False Low Battery Warnings

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False Low Battery Warnings

Since I upgraded my iPhone 4S to iOS 7 in October, I have had issues with the phone turning off or giving what seem to be false low battery warnings. It often happens when I use the camera. The phone turns off and the icon shows a red bar and 1% but when I plug it back in to charge, it shows a battery level of 40, 50, even 60%. I thought the various iOS fixes would help but they haven't fixed this problem. The battery seems to go low quickly and sometimes with very little use, only one or two short phone calls, and an hour or so of iTunes. I recharge the phone every night. Any suggstions? Thank you.

iPhone 4S, iOS 5.0.1, iOS 7

Posted on Nov 25, 2013 5:16 PM

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Answer 1

Nov 25, 2013 5:20 PM in response to Carol Smith2

This usually means that your battery gauge needs recalibration. It can also mean a battery that is failing. To recalibrate the gauge, if it shuts off at higher than 1% charge for just a minute or two, then restart (hold HOME and SLEEP until an Apple logo appears). Deliberately run the battery down until the phone shuts off at 1%. If it shuts off above 1% again repeat the above until you get to 1%. Then charge for 4 hours with the wall charger without using the phone. This process will recalibrate the battery gauge.

To prevent this from happening again about once a month run the battery all the way down to 1%, then continue until the phone shuts off. Apple recommends this in their battery help article, but they don't say why you should do it. The have some hokum about "keeping the electrons moving." Honestly! The iPad battery tip gives the correct reason.

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