How to Charge Your Phone and Devices Safely

Learn the right way to charge your phone, tablet, and laptop to keep the battery healthy, prevent overheating, and avoid fire hazards.

In this guide (4 steps):

1.Use the right charger for your device
2.Keep your phone in a safe place while charging
3.Know the truth about overnight charging
4.Check for recalls on chargers and batteries

Use the right charger for your device

~32s

Always use the charger that came with your device, or a certified replacement from the device's manufacturer. Cheap third-party chargers — especially from unknown brands on discount sites — can lack proper voltage regulation and cause damage or, rarely, fires. Look for chargers that are UL listed or have a USB-IF certification mark. Reputable brands like Anker, Belkin, and Apple-certified accessories are safe choices.

Warning

Counterfeit chargers look identical to genuine ones but lack the safety components. If a charger gets unusually hot during use, produces a burning smell, or sparks when plugged in, stop using it immediately.

Keep your phone in a safe place while charging

~33s

Charge your phone on a hard, flat surface — a nightstand, table, or desk. Avoid charging on soft surfaces like pillows, blankets, or your bed. Soft surfaces block airflow and trap heat, which shortens battery life and, in rare cases, can cause overheating. Do not cover a charging phone with blankets. Also avoid leaving a phone charging in direct sunlight or in a hot car.

Quick Tip

Quick Tip: Phones naturally get warm while charging — that is normal. But if your phone gets hot enough that it is uncomfortable to hold, unplug it and let it cool before continuing.

Know the truth about overnight charging

~39s

Modern iPhones, Android phones, and iPads have Optimized Battery Charging that learns your schedule and slows down the final charge so the battery stays at 80% most of the night and only reaches 100% near your wake time. This reduces battery wear. Overnight charging is generally fine with modern devices, but the ideal range for battery health is keeping your phone between 20% and 80% if you want the battery to last as long as possible over years of use.

Quick Tip

Quick Tip: On iPhone, go to SettingsBatteryBattery Health & Charging to see your battery's current health percentage and turn on Optimized Charging. On Android, the setting varies by manufacturer — check SettingsBattery for options.

Check for recalls on chargers and batteries

~30s

Occasionally, chargers and device batteries are recalled due to safety issues. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) maintains a recall database at cpsc.gov/recalls. If you hear about a recall on the news or from a manufacturer, take it seriously — stop using the affected product and follow the recall instructions for a replacement. Also, if your phone battery has become swollen or puffed up (making the back of your phone bulge), stop using it and take it to a repair shop — a swollen battery is a fire risk.

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Nearly everyone charges their phone overnight or leaves it plugged in for hours at a time. Most of the time this is fine, but there are some charging habits that can shorten your battery life, damage your device, or in rare cases, cause a fire or overheating problem.

Modern smartphones have built-in battery management software that's designed to prevent overcharging — the phone stops actively charging once it reaches 100%. However, there are still habits that can degrade your battery faster than normal, and a few genuine safety concerns worth knowing about.

This guide covers the most common charging questions and how to keep your devices, and your home, safe.

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phone charging

battery health

charger safety

overnight charging

fire safety