Is your phone charging slower than usual? Maybe it takes over 4–6 hours to reach 100%, or barely increases even after being plugged in for a long time. Slow charging is one of the most annoying problems every Android user faces, especially when you need your phone urgently.
The good news? Slow charging is almost always fixable — and you do NOT need special tools or expensive repairs. In this complete guide, you’ll learn **every reason why your phone charges slowly**, and more importantly, **how to fix it step-by-step**.
This is the most detailed and useful guide you’ll ever read on this topic — with proven solutions that actually work.
Why Your Phone Charges Slowly
Before fixing the problem, you must understand what causes it. Slow charging happens due to one or more of the following reasons:
- Faulty charging cable or adapter
- Dirty or damaged charging port
- Weak power source (like laptop USB ports)
- Background apps draining battery while charging
- Using the phone while charging
- Overheating during charge
- Battery health deterioration
- Enabled battery saver modes
- Incorrect settings and charging profiles
- Software bugs
- Fast charging disabled accidentally
- Charger not compatible with your phone’s fast-charging technology
- Low-quality chargers or power banks
Now let’s fix it — step by step — starting with the easiest solutions.
Fix 1: Check the Charging Cable (The #1 Cause)
The charging cable is the number one cause of slow charging. Even if your cable looks fine, tiny internal damage can slow charging dramatically.
Signs your cable is failing:
- Charging speed keeps dropping
- Phone charges only when the cable is bent
- Cable feels loose in the port
- Frayed or worn-out ends
- Charging stops randomly
Solution: Try a different high-quality cable.
Use:
- USB-C to USB-C cable for modern Android phones
- Fast charging–certified cables (PD, QC 3.0, AFC)
Cheap $1 cables usually support only *slow* charging — avoid them.
Fix 2: Check Your Charging Adapter
Your charger might not be supplying enough power. If you’re using a cheap or old adapter, your phone will charge slowly even if the cable is fine.
Check the charger’s output rating:
- 5W = extremely slow (basic chargers)
- 10W = still slow by today’s standards
- 15W = acceptable but not fast
- 25W / 30W = fast charging
- 45W / 65W / 100W = super fast charging (depends on phone)
Solution: Use the original charger or a certified fast charger.
If your phone supports fast charging and you use a 5W adapter, it will charge painfully slow. Matching your phone’s charging tech is essential.
Fix 3: Clean the Charging Port
This is one of the most common reasons for slow charging that people ignore. Over time, dust, lint, and dirt fill your charging port and block the metal connectors.
Symptoms:
- Loose charging connection
- Charger keeps disconnecting
- Slow or unstable charging
Solution (safe method):
- Turn off your phone
- Use a toothpick or SIM ejector tool
- Gently scrape out visible dirt
- Blow lightly to remove dust
Never use water or metal that may damage internal pins.
Fix 4: Don’t Charge from a Laptop or Power Bank
Laptop USB ports are extremely weak and usually output only:
- 0.5A (very slow)
- 1A (still slow)
If you charge from your laptop, your phone will charge like a snail.
Solution: Always use a wall charger.
Power banks also charge slowly unless they support fast charging output and use a high-quality cable.
Fix 5: Close Background Apps
If apps are running while your phone is charging, they consume battery faster than it charges.
Close apps by:
- Opening recent apps
- Selecting Close All
This alone can increase charging speed by 20–40%.
Fix 6: Stop Using Your Phone While Charging
Using your phone while charging slows the process dramatically.
Examples of things that drain battery while charging:
- Gaming
- Watching YouTube
- Browsing social media
- High brightness
- Video calls
If you want faster charging, put your phone down and let it charge undisturbed.
Fix 7: Change the Charging Environment
Phones charge slower when they overheat.
Avoid:
- Charging in hot areas
- Charging while gaming
- Charging under blankets or pillows
- Charging the phone in direct sunlight
Do this instead:
- Remove the phone case
- Charge in a cool room
- Place phone on a flat surface
Cooler phones charge significantly faster.
Fix 8: Enable Fast Charging in Settings
Some phones allow users to disable fast charging for battery health.
Check your settings:
- Go to Settings
- Search “Charging” or “Battery”
- Look for Fast Charging options
- Enable it
Sometimes a software update turns this option off accidentally.
Fix 9: Update Your Phone Software
Software bugs can break charging speed.
Steps:
- Settings → Software Update
- Download and Install
Updates include battery and charging optimization.
Fix 10: Don’t Charge With Wireless Chargers
Wireless charging is convenient but extremely slow.
Most wireless chargers output:
- 5W–10W
Whereas fast wired chargers output:
- 25W–100W+
If you want maximum speed, avoid wireless charging completely.
Fix 11: Try a Different Power Source
Sometimes the wall socket itself is the problem.
- Try a different plug
- Try a different room
- Remove extension cords or adapters
Weak or unstable electricity can slow charging speed.
Fix 12: Check for Moisture in the Charging Port
If your phone detects moisture, it may slow or block charging completely.
Fix:
- Turn off the phone
- Let it dry naturally for 1–2 hours
- Do not use rice, heat, or hairdryers
Fix 13: Limit Background Battery Usage
Stop apps from running non-stop in the background:
- Settings → Battery
- Select heavy apps
- Limit background activity
This can improve charging speed instantly.
Fix 14: Disable Features That Drain Power
Turn off unnecessary features while charging:
- Bluetooth
- GPS / Location
- NFC
- Hotspot
- Mobile Data
- High screen brightness
Fix 15: Reset Charging Stats (Battery Calibration)
Battery calibration helps when charging is stuck or inaccurate.
Steps:
- Drain battery to 0%
- Charge to 100% nonstop using original charger
- Restart the phone
Fix 16: Replace the Charging Cable (If Slow After Months)
Even high-quality cables wear out. Replace your cable every 6–12 months for best charging speeds.
Fix 17: Replace the Charger If It Gets Too Hot
Overheating chargers charge slowly and can be dangerous.
Replace immediately if:
- It smells burnt
- It overheats too fast
- It charges extremely slowly
- It is from a low-quality brand
Fix 18: Check Battery Health
A battery with low health will charge slowly and discharge quickly.
Signs of bad battery health:
- Phone drains fast
- Phone heats up easily
- Battery jumps from 40% to 10%
- Phone randomly turns off
If your battery health is below 75%, charging will always be slow — consider replacing the battery.
Fix 19: Stop Charging Through USB Hubs or Extension Cables
These reduce charging power and slow your phone dramatically.
Always connect directly to the wall charger.
Fix 20: Factory Reset (Last Resort)
If nothing works, software corruption may be the cause.
Warning: Backup data first.
- Settings → General Management → Reset → Factory Data Reset
When You Need Professional Repair
If you tried every solution and your phone is still charging slowly, you may have hardware damage.
Possible internal issues:
- Damaged charging port
- Loose charging connector
- Battery degradation
- Power IC (charging chip) failure
- Logic board damage
If your phone heats up unusually while charging or completely stops charging, visit a repair center immediately.
Conclusion
Slow charging is frustrating, especially if you need your phone urgently. But in most cases, the fix is simple — replacing the cable, checking the charger, cleaning the port, or changing your charging habits.
Follow the methods in this guide step-by-step, and your charging speed will improve dramatically. If the problem continues after trying everything, your battery or charging port may need repair.
For more battery and charging solutions, check out our Battery & Charging Problems category.