How to limit iPhone charging levels with a smart plug
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Want to use a smart plug to limit your iPhone’s maximum charge level? Here’s how:
- Open the Shortcuts app.
- In the Automation tab, hit the + button.
- Select “Battery Level.”
- Under “When,” use the slider to set the maximum battery level.
- Select “Rises Above (battery level)” and “Run Immediately,” then hit Next.
- Select “New Blank Automation,” then “Add Action.”
At this point, the instructions will vary based on your brand of smart plug. Here’s an example using a TP-Link Kasa smart plug, with the Kasa iPhone app installed:
- Search for “Kasa.”
- Under the Kasa heading, select “Turn on/off a device”
- Tap the “on” text and select “off.”
- Tap the “Device” text and select your plug.
- Hit Done.
You’ll also need to create a second automation that turns the plug back on again:
- Open the Shortcuts app.
- In the Automation tab, hit the + button.
- Select “Battery Level.”
- Under “When,” use the slider to set the maximum battery level.
- Select “Falls Below (battery level)” and “Run Immediately,” then hit Next. (I suggest setting this to 5% less than the maximum threshold.)
- Select “New Blank Automation,” then “Add Action.”
Again, here are the remaining instructions for a TP-Link Kasa plug:
- Search for “Kasa.”
- Under the Kasa heading, select “Turn on/off a device”
- Tap the “Device” text and select your plug.
- Hit Done.
Now, your smart plug should stop charging when the iPhone battery level hits 85%, and resume charging when it falls below 80%. If you anticipate needing a full charge, just plug your iPhone into a different charger.
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