Google added a proper battery health page to Pixel phones, with a status, a capacity estimate and a cycle count. The catch: the full readout only works on Pixel 8a and later. Here is exactly where to look, what each status means, and the Pixel charging settings that slow down battery wear.
Check battery health on Pixel 8a and later
- Open Settings.
- Tap Battery.
- Tap Battery health to see the status.
- Tap Battery capacity for the estimated capacity compared with when the battery was new.
What the status means
- Normal: battery capacity is within normal limits.
- Reduced: the battery's capacity is below 80% of its original capacity.
- Unavailable: the phone cannot determine the battery status right now.
Google only supports this status on Pixel 8a and later. On Pixel 6, 6a, 7, 7 Pro, 7a, 8 and 8 Pro, recent Android versions show a Battery health menu for the charging settings below, but no health status or capacity. Pixel Tablet does not have the feature.
Check the battery cycle count
- Open Settings.
- Tap About phone.
- Tap Battery information.
- You will see the cycle count, the manufacture date and the date of first use.
This page is also limited to Pixel 8a and later. Some older Pixels showed it until the March 2024 update removed it, and Google confirmed it only enables the page on Pixel 8a and beyond. For what the number means, see our battery cycle count guide.
When Google recommends a new battery
Google suggests replacing a Pixel battery when its capacity falls below 80%, or once it reaches about 1,000 charge cycles on Pixel 8a and later. Pixel 3 through Pixel 8 Pro and Pixel Fold are rated for about 800 cycles before reaching 80%. If your status says Reduced and the phone no longer lasts the day, read when to replace a phone battery.
Battery health assistance
As a battery ages, Pixel can lower its maximum charging voltage in stages to slow further wear and keep it stable. According to Google, the first step comes at around 200 charge cycles and the last at about 1,000, with charging speed adjusted along the way. You may notice slightly shorter battery life per charge as it steps in; that is the trade for a battery that ages more gracefully.
- Open Settings > Battery > Battery health.
- Tap Battery health assistance.
- Turn Use battery health assistance on or off.
The toggle is optional on Pixel 6a, 7, 7 Pro, 7a, 8, 8 Pro, 8a, 9, 9 Pro, 9 Pro XL and 9 Pro Fold. On Pixel 9a and the Pixel 10 series it is always on and cannot be turned off.
Charging optimization: Adaptive Charging or Limit to 80%
Holding a battery at 100% for hours speeds up wear. Pixel offers two ways to avoid it:
- Open Settings > Battery > Battery health.
- Tap Charging optimization.
- Turn on Use charging optimization.
- Choose Adaptive Charging or Limit to 80%.
- Adaptive Charging learns when you usually unplug and finishes charging right before then. Google says it needs about 14 days to learn your routine.
- Limit to 80% stops charging at 80% (Pixel 6a and later). It is not a hard cap: the Pixel charges fully about every 10th cycle to keep its capacity readings accurate.
Separately, Pixel 3 and later on Android 11 or newer have an automatic protection that limits charging to about 70 to 80% if the phone is charging for a long time at high temperature or for several days. If you need a full charge, tap Charge to full under Settings > Battery, or restart the phone.
What about the *#*#4636#*#* code?
This Android testing menu code is often suggested for battery health. We could not find any official confirmation that it shows battery health on current Pixels, so use the Settings pages above instead.
Tips for a healthy Pixel battery
- Use Adaptive Charging if you charge overnight. Read our calm answer on overnight charging.
- Keep the phone cool while charging, especially on a wireless stand. See why your phone gets hot while charging.
- Prefer partial charges to deep drains. Read the 20-80 rule.
How bCare helps on Pixel
If you have an older Pixel without the health status, bCare's battery health score measures the real capacity in mAh from normal charges, compares it with the design capacity and shows charge cycles, using the count Android reports where available and estimating otherwise. On Pixel 8a and later it adds what Settings does not: a 14-day trend and a score that shows which habits, such as time spent hot or at full charge, are wearing the battery. For more control than Limit to 80%, a battery full alarm rings at any level you pick, and the overheat alert warns you when the battery runs hot.