Why Is My Phone Charging Slowly? Common Causes and Easy Fixes
Everybody desires their devices to be charged within a short time. But what if your phone suddenly starts to charge slowly? You may be desperate waiting hours to charge a little. Knowledge of the reasons behind this as well as the ability to resolve the issue can help you get back to using your phone without the delay. We will diagnose the causes of slow phone charging, explore the most common issues, and provide methods to speed it up.
Common Causes of Slow Charging
The following common causes can help you diagnose slow charging problems.
Using a Low-Quality Charger or Cable
Your phone can charge faster when you use a portable charger and cable of high quality. Poor quality or old cables may contain frayed cables or ineffective connectors and thus power is not transferred efficiently. The low-cost chargers might not provide the appropriate quantity of current needed for fast charging. Don't leave your phone uncharged. Use the original charger and cable for fast charging.
Battery Health Is Declining
The battery health of your phone may begin to degrade over time, it can slow down charging. The number of charge cycles of lithium-ion batteries used in most smartphones is limited. Their ability to hold a charge reduces with age and therefore they will charge slowly. You can use your phone settings to monitor the battery health to determine whether you should replace your battery or not.
Extremely Hot or Cold Environments
Temperature plays a major role in the rate at which your phone charges. It is advisable not to charge your phone in very hot or cold places as this will slow down the speed of the process or even destroy the battery. Preferably, leave your phone to charge in a cool and dry location in order to prevent overheating. Other phones go to the extent of slowing down charging on their own when they detect the presence of high temperatures to avoid incurring more damage to the battery.
Dirty or Damaged Charging Port
With time, dust, lint and other debris may be deposited in the charging port of your phone, thus breaking the connection between your charger and your phone. This can slow or even stop charging.A toothpick or a small brush can clean the charge port to increase speed. If physical damage exists within the port, a repair or replacement may be necessary.
Using Your Phone While Charging
It is easy to scroll through social media or watch videos while your phone is charging; however, doing so can slow down the charging speed. The power used to turn on your phone's screen, applications, and other functions competes with the energy supplied by the charger. To ensure using phone while charging safety and to accelerate the charging process, it’s best to minimize usage, such as avoiding gaming or video streaming while charging.
Impact of Software Updates
In some cases, updating the software may make your phone take a long time to charge. Some processes may be running in the background consuming battery life after a large update to your phone. If your phone is slow to charge after a software update, restart it. This can close background processes that may be draining power.
How to Make Your Phone Charge Faster
Now, let’s explore other effective methods to fix a device with slow power intake.
Get a Fast Charger
The simplest way to hasten the process is to use a fast charger. Most smartphones support fast charging, but you will require a compatible charger to achieve this. A good fast charger can significantly cut down charging time.
The INIU Cougar P63-E1 Power Bank is an excellent choice for quick top-ups. It’s compact, portable, and capable of charging more than one device at a time. Perfect for when you're on the go and need a fast charge.
Similarly, the INIU Pocket Rocket P50 Smallest 10000mAh Power Bank also offers rapid charging, but in a smaller, even more portable form. With its impressive capacity and ability to charge multiple devices simultaneously, it's ideal for those who need a reliable charger that doesn’t take up much space.
Use a Wall Charger
Although it may appear convenient to charge using a laptop or computer, it is much slower than using a wall charger. A wall charger provides more current that assists the phone in charging quickly. To get the fastest speed, choose the INIU A11-E1 100W GaN Charger. This advanced GaN charger pumps more power into your device while keeping temperatures low to protect your battery. Switch to this high-speed setup. It cuts charging time and races you to 100% much faster than standard bricks.
Airplane Mode
You should switch on your airplane mode to charge your phone at a higher rate. This will reduce the amount of power used by the phone. This comes to the added power of the ability to charge the battery. You can turn on airplane mode when charging so that you can get a faster charge in the event that you are in a hurry.
Keep the Phone Cool
Heat could be a major cause of slow charging. When charging phones, they would heat up to a level that they would still be hot when they are in use. To prevent this, attempt to charge your phone in a cool and dry place. Ensure you do not leave your phone to charge in the open sunlight and you should not leave a phone in a casing that traps heat.
How to Fix a Phone That Is Barely Charging
In case your phone is charging slowly or your phone is not charging at all, the following are some of the quick solutions:
Try a Different Power Source
In case you have been using a computer to charge your phone, change to a wall charger and see whether the speed of charge increases. The USB port of a computer does not always have enough power to charge fast. Equally, use alternative power outlets in the event that the one you are using is faulty.
Restart Your Phone
In some cases, all that one needs to solve charging problems is to restart. Rebooting your phone is also a trick to clear off all the background applications or processes that may be draining power or other processes that may be creating issues with charging.
Check for Software Issues
If your phone's software is outdated or buggy, it can interfere with charging. Ensure your system is up to date. Check for any misbehaving apps causing runaway battery drain.
Identify Screen Issues
A faulty screen can draw excessive power and lead to slow charging speeds. Check the display for visual glitches or unresponsive touch functionality. Perform a hardware diagnostic to check for internal damage or loose connections behind the panel. If these issues persist, a screen replacement may be necessary to restore normal power balance.
How Long Does It Take an iPhone to Charge?
Charging times are different due to the phone model and the charger type. The average charge of an iPhone will require 1.5 to 3 hours to be fully charged with the help of an ordinary charger. This time can be greatly minimized with fast chargers. For example, the fast charger like the INIU P50-E1 power bank provides an iPhone reach about a 50% charge in just 30 minutes. It cuts the charging time effectively. Charging time also varies according to the battery health and use.
Tips to Prevent Slow Phone Charging
We can proceed to some useful hints on how to avoid slow charging in future.
Maintain Battery Health
Caring about your battery may assist in avoiding slow charging. You should not always charge your phone up to 100 per cent but rather charge it to a level of 20-80. Moreover, do not often discharge your battery to 0 per cent. This can also shorten the life of the battery.
Turn Off Unnecessary Apps
There are numerous apps that operate in the background, which use power and slow down the charging. Steer clear of applications that you do not require when charging your device to save on power. The settings on your phone can also be used to turn off background app refresh.
Keep Charging Port Clean
To prevent dust and debris from blocking the port, it is better to clean your charging port regularly. The buildup in the port should be removed very carefully with a soft brush or toothpick.
FAQ
Does closing apps help phone charging speed?
Yes, it might help to close apps you're not using because they still use up power in the background.
Is it better to turn off the phone while charging?
Leaving your phone off when recharging will hasten this since it will eliminate the use of power to display your phone screen and perform background activities.
What’s the difference between regular charging and fast charging?
Normal charging uses lower current, while fast charging provides your phone with higher voltages and current to achieve much faster speeds.
What is the 80/20 battery rule?
The 80/20 rule implies that you need to keep your phone charged between 20 and 80 per cent to prolong your phone’s lifespan.
Is charging to 100% bad for the battery?
Not bad, but it does cause voltage stress. For the best long-term health, try to keep it between 30% and 80% in your daily use, as this practice significantly extends its lifespan.
Conclusion
A slow-charging phone is usually caused by a simple hardware or environmental issue. Yet, with the help of recognizing the reason and accordingly simple solutions, you will be able to cut down wait time. Use a fast charger, keep your phone cool or just get a new charger. These small adjustments won't just speed up your daily routine but also help your battery stay healthy for years to come.
