Stashing an old smartphone in a drawer ‘just in case’ can cause some pretty serious problems. BGR’s experts say that if you leave your device fully discharged for a long time, it’ll speed up the deterioration of the lithium-ion battery. The main risk is that, because of the chemical processes going on inside, gas starts to build up in the battery, which makes it swell up. You’re not allowed to use these devices. If you want to store your old phone the right way, the experts say you should charge it to around 50%, switch it off completely and put it somewhere cool and dry. It’s also a good idea to recharge the device every few months to stop it from losing too much charge. If the model has a removable battery, it’s best to remove it and store it separately.
Often, when people get a new phone, they don’t sell their old one, but just put it in a drawer ‘just in case’ – as a backup. But this raises an important question that people don’t usually think about: what happens to the phone while it’s completely switched off for months or even years? The experts at BGR say that leaving your phone on for too long can cause more problems than you might think.
As we all know, most modern smartphones use lithium-ion batteries. They’re designed to last for a few hundred charge cycles, sometimes up to around 1,000, and then they gradually lose capacity. But there’s something else to think about: if you leave the battery fully discharged for too long, it can speed up battery degradation and make it harder to revive it.
Sometimes, after a long time, the phone might stop charging properly.
The main risk is damage to, or swelling of, the battery
If you leave a smartphone for a long time, chemical processes inside the battery can lead to the build-up of gas. This can sometimes make the battery swell up, which is a bad sign that the battery is already damaged.
If the battery has swollen, you can’t use the phone; you’ll need to take it to a service centre to get it replaced.
If your device won’t switch on after being inactive for a while, it might not be the battery’s fault. It’s possible that the cable, charger, or port is the real issue. Sometimes, you can still revive the battery, but it depends on how it’s doing.
How to store an old smartphone
Even if it looks like your smartphone is still working fine, you need to store it properly. Experts say you should charge the device to around 50% before you put it away for a while, turn it off completely and keep it somewhere cool and dry.
It’s a good idea to recharge these phones at least once every few months to avoid deep discharge, which speeds up battery wear.
If you’ve got an older model with a removable battery, it’s best to store it separately from the phone itself. In this state, it discharges more slowly and retains its charge for longer.