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Guide

How to store a phone long term

Store it at about half charge, powered off, somewhere cool and dry, and recharge it every few months. This routine follows the battery guidance phone makers publish for stored phones.

By The OffGridOne team Placeholder, waiting on the owner:founder names. Last updated

Store it powered off at about half charge, somewhere cool and dry, and top it up every three to six months. Apple, Samsung and Google each publish a version of this routine for a phone that will sit unused.

A backup phone only helps if it turns on when you need it. A battery left empty or left full for months can lose capacity. The steps below take about ten minutes to do and a few minutes each season to keep up.

What charge level should I store a phone at?

About half. Apple says to charge to around 50%. Samsung says about 50 to 70%. Google says at least 50% if you store a phone for more than 30 days. An empty battery and a full one both wear faster in storage.

Apple explains the risk at both ends. A battery stored fully discharged "could fall into a deep discharge state" and be unable to hold a charge. One stored full for a long time "may lose some capacity" (Apple). Samsung warns that battery decline "may accelerate" if a phone sits with a depleted battery (Samsung). Google's help page for Pixel phones sets the 50% floor for storage past 30 days (Google Pixel Help).

How do I store a phone step by step?

Load what you need, charge to about half, power the phone off, and put it in a cool, dry place. Set a reminder to recharge it. Do not leave it plugged in, and do not store it in a hot car.

  1. Load it first. Add maps, files and documents while the phone is on and connected. This is our advice, not a maker's rule.
  2. Bring the charge to about 50%. Use the maker's own charger (Samsung).
  3. Power it off. Apple says to power down the device to avoid extra battery use (Apple). Samsung says the same (Samsung).
  4. Choose a cool, dry spot. Apple says under 90°F (32°C) and moisture-free (Apple).
  5. Skip the hot car. Samsung says not to leave a phone in hot places for long, such as a car on a summer day (Samsung).
  6. Write the date and set a reminder for the next top-up.

Do not leave a fully charged phone on the charger for long. OUKITEL's user manual advises against it for its phones (OUKITEL user manual).

How often should I recharge a stored phone?

Every three to six months. Samsung says to charge an unused phone once every 3 to 6 months. Apple says every six months for storage past six months. A three-month reminder keeps you at the careful end of both.

MakerCharge levelTop-up timing
AppleAround 50%Every six months if stored longer than six months (Apple)
SamsungAbout 50 to 70%Once every 3 to 6 months (Samsung)
Google (Pixel)At least 50%Storage past 30 days; no interval found (Google Pixel Help)
OUKITELNot foundWe found no long-term storage advice from OUKITEL for its phones

OUKITEL builds the WP60 that OffGridOne uses, so the routine here borrows the other makers' ranges. Take it as general guidance. When you take a phone out of storage, Apple says it may need about 20 minutes of charging before it will start (Apple).

Does heat or cold matter?

Heat matters most. Apple says to keep a stored phone below 90°F (32°C). Temperatures above 95°F (35°C) can permanently damage battery capacity. Avoid attics, window sills and parked cars in summer.

Apple names 95°F (35°C) as the point where lasting damage becomes a concern (Apple). Samsung warns against hot places for long periods (Samsung). For cold, OUKITEL lists an operating range of -4°F to 131°F (-20°C to 55°C), per OUKITEL (OUKITEL spec sheet). That is for use, not storage. A closet in the middle of the home is a safe default.

Can I store a phone in a Faraday bag?

Yes, but power it off first. A phone left on inside a signal-blocking bag keeps searching for a network and uses more power. NIST also says such bags may reduce a signal without fully removing it, so test the bag.

NIST says that keeping a phone on while its radio is blocked "shortens battery life" because the phone raises its signal strength to the maximum (NIST). The FCC gives similar advice for dead networks: turn the phone off so it stops draining while it looks for a signal (FCC, Emergency Tips).

NIST also notes that Faraday containers "may attenuate the radio signal, but not necessarily eliminate it" (NIST). Our guide on whether Faraday bags work shows a home test. A bag keeps a phone tidy and shielded from signals. It does not replace the charge routine.

What should I check every few months?

Charge the phone to about half, turn it on, and make sure it starts. Open your maps and library in airplane mode. Then power it off, bag it again and set the next reminder.

  1. Plug it in and let it charge. Allow extra time if it will not start at first.
  2. Power it on. Check the date, the battery level and the storage space.
  3. Switch on airplane mode. Open a map and one library file to confirm they work with no connection.
  4. Install updates you trust over Wi-Fi, then test again.
  5. Bring it back to about 50%, power it off and return it to the bag.
  6. Set the next reminder.

Sources

  1. Apple. Batteries: Maximizing Performance. Checked November 9, 2026.
  2. Samsung. Galaxy Battery: Care and Maintenance. Checked November 9, 2026.
  3. Google. Understand your Pixel battery. Checked November 9, 2026.
  4. OUKITEL. OUKITEL WP60 user manual (FCC filing 2ANMU-WP60). Checked November 9, 2026.
  5. OUKITEL. OUKITEL WP60 specifications. Checked November 9, 2026.
  6. National Institute of Standards and Technology. Guidelines on Mobile Device Forensics (SP 800-101 Rev. 1). Checked November 9, 2026.
  7. Federal Communications Commission. Emergency Communications Tips. Published May 1, 2026. Checked November 9, 2026.

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