Phone charging slowly? 9 fixes to charge faster

Slow charging is annoying, especially when you need to leave in half an hour, but it is rarely a sign that something is broken. Phones only charge as fast as the weakest link allows: the power source, the adapter, the cable, the port, the temperature and the phone’s own battery settings. The fixes below check each one, starting with the most common. They apply to iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel and other Android phones.

Why is my phone charging slowly?

• Weak power source: laptop USB ports, car ports and old 5W adapters give a fraction of what modern phones can take.
• Wrong kind of charger: fast charging needs USB-C Power Delivery (PD). Samsung’s Super Fast Charging also needs PPS support.
• Worn or cheap cable: a damaged cable can silently fall back to slow charging.
• Lint in the port: the plug cannot seat fully, so the connection is poor.
• Heat: phones slow or pause charging when warm to protect the battery.
• Battery settings: optimized, adaptive or protect-battery modes deliberately slow charging near full.
• Heavy use while charging: gaming, navigation or video calls use power as fast as it goes in.

How fast should my phone charge?

• iPhone 18 Pro: up to 50% in about 15 minutes with a 60W-capable adapter.
• iPhone 17 and 17 Pro: up to 50% in about 20 minutes with 40W or more.
• iPhone 16 and earlier: about 50% in 30 minutes with an 18W to 20W USB-C PD adapter.
• Samsung Galaxy: Super Fast Charging needs a 25W USB-C PD PPS charger, and Super Fast Charging 2.0 on Ultra models needs 45W.
• Google Pixel: charges fastest on Google’s own USB-C charger or another USB-C PD charger of similar wattage.

These are best-case figures from the makers. Charging always slows as the battery fills, so the last 20 percent takes much longer than the first 50. If your phone reaches 50 percent in about the time listed, your setup is working properly, even if a full charge takes well over an hour.

How to fix a phone charging slowly

Settings that slow charging on purpose

• iPhone: Optimized Battery Charging, and on iPhone 15 and later a charge limit, in Settings › Battery › Charging. They hold at 80 percent to reduce battery wear. See how Optimized Battery Charging works.
• Samsung: Settings › Battery › Battery protection, with options such as Adaptive and Maximum 80%. Maximum 80% stops charging at 80 percent every time.
• Pixel: Settings › Battery › Charging optimization, including Adaptive Charging, which slows overnight charging to finish around your alarm time.

None of these is a fault. They are worth leaving on unless you need a full, fast charge before a long day; then switch them off for that charge.

Wireless charging is slow

Wireless pads lose some energy as heat, so they are slower than a cable at the same wattage. Old Qi pads give 5 to 7.5 watts. For faster wireless charging, use Apple MagSafe or a Qi2 charger on iPhone, or Samsung’s own wireless charger on Galaxy phones, each with the power adapter its maker recommends. Take off thick cases, metal rings and wallets, and line the phone up with the center of the pad.

Power banks and car chargers

A power bank or car adapter only fast charges if it supports USB-C Power Delivery at 20W or more, however large its battery capacity is. Many cheap ones give 10W or less. Check the output rating on the label, use a USB-C to USB-C cable, and plug into the USB-C port, not the USB-A one. In a car, use the 12V socket with a PD adapter rather than the car’s built-in USB port.

Charging slowly and dying fast?

When a phone charges slowly and also drains quickly, the battery itself is often worn. Old batteries hold less charge, can show jumpy percentages and may shut down early. Check battery health, and if it is at or below 80 percent, a new battery fixes both problems at once. See whether a battery replacement is worth it.

How to check your charging speed

• iPhone: Settings › Battery shows the estimated time to 80 percent while plugged in, and a Slow Charger note if the charger is weak.
• Samsung: the lock screen shows Fast charging or Super fast charging when it is working. If it just says Charging, the charger or cable is not fast.
• Pixel: the lock screen shows Charging rapidly or Charging slowly.
• Any phone: a small USB-C power meter between the charger and cable shows the real wattage, which is useful if you have several chargers to compare.

Port or battery? When to repair

If charging is slow with every charger and cable, only works at an angle, or the phone shows a moisture or accessory warning, the port may be worn or damaged. If it charges normally but the battery drains quickly or shuts down early, the battery is the likely cause. Both are common repairs. For a phone that will not charge at all, see our guides to an an iPhone with a charging problem and a Samsung that will not charge.

Slow charging after a software update

For a day or two after a big update, phones reindex files, optimize apps and download content in the background. That uses power while you charge and makes the phone warm, so charging looks slower. Leave it on the charger overnight on Wi-Fi, then check again the next day before trying anything else. If it stays slow for more than a few days, install any follow-up update and restart.

Heat and cold

Batteries charge best at room temperature. When a phone gets warm, from sun, a thick case, a car dashboard or gaming, it deliberately slows or pauses charging, and iPhones may show Charging On Hold. In freezing weather charging also slows. Let the phone reach room temperature, take it out of its case, and charge it on a hard surface rather than a bed or sofa.

Buying the right charger

• Choose a USB-C Power Delivery charger from Apple, Samsung, Google, Anker, Belkin or another well-known brand.
• For Samsung Super Fast Charging, make sure the box says PPS as well as PD.
• A single 45W to 65W USB-C charger can fast charge a phone and also power a tablet or many laptops.
• Look for a safety mark such as UL or ETL. Very cheap no-name chargers can overheat and charge slowly.