Yes, it's very good to turn your phone off or restart it regularly (at least weekly) for better security, performance, and battery health, as it clears memory, installs updates, and protects against malware, according to security experts and the NSA. It also helps you focus by removing digital distractions, offering mental breaks.
By shutting down your phone at least once a week, you reduce the risk of unauthorized access, data leaks, and hacking attempts. It's a small but effective step in keeping your personal information secure. The NSA recommends turning off your smartphone at least once a week.
What Are the Main Causes of Phone Battery Drain?
The 20/80 battery rule suggests keeping lithium-ion batteries (in phones, EVs, etc.) charged between 20% and 80% for daily use to slow degradation and extend overall lifespan, avoiding the stress and heat from frequent full charges (100%) or deep discharges (near 0%). While not strictly necessary for short-term use, following this guideline minimizes battery strain, leading to better long-term health, though modern devices have built-in optimization features.
Store it half-charged when you store it long term.
Therefore, we recommend the following: Do not fully charge or fully discharge your device's battery — charge it to around 50%.
Take care of your battery
Fire and Overheating Hazards
Fire departments respond to phone calls about fires every year. Most involve phones left on beds, couches, or buried under pillows and blankets. Your phone case makes this worse. That protective cover traps even more heat during charging.
Ideally, you should charge your phone when its battery level drops to around 20-30% and unplug it once it reaches 80-90%. There's no specific number of times you should charge your phone in a day; it depends on your usage. Just avoid letting the battery drain completely and frequently charging it to 100%.
A phone's max battery capacity often lasts two to three years or around three hundred to 500 charge cycles. This is the estimation for branded and off-brand models. Phones that are more than three years old tend to carry less charge or will rapidly lose power than before.
Charge to 80% for daily use: Maintaining an 80% charge preserves battery longevity, reduces voltage stress, and provides sufficient range for most commutes. Use 90% or 100% selectively: Charge to 90% for longer trips and 100% only when necessary, completing the drive soon after to avoid prolonged high-voltage exposure.
Always-on background apps, outdated software, and malware can also cause your battery to drain faster.
Watch for these eight telltale signs of a failing battery so you don't end up stranded on the side of the road!
But leaving your phone on all the time can cause it to glitch and cause other issues. According to Readers Digest, users should shut down their phones at least once a week for one minute. Batteries Plus states that shutting it down and letting it rest for a minute will help the phone itself and the battery.
Restarting is great for quick fixes and updates, and is the preferred choice for troubleshooting issues because it clears the current state of the software and starts fresh. Shutting down is best for longer breaks and energy savings, while sleep mode is perfect for short breaks and quick resumes.
You'll know your phone has a virus by symptoms like slow performance, rapid battery drain, high data usage, pop-up ads, strange apps, or unexpected messages to contacts, indicating malicious software is using your phone's resources or stealing data. To check, review your Settings > Apps for unfamiliar apps, monitor data/battery usage, and run a scan with a reputable mobile antivirus app like McAfee Security for Android from the Google Play Store or App Store.
Generally, independent repairs are more affordable, while official services come with higher prices but include genuine parts and warranties. Here's a general breakdown of typical costs in different regions: United States: $40–80 at independent shops; higher for premium devices or authorised service centres.
Average lifespan of a smartphone: In 2024, a smartphone has an average life span of 2.53 years. According to reports, iPhones last 4-10 years, while Samsung phones last 3-6 years. Many factors affect a smartphone's lifespan, including the condition of the screen, the hardware, and the battery's health.
However, staying at 100% for extended periods still contributes to chemical wear. If you keep your phone plugged in at 100% day after day, expect shorter battery life after a few months. Some brands like Apple and Samsung now offer features to limit charging beyond 80% during idle hours.
Here are some of the most common ones for poor battery health:
The 80/20 charging rule is a guideline for lithium-ion batteries (phones, EVs, etc.) suggesting you keep the charge between 20% and 80% for daily use to extend battery longevity, avoiding deep discharges (below 20%) and prolonged full charges (above 80%) that stress the battery's electrodes, thereby slowing degradation and preserving maximum capacity longer, though modern devices have software to help manage this.
It's Safe: Using your phone while charging is generally safe, especially with certified chargers. Heat is the Issue: The main risk is overheating, which can degrade your battery's long-term health. Avoid heavy tasks like gaming or streaming while plugged in.
Here are five places you should never charge your phone.
You probably know that using a device before bed can make it harder to fall asleep due to the combination of blue light (which suppresses melatonin production) and brain-stimulating content. Plus, having your phone nearby can create even more problems when you doze off.
Question (xxi): What happens if you leave a device plugged in even after it is charged 100%? Explanation: Leaving a device plugged in after it is fully charged can cause the battery or device to overheat due to continuous charging.