Battery Indicator: Lightning Bolt Icon vs. Plug Icon

Question

Level 1

8 points

Battery Indicator: Lightning Bolt Icon vs. Plug Icon

I'll start by saying I've had battery issues with my 4S since the day I bought it. Still waiting for the magical software fix for what appears in every way to be a hardware matter...

So, I'll charge my iPhone to 100% and the charging icon will switch from the lightning bolt icon to the plug icon, indicating that it is fully charged. But then it will randomly switch back to the lightning bolt, and a few minutes later back to the plug icon, and then back to the lightning bolt, and then back to the plug, and so on, without me ever unplugging it. Why can't my phone decide when it's fully charged? Is anyone else having this issue?

On a related note, I've unplugged my phone from a full 100% charge and had it IMMEDIATELY switch to 98%... I'm not talking after a couple minutes, I mean the very second I unplug it, it changes to "98%". I feel like these issues are related. My phone is not getting an accurate reading of its battery life.

iPhone 4S, iOS 5.0.1

Posted on Nov 28, 2011 11:04 AM

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Answer 1

Nov 28, 2011 2:18 PM in response to JohnMantooth

You are right. The looming battery fix update might be able to address stray issues like these for you. Until then, try doing a battery re-calibration. This link could be useful to you..

http://www.apple.com/batteries/

Cheers.

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Answer 2

brad805

Level 5

7,397 points

Nov 28, 2011 3:45 PM in response to JohnMantooth

Also do a Reset, hold both Home and Power buttons until the iPhone restarts itself, ignore the slide to power off button, let the iPhone restart itself. Usually takes less than 15 seconds of holding both buttons.

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Answer 3

mediaj

Level 1

0 points

Nov 28, 2011 7:19 PM in response to JohnMantooth

I have the same problem as you!!!!!!!

Glad I see someone with same problem. I was asking apple support this morning to solve this issue.

They told me to just backup and restore the iphone which I did already but that didn't fix.

I'm gonna call them up again tomorrow for another solution. Since it's proved this isn't a software problem, they must replace the hardware.

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Answer 4

Rysz

Level 8

44,421 points

Nov 28, 2011 7:27 PM in response to JohnMantooth

"But then it will randomly switch back to the lightning bolt, and a few minutes later back to the plug icon, and then back to the lightning bolt, and then back to the plug, and so on, without me ever unplugging it."

Seems logical to me. To see the battery indicator change, at the very minimum you have the screen on. That uses power, so the charge goes down, at which point the battery starts recharging. No?

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Answer 5

JohnMantooth Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 29, 2011 12:01 AM in response to Rysz

Well, I would hope it's smart enough to not use battery power while it's plugged in. Once it switches to the "plug" icon, it has stopped charging and starts using juice from the wall adapter, like a laptop. Only when it's unplugged should it switch back to battery power.

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Answer 6

JohnMantooth Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 29, 2011 10:43 AM in response to Rysz

So an iPhone battery works differently from a laptop battery? Bacause I don't remember the battery light on the AC adapter strobing back and forth between green and amber when my old PowerBook was plugged into the wall. It turned green when the charge was complete, and stayed green until it was unplugged.

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Answer 7

Rysz

Level 8

44,421 points

Nov 29, 2011 7:49 AM in response to JohnMantooth

There is no 'bypass' circuitry. All power goes thru the battery. That's why the plug symbol is not by itself, but is drawn on the battery indicator.

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