Phone batteries can often be an inconvenience when you are out and about, especially when you've had your mobile for a few years.
It is a common complaint that phone batteries run out too fast, forcing us to spend more and more time around a plug socket.
However, an expert has revealed that this issue could be getting worse because of a number of mobile mistakes we are making.
Kewin Charron, Senior Lead Refurbishment Operations Manager at Back Market told the Daily Mail of some very common mistakes.
Common mobile phone mistakes causing your iPhone or Samsung phone battery to drain
Here are some common mistakes that cause your phone battery to drain:
Leaving your phone charged all night
Charron said that leaving your phone plugged in or letting it die "rapidly reduces the lifespan of your battery."
He added that you should keep your phone charged between a level of 20-80%.
While this might seem like a difficult thing to achieve, Charron says that many phones come with settings that optimise charging.
For example, the iPhone has features which delay charging past 80% using machine learning to learn your daily routine so that optimised battery charging is activated at the right time.
To turn this feature on, the expert says: "For iPhones with iOS 13 and beyond, go into your iPhone Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging, and select Optimized Battery Charging.
"This setting will automatically reduce the wear on your battery, improving its lifespan."
To achieve this on Android, Charron says: "By going into your Settings, and then selecting Battery > Battery Usage, you can see your battery health.
"Then, under Manage Battery Usage, tap Optimized to automatically help extend the longevity of your battery.’"
Not properly cleaning the charging port
Dirt and dust are among the biggest enemies of a fully efficient phone battery.
The expert says: "Crumbs and dust are the enemies of your mobile devices and your battery life.
"Dust accumulates in the charging ports of your phone, causing the device to overheat or stop charging. Cleaning your phone safely can ensure your battery isn't overheating, which can cause long-term damage."
To deal with this, Charron recommends using a toothpick and a damp cloth to clean out the charging port.
He adds: "The first thing to do before cleaning your phone is to switch your device off. Then, shine a light on your device to see how much dust you’re dealing with.
"Use a soft, slightly damp, lint-free cloth to wipe around the area of the charging port. To remove the debris within the port, use a toothpick, moving it from side to side, making sure you’re gentle as this area is very susceptible to damage.
"As debris comes out, wipe it away with your cloth and go in again with a clean toothpick."
Leaving your phone in direct sunlight
Leaving your phone in direct sunlight is another issue that drains your battery and makes it less efficient.
Charron says: "It’s best to keep your phone away from extreme temperatures. Below 0°C is too cold, whilst anything over 35°C is too hot, and both can damage your battery life. So, keeping your phone out of direct sunlight for long periods of time and limiting use in hot cars or trains is really important.
"If your device’s internal temperature exceeds the normal operating range, you’re likely to notice the display dimming, going completely black, or the camera flash being disabled. You may also get a notification saying ‘Charging On Hold’ or receive a temperature warning."
Charron added that if you see warnings like this, you should take your device to a cool place and avoid wireless charging.
He said: "Whilst charging your phone, find a cool, moisture-free environment that’s less than 32° C (90° F). Wired charging is also better and preferred over wireless charging to avoid overheating."
He also revealed some tips to avoid phone overheating: "When your phone isn’t on charge, you can avoid overheating by lowering your brightness. If your phone is on low battery and searching for a signal, this can cause the device to overheat. So, if you’re somewhere with a weak signal, turn Airplane Mode on, then switch it back off when you’re in an area with better connectivity
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