What optimized battery charging does and why you might want to turn it off
Optimized battery charging is a feature that learns when you usually charge your phone and holds the battery at 80% until shortly before you wake up or use it. The goal is to reduce the time your battery spends at 100%, which slows down battery aging over years of use.
The trade-off is real: your phone charges more slowly, and you might unplug it at 80% if you leave before the scheduled time. Some people turn it off because they need full capacity right away, because they charge at unpredictable times, or because they replace their phones frequently enough that battery longevity does not matter to them. Others keep it on because they charge overnight and do not mind waiting.
Both choices are reasonable. This guide shows you how to turn the feature off if you decide it does not fit your routine.
Key Takeaways
- Optimized battery charging is on by default on iPhones and some Android phones, but the steps to turn it off differ by device.
- On iPhones, you find the toggle in Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging.
- On Android phones, the location varies by manufacturer — Samsung, Google Pixel, and others each put it in a different menu.
- Turning it off means your phone will charge to 100% every time, which may reduce battery lifespan over several years but gives you full capacity when ready.
- You can turn the feature back on at any time if you change your mind.
How to turn off optimized battery charging on iPhone
Open the Settings app and tap Battery. Then tap Battery Health & Charging. You will see a toggle labeled "Optimized Battery Charging" — tap it to turn it off. The toggle will no longer be green, and your phone will now charge to 100% every time you plug it in.
If you do not see this menu, your iPhone model may be too old to support the feature. Optimized battery charging arrived with iPhone XS, iPhone XR, and later models. On older iPhones, the feature does not exist.
You can turn it back on the same way: go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging and tap the toggle again.
How to turn off optimized battery charging on Samsung phones
Open Settings and search for "battery" using the search bar at the top. Tap Battery and device care. Then tap Battery. Look for a toggle or option labeled "Protect battery" or "Optimized charging" — the exact name varies by Samsung model and Android version. Tap it to turn it off.
On some Samsung phones, the setting lives under Settings > Device care > Battery instead. If you cannot find it in Battery and device care, try that path. Samsung has moved this setting between menus across different phone models and software updates.
If you still cannot locate it, use the Settings search function and type "optimized" — the search will show you where the setting lives on your specific phone.
How to turn off optimized battery charging on Google Pixel phones
Open Settings and tap Battery. Then tap Battery Saver. Scroll down and look for "Adaptive preferences" or "Adaptive charging" — tap it to turn it off. On some Pixel models, the setting is labeled "Adaptive battery" instead, though that controls app behavior rather than charging speed.
Google Pixel phones introduced adaptive charging more recently than iPhones, so the feature may not be present on older Pixel models. If you do not see the option after searching, your phone may not support it.
How to turn off optimized battery charging on other Android phones
The location of this setting varies widely across Android manufacturers. Start by opening Settings and using the search function — type "optimized charging" or "adaptive charging" and see what appears. Most phones will show you the exact menu path in the search results.
If the search does not find anything, the feature may not be available on your phone. Not all Android manufacturers include optimized charging, and some older models do not support it. You can also check your phone's user manual or the manufacturer's support website for the exact location on your model.
What happens when ready after you turn it off
Your phone will begin charging to 100% the next time you plug it in. If you had a charge scheduled to hold at 80% until a certain time, that schedule will no longer explore. You will see the battery percentage reach 100% and stay there.
The change takes effect right away — you do not need to restart your phone or do anything else. If you change your mind and want to turn optimized charging back on, you can do so at any time using the same steps.
The real cost of turning it off
Lithium batteries degrade faster when they spend time at high charge levels. A battery that charges to 100% every day will lose capacity slightly faster than one that spends most of its time between 20% and 80%. Over three to five years, the difference is measurable — you might notice your phone does not hold a charge as long as it used to.
The actual impact depends on how often you charge, how hot your phone gets, and how long you keep the phone before replacing it. If you replace your phone every two years, you may never notice the difference. If you keep it for five years, you will likely see some degradation either way, but optimized charging slows it down.
This is not a safety issue — your phone will not suddenly stop working. It is a gradual reduction in how long the battery lasts between charges, which becomes noticeable over years, not weeks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will turning off optimized charging damage my battery?
No, it will not damage the battery. Charging to 100% every time will cause the battery to lose capacity slightly faster over years of use, but this is normal battery aging, not damage. Your phone will continue to work normally.
Can I turn optimized charging back on if I change my mind?
Yes. Use the same steps you used to turn it off, and the toggle will turn back on. Your phone will return to holding the charge at 80% until shortly before your usual wake time.
Why does my phone still charge slowly even after I turn off optimized charging?
Slow charging can happen for reasons other than optimized charging — a worn-out cable, a low-power charger, or a phone that is too hot. Try a different cable or charger. If the phone is hot, let it cool down before charging. If it still charges slowly, the battery itself may be aging.
Does optimized charging work the same way on all iPhones?
The feature works the same way on all iPhones that support it, but older models do not have it. iPhone XS, iPhone XR, and all newer iPhones include optimized battery charging. iPhone 8 and earlier do not.
What if I cannot find the optimized charging setting on my Android phone?
Not all Android phones include this feature. Try searching for "optimized charging" or "adaptive charging" in Settings. If nothing appears, your phone manufacturer may not have included the feature, or your phone model is too old to support it.