Is your phone taking a long time to reach 100%? Do you often find yourself asking "Why is my phone so slow?" Is it a frequent occurrence? Or something that happens from time to time? Why is this happening? Most importantly, what can you do to speed up charging speed?
There are several factors that affect the charging speed on smartphones. These factors vary depending on the type of smartphone, charging accessories, charging habits, etc. In this guide, you will find 5 possible reasons why your phone is charging slowly and how to fix the problem.
Before continuing, make sure that you are not charging from a weak power source. Computer USB ports, low-quality power banks, or car chargers may not charge your phone as quickly as a power adapter plugged into a wall outlet. If your phone is plugged into an electrical socket but keeps charging slowly, skip to the next section to find out why.
There are several factors that affect the charging speed on smartphones. These factors vary depending on the type of smartphone, charging accessories, charging habits, etc. In this guide, you will find 5 possible reasons why your phone is charging slowly and how to fix the problem.
Before continuing, make sure that you are not charging from a weak power source. Computer USB ports, low-quality power banks, or car chargers may not charge your phone as quickly as a power adapter plugged into a wall outlet. If your phone is plugged into an electrical socket but keeps charging slowly, skip to the next section to find out why.
The most important reasons for slow phone charging and how to treat them
1. Your phone is slow to charge due to incompatible or defective charging accessories
By charging accessories, we're talking about the power brick and the USB cable - if you're charging wirelessly. These are the first things to check when your phone starts charging very slowly.Make sure your charger has sufficient output (current) rating to optimally charge your phone. Amperage describes the amount of electrical current the power adapter can supply to your phone. The lower the amperage of the charger, the longer it takes to fill the battery.
Although your phone only consumes as much power as it was designed to, using a high amperage power supply increases the chances of fast charging. For example, if your phone supports 1.6 amps, using a 2.1 amp adapter will charge your phone faster than a 1 amp adapter. Note that the phone will only use its maximum capacity (i.e. 1.6A) from the adapter.
To enjoy fast charging, use a charger with at least 2 to 3 amp capacity. This does not mean that your phone will charge twice as fast, it will just ensure that your phone charges at the speed it was designed for.
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Additionally, make sure you are using an original cable and in good condition. USB cables are easily damaged due to frequent handling, twisting, and excessive folding/bending – especially at the point where the cable connects to your phone.
This is a common reason why phones charge slowly. A good charger + a bad USB cable will charge your phone just as slowly as a bad charger + a good USB cable. Inspect your USB cable and check for external damages.
It is always recommended to use the charging accessories that shipped with your phone out of the box. Or charge accessories recommended by your smartphone manufacturer. If your phone does not come with a charger, make sure to purchase an original charger from an authorized store.
Try using a different USB cable and power adapter, but make sure it has the recommended amperage (or higher) to charge your phone.
If your phone still doesn't charge fast enough, use a cable and check if that makes a difference.
If you find particles on the metal contacts of the charging port, use a toothpick or soft brush to carefully remove them. Be as gentle as possible, so as not to push the particles further into the port. Better yet, use a can of compressed air to clean the port. This is safer and is recommended by many smartphone technicians.
Note: Avoid blowing air into the charging port with your mouth. Water vapor from your breath can corrode the port and cause serious damage to your phone. Also, the port should not be cleaned with sharp metal objects such as needles, staples, or paper clips.
See your phone's battery usage and disable background battery usage for apps you barely use. On Android, launch the Settings app, select Battery, tap the three-dot icon in the top-right corner, and select Battery usage.
Look for infrequently used apps that consume a high percentage of your battery. Select the app and tap Restrict background.
Next, tap Restrict to stop the app from using battery in the background.
To view background apps on your iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > Battery and tap Show Activity to see how much time apps have spent on the screen and in the background.
If you find an unused app that is using high battery and time in the background, close the app and make sure your phone is now charged normally. You should also disable background app refresh for battery draining apps; Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh. This can help reduce background app activities.
iOS and iPadOS automatically slow down device performance and charging speed when battery capacity reaches 80% or less. To check your iPhone or iPad's battery capacity, go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health. If the maximum capacity is 80% or less, the battery has reached its useful life and needs to be replaced.
Android doesn't have a native tool to check battery health or life; Use a third-party battery app or visit a service center to determine the battery status. You likely have a defective battery if your phone is more than 2 - 3 years old.
In addition to the above, you should also avoid using your phone while charging. Doing so will charge your phone at a slow rate, raise the battery temperature, and increase the chances of corrosion of the charging cable.
It is always recommended to use the charging accessories that shipped with your phone out of the box. Or charge accessories recommended by your smartphone manufacturer. If your phone does not come with a charger, make sure to purchase an original charger from an authorized store.
Try using a different USB cable and power adapter, but make sure it has the recommended amperage (or higher) to charge your phone.
2. Your phone is charging slowly because you are using a wireless charger
Wireless charging technology is great, but it has many shortcomings. One such limitation is the slow charging rate. A wireless charging pad will charge your phone relatively slower than a cable. Phone cases may reduce wireless charging speed further, so be sure to remove the case before placing your device on the wireless pad.
3. Your phone is slow to charge due to problems with your charging port
Your device will charge slower than usual if the charging port is damaged. Foreign materials trapped in the port can obstruct the transmission of electrical current from the charging cable to your phone. This may also slow down the charging process. Inspect your phone charging port with a flashlight and check for dust and dirt.
Note: Avoid blowing air into the charging port with your mouth. Water vapor from your breath can corrode the port and cause serious damage to your phone. Also, the port should not be cleaned with sharp metal objects such as needles, staples, or paper clips.
4. Your phone is charging slowly due to background apps
Too many apps running in the background will cause your phone's battery to drain faster and charge slowly. It's just trying to fill a bucket with holes. Background apps are the vulnerabilities in your smartphone; The power from your charger will simultaneously charge the battery and background power activities. This reduces the amount of energy available to charge the battery.See your phone's battery usage and disable background battery usage for apps you barely use. On Android, launch the Settings app, select Battery, tap the three-dot icon in the top-right corner, and select Battery usage.
Look for infrequently used apps that consume a high percentage of your battery. Select the app and tap Restrict background.
Next, tap Restrict to stop the app from using battery in the background.
To view background apps on your iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > Battery and tap Show Activity to see how much time apps have spent on the screen and in the background.
If you find an unused app that is using high battery and time in the background, close the app and make sure your phone is now charged normally. You should also disable background app refresh for battery draining apps; Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh. This can help reduce background app activities.
5. Your phone is slow to charge because your battery is old or faulty
nothing lasts forever. People, wealth, pain, not even your phone battery. The performance, capacity and efficiency of rechargeable batteries tend to decrease over time as they age. Your two-year-old smartphone's battery will drain faster than it did when it was new. Likewise, your phone will charge slower.iOS and iPadOS automatically slow down device performance and charging speed when battery capacity reaches 80% or less. To check your iPhone or iPad's battery capacity, go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health. If the maximum capacity is 80% or less, the battery has reached its useful life and needs to be replaced.
Android doesn't have a native tool to check battery health or life; Use a third-party battery app or visit a service center to determine the battery status. You likely have a defective battery if your phone is more than 2 - 3 years old.
In addition to the above, you should also avoid using your phone while charging. Doing so will charge your phone at a slow rate, raise the battery temperature, and increase the chances of corrosion of the charging cable.
