do not use, turn off Background App Refresh for apps that do not need it, and check Settings > Battery > Battery Usage to see which apps are draining the most power.

If the phone still drains quickly after these steps, or if it will not charge at all, the problem may be the charging port, the charging cable, or the logic board. These require professional diagnosis and are more expensive to fix than a battery replacement.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does an iPhone battery last before it needs replacing?

Apple designs batteries to retain 80 percent capacity after 500 charge cycles, which is roughly two years of daily use. After that, the battery degrades gradually. Most people notice a significant drop in battery life between years two and three, but some phones last longer depending on how you charge them.

Will replacing the battery make my phone waterproof again?

Only if the phone is resealed properly with waterproof adhesive. Apple and reputable repair shops do this automatically. If you replace the battery yourself or use a shop that does not reseal, the phone loses its water resistance. You can buy waterproof adhesive strips online and explore them yourself, but it is not as reliable as factory sealing.

Can I replace the battery on an iPhone 6 or older?

Yes, but it is harder. Older iPhones use different screws and adhesive, and the battery is glued down more aggressively. If you want to do it yourself, watch a video guide for your specific model first. Apple and third-party shops can still replace these batteries, though some shops may charge more because the work takes longer.

What is the difference between an original Apple battery and a third-party one?

Original Apple batteries are manufactured by Samsung or TSMC to Apple's specifications and are tested before shipping. Third-party batteries vary widely—some are high-quality and nearly identical to Apple's, while others are counterfeit or use cheaper materials that degrade faster. Reputable shops source from known manufacturers like Anker or iFixit. Avoid batteries from unknown sellers on Amazon or eBay.

Do I need to back up my phone before replacing the battery?

No. A battery replacement does not touch your data. Your photos, messages, and apps stay on the phone. However, it is always good practice to back up your phone regularly in case something goes wrong during the replacement—a screen crack, for example, could require a full device replacement.