What Battery Sharing Does and Which iPhones Have It
Battery sharing (officially called Battery Share or Power Share on some devices) lets you wirelessly charge another phone, earbud case, or compatible device by placing it on the back of your iPhone. Your iPhone acts as a charging pad. The feature uses the same wireless charging technology built into your phone, but reverses the direction — instead of receiving power, your iPhone sends it out.
Not all iPhones support this. You need an iPhone 14 or newer (iPhone 14, 14 Plus, 14 Pro, 14 Pro Max, 15, 15 Plus, 15 Pro, or 15 Pro Max). Older models do not have the hardware required. The receiving device must also support wireless charging — most modern iPhones, AirPods Pro cases, and some Android phones work, but older devices or those without wireless charging coils will not.
Your iPhone battery must be above 20 percent to start sharing, and it will drain noticeably while you charge another device. Expect to lose roughly 10 to 15 percent of your battery for every 10 percent you add to the other device, because wireless charging is less efficient than wired charging.
Key Takeaways
- Battery sharing works only on iPhone 14 and newer models, and only with devices that support wireless charging.
- Your iPhone battery must be above 20 percent before you can turn on battery sharing, and it will drain faster than the receiving device charges.
- Turn on battery sharing through Settings > Battery > Battery Share, or use Control Center if you have added the toggle there.
- Place the other device flat on the back of your iPhone, centered and without cases or metal objects between them, and wait for the charging animation to appear.
- Battery sharing stops automatically if your iPhone drops below 20 percent, if the devices move apart, or if you manually turn it off.
How to Turn On Battery Share in Settings
Open the Settings app on your iPhone and tap Battery. Look for the option labeled Battery Share (the exact name varies slightly by iOS version, but it appears in the Battery menu). Tap the toggle next to it to turn it on. The toggle will turn green, and you will see a message confirming that battery sharing is active.
Once it is on, your iPhone is ready to charge another device. You do not need to do anything else in Settings — just place the other device on the back of your iPhone and wait. If battery sharing does not appear in your Settings, your iPhone model does not support it, or your iOS version is out of date. Check that you are running iOS 16.1 or later by going to Settings > General > Software Update.
Using Control Center for Faster Access
If you use battery sharing often, add it to Control Center so you can turn it on without opening Settings. Swipe down from the top-right corner of your screen (or up from the bottom on older iPhones) to open Control Center. Tap the edit button (the three horizontal lines or plus sign, depending on your iOS version). Scroll down to find Battery Share and tap the plus sign next to it.
Now when you open Control Center, you will see a Battery Share button. Tap it to turn sharing on or off when ready. This is faster than navigating through Settings each time, especially if you share battery regularly with family members or friends.
Positioning the Device and Waiting for Charging to Start
Place the device you want to charge flat on the back of your iPhone, roughly centered. The charging coils in both devices need to align, so centering matters — if the other device is too far to one edge, charging may not start or may be very slow. Remove any thick cases from either device if charging does not begin after a few seconds; metal cases or cases with metal plates will block the wireless signal.
Wait for a charging animation to appear on the receiving device's screen. On iPhones, you will see a lightning bolt icon and a percentage. On AirPods cases, you may see a light indicator. If nothing appears after 10 seconds, try moving the device slightly or removing cases. Do not move the devices while charging — even small shifts can interrupt the connection.
What Stops Battery Sharing and When to Manually Turn It Off
Battery sharing stops automatically in several situations. If your iPhone battery drops to 20 percent or below, sharing shuts off to protect your phone's power. If the two devices move apart or lose alignment, charging stops when ready. If the receiving device reaches full battery, charging stops on its own. You can also manually turn off battery sharing by tapping the toggle in Settings or Control Center.
Turn it off manually if you need to preserve your iPhone's battery for your own use, or if you are moving around and do not want the connection to interrupt repeatedly. There is no harm in turning it on and off as often as you need — the feature is designed for occasional use, not continuous charging.
Troubleshooting When Battery Sharing Will Not Start
If battery sharing is on but the other device is not charging, check these things in order. First, confirm your iPhone battery is above 20 percent — if it is at 20 percent or below, sharing will not work. Second, remove all cases from both devices and try again; thick cases or cases with metal components block the wireless signal. Third, make sure the receiving device actually supports wireless charging — older iPhones, older Android phones, and devices without a wireless charging coil will never work.
Fourth, restart both devices. Hold the power button on your iPhone until the power-off slider appears, then slide to power off. Wait 10 seconds and turn it back on. Do the same with the other device. Fifth, check that you are running the latest iOS version by going to Settings > General > Software Update. If none of these steps work, the receiving device may have a hardware problem with its charging coil, and you should contact the device manufacturer or visit an Apple Store.
Battery Drain and Efficiency Expectations
Wireless charging is less efficient than wired charging because energy is lost as heat during the wireless transfer. When you use battery sharing, expect your iPhone to lose roughly 10 to 15 percent of its battery for every 10 percent you add to the other device. This means if you charge an iPhone from 0 to 100 percent using battery sharing, your iPhone might drop from 100 to 30 or 40 percent.
This is normal and not a sign of a problem. If you need to charge both devices fully, use a wall charger or power bank instead — it will be faster and use less total energy. Battery sharing is best for topping up another device when you have plenty of battery left, not for fully charging a dead device.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use battery sharing while my iPhone is charging?
No. Your iPhone must be unplugged from a charger to share battery with another device. If you plug your iPhone into a wall charger or power bank while battery sharing is on, sharing will stop. You can charge your iPhone and another device at the same time only by using separate chargers for each.
Will battery sharing damage my iPhone or the other device?
No. Battery sharing uses the same wireless charging technology that both devices already have built in. Apple designed the feature to be safe, and it will not harm the battery or hardware of either device. Your iPhone will straightforward drain faster than normal while sharing.
Can I share battery with Android phones?
Only Android phones that support wireless charging will work. Most recent Samsung, Google Pixel, and other flagship Android phones have wireless charging and will charge when placed on your iPhone. Older Android phones or budget models without wireless charging coils will not work, even if battery sharing is on.
What if the other device keeps disconnecting?
This usually means the devices are moving slightly or the alignment is off. Try placing the other device more carefully in the center of your iPhone's back, and keep both devices still while charging. Remove any cases that might be too thick. If disconnections keep happening, the receiving device may have a loose or damaged charging coil.
Does battery sharing work with Apple Watch?
No. Apple Watch uses a different charging method (a magnetic puck charger) and does not support wireless charging from iPhone. Battery sharing works with iPhones, AirPods Pro cases, and some Android phones, but not with Apple Watch.