How to check battery health on Samsung Galaxy phones (and what the result means)

Apple puts battery health in one obvious place. Samsung does not, and the answer depends on your phone and its software. Newer Galaxy phones have a built-in health screen, and older ones rely on the Samsung Members app or a hidden test menu. This guide covers every method, shows how to read the results and explains what to do if your battery is weaker than it should be.

Method 1: check in Settings (newer Galaxy phones)

Method 2: Samsung Members app

Method 3: the hidden test menu

Open the Phone app and dial *#0228#. On many Galaxy phones, this shows a battery status screen with the charge level, voltage and temperature. A second code, *#0*#, opens a general test menu on some models. These codes were built for service technicians. They do not show a health percentage, and they may not work on every model or carrier version, but the voltage and temperature readings can show whether a battery is behaving oddly. Do not change any settings in these menus, and just exit when you are done.

How to read the result

• Good or Normal: the battery is working as expected. You may still see a slow loss in capacity over the years.
• Above 80 percent: healthy. Daily battery life should be close to what you remember.
• 70 to 80 percent: noticeably shorter battery life. A replacement is worth planning, especially if you rely on the phone all day.
• Below 70 percent, or marked Weak or Bad: replace the battery. The phone may shut down early or run slowly.

Signs of a worn battery even without a number

• The battery drops from 30 percent to off, or from 100 to 70 quickly.
• The phone shuts down in the cold or under heavy use.
• It gets hot while charging, or charges much more slowly than before.
• The back or screen looks slightly raised, which can mean a swollen battery.
• You need to charge twice a day, with normal use.

Other Android phones

Pixel 8 and later phones have a battery health section in Settings › Battery, and Google shows a status and, on some models, a capacity figure. Phones from OnePlus, Motorola and Xiaomi vary, and some show health in their own battery or device care settings. Third-party apps that claim to show a percentage are often inaccurate, so treat them with care. When in doubt, a repair shop can test a battery in a few minutes.

What to do if the battery is weak

Checking a used Galaxy before you buy

Ask the seller to show the battery health screen, or run the Samsung Members test in front of you. A used phone with a weak battery needs a replacement soon, which adds to the cost. Compare the price with a phone that has a healthy battery, and factor in the repair. Also check that the battery is not swollen and that the screen sits flat. For a full list of checks, see how to buy a used phone.

Why Galaxy batteries lose capacity

Every lithium ion battery wears a little each time it charges and discharges. Chemists measure this in charge cycles: one cycle is 100% of capacity used, whether in one go or spread over several days. Heat speeds up the wear more than anything else. A phone that often charges in a hot car, runs games while plugged in, or sits on a fast charger under a pillow will lose capacity faster than one kept cool. Keeping the battery at 100% for long periods adds stress too, which is why Samsung added charging limits.

Turn on battery protection

Go to Settings › Battery › Battery protection (on older One UI versions, Settings › Battery and device care › Battery › More battery settings › Protect battery). Newer versions offer choices such as Basic, which tops up gently after reaching 100%, Adaptive, which learns your sleep schedule, and Maximum, which stops charging at 80%. Maximum gives the longest battery life over the years, at the cost of a shorter day per charge. The exact names depend on your model and One UI version.

How often should you check?

Once every few months is enough. Battery health changes slowly, so daily checks only cause worry. Check sooner if the phone suddenly drains faster, shuts down at 20% or 30%, or gets hot while doing little. Those signs matter more than any single number.

Battery health is not battery usage

The Battery screen in Settings shows which apps used power today. That is usage, not health. A healthy battery can still drain fast if an app misbehaves, the screen is very bright or the signal is weak. Before you blame the battery, look at the usage list for an app using far more than it should.

Myths about calibrating the battery

Old advice says to drain the battery to 0% and charge to 100% to calibrate it. Modern Galaxy batteries do not need this, and running to zero often adds wear. If the percentage seems wrong, for example it jumps from 30% to 5%, one full charge without interruption can help the reading. If it keeps happening, the battery is likely worn and a test in Samsung Members or at a service center is the next step.

Is a new battery or a new phone better?

If the phone still gets updates and you like it, a battery replacement is usually much cheaper than a new phone and makes it feel new again. If it is close to the end of Samsung's update period, putting that money toward a newer model may make more sense. Our guide to the cost of a Samsung battery replacement helps you compare.

Checking takes a minute and tells you whether a battery swap or a new phone makes sense, before a weak battery leaves you stuck.