Why Does Your Phone Take Ages to Charge

It takes forever to charge your phone, and it’s not the latest model around. That’s why you may be thinking “Why is my phone charging slowly”? Well, it could just show its age through the battery drain. But if you bought your phone recently and it’s still very slow when it comes to charging, you may want to check what causes the problem.

Let’s talk about possible reasons why your iPhone is charging slowly. We have quite a few tips on how to tackle them. By monitoring what’s running in the background and understanding your phone’s battery, you can significantly improve its charging speed and enjoy a phone that doesn’t keep you waiting!

Understanding iPhone Batteries 

Your iPhone has a lithium-ion (Li-ion) type of battery. But why lithium-ion? These batteries are known for their lightweight and high capacity for energy storage. They can last for hundreds of charge-discharge cycles with only a small decrease in their ability to hold a charge. Furthermore, they don’t have any “memory effect” like other rechargeable batteries do; so you can charge your iPhone anytime without worrying about reducing the battery life. 

How iPhone Batteries Power Your Day

Every tap, swipe, or click on your iPhone takes a tiny amount of power from the battery. This type of battery works by moving lithium ions between a positive and a negative electrode. When your phone is charging, ions flow to the positive electrode, storing energy that’s ready to be used when you need it. And then when you use your phone, those ions travel back to the negative electrode, releasing the energy that powers your device. Fascinating, right? It's this flow of ions that keeps your phone running smoothly.

“Why Is My Phone Charging Slowly”?

If you use some random charger lying around and realize your phone is charging slow, there’s a reason for that. When you use a charger that doesn’t match your phone, it may take a long to charge it. Most smartphones come with chargers that provide 1 to 2 amps – check the text on your charger or take a look at the specifications of your phone to confirm. In case you’re moving down from 2A to 1A, the charging process will be much slower for sure. The solution is to get a charger with similar amp output or even higher, but not lower.

USB Cable Woes

If changing the adaptor does not help, take a closer look at your USB cable. This could be the reason for your problem, especially if the cable has bent out of shape or has a pet chew on it. Sometimes even minor damages on the cable can be the reason why your phone is charging slow. Try another cord and see if that makes any difference.

Connector Troubles

It’s also possible that the problem may be hidden in your phone’s charging port. Over time, it gets filled with dust or even starts showing signs of corrosion. Take a moment to examine the port for dirt or any other form of wear and tear that might be present. If needed, clean it softly with a toothpick or a soft brush, it can do wonders. But be very careful and don't use metal tools – you don’t want to ruin the contacts inside the port.

Busy Bee Phone

When plugged in, your smartphone comes alive. This is when it updates apps, runs antivirus scans and generally does everything behind your back. All these activities require power, which makes your phone charge slower. Which of these apps uses the most power? Go to “battery” in your phone settings and you’ll see the list of apps and how they use the battery; then close all the unnecessary applications running on your device. 

Battery Blues

Those lithium-ion batteries in our smartphones are not immortal either. They have a maximum number of times they can be recharged before their charge starts dropping. It means the charging time will become longer, especially after your phone has been with you for a couple of years. In case you notice your phone charges slow, and doesn’t hold the charge how it used to? Maybe it’s time to get your battery replaced with a new one. 

Charging on a Leash

Here’s an interesting fact: sometimes the fancy fast technology is the reason why the phone is charging slow! Once your battery reaches a certain level, this technology reduces its power to give the battery a break, extending its lifespan. Have you ever noticed how quickly your phone charges to 50% and then slow down the charging process? That’s the reason behind it. Some chargers even “go to sleep” while plugged in overnight, extending the charging process so your phone can reach 100% just by the time your alarm rings. You can go to “battery” to check if your cell phone has this feature.

“Bad” Mobile Apps for a Smartphone’s Battery

Social Media Apps

Apps like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok can drain your battery significantly while being actively used. But even more than that, they continue working in the background to send you notifications and other updates. To avoid your phone charges slow, always make sure you close the app completely if you’re not planning to use it soon. You can also go to settings and limit background data usage and reduce notification frequency.

Streaming Services

YouTube, Netflix, Spotify and other video or music streaming apps can cause high battery drainage because of continuous data streaming and high screen brightness during viewing. Minimizing resolution for streamed content, as well as downloading content to watch it offline will help you to save power.

Online Games

High-graphic online games, such as PUBG, Fortnite or Call of Duty require intensive processing power and constant data exchange from your phone. These apps can drain your battery much faster and decrease your phone’s life cycle. So if you notice your phone is charging slow, try lowering these games’ graphic settings, or limiting your gaming time.

Navigation Apps

Apps with GPS tracking, such as Google Maps, Apple Maps, Waze etc, are the most battery-draining ones. They use real-time location services, constant data streaming, and require your phone’s screen to be always on. To reduce the negative impact on the battery, 

try using offline maps, or turn off the screen during navigation when possible. 

Camera Apps

The camera app on the newest iPhones has a lot of great features, but it also means it consumes a lot of power, especially when you’re filming a high-resolution video. If your goal is to save the battery, try to limit the use of extra features and close the camera app right after you finish taking photos.

Video Conferencing Apps

Apps for video calls (Skype, Zoom, Microsoft Teams) are not an exception when it comes to draining the battery. They require a lot of data transfer and also engage both camera and microphone for video calls. The solution is to turn off the camera when it’s not needed, or lower the video quality – it will help to save your battery life.

Weather Apps

These apps use data constantly to update weather information, and in addition to this, they have widgets that refresh frequently and can lead to a battery drain. Removing weather widgets will help you save battery life, and also don’t forget to close these apps right after you use them. 

Email Clients

Background email synchronization apps, especially those managing multiple email accounts and receiving a lot of messages a day, can lead to a significant battery drain. To reduce this effect, set a longer interval for email syncing and disable push notifications for non-important emails.

All these could be the answer to the question “Why is my phone charging slowly?” With the help of our simple advice, you can reduce the impact of all the power-hungry applications and extend your phone’s battery life. 

Keep Your Charge: Simple Tricks to Prevent Rapid Battery Drain

1. Brightness Down, Battery Life Up

We all love bright and contrast phone screens, but the thing is, it’s not always necessary.

Dimming the brightness of your phone’s screen can significantly extend the battery life. Consider using the auto-brightness function, which adjusts the brightness level based on your current environment. If you don’t like that function, remember to lower the brightness manually, especially in the evening and before bed.

2. Power-Hungry Apps: Keep Them in Check

Some apps act like vampires to your battery, sucking out the energy from your device even when you are not using them. So don’t forget to check the battery usage in settings. In case you see any app draining too much of the battery, limit their background activity.

3. Update: The Unsung Hero of Battery Life

Updating both your apps and operating system can do wonders for your phone’s battery life. Software developers constantly update their programs to run more efficiently and often include optimizations that can help extend your phone’s batteries. So next time you see an update notification, don’t ignore it!

4. Wi-Fi Over Cellular: A Smart Switch

Do you know that browsing on Wi-Fi consumes less battery than using cellular data? Try to connect to a Wi-Fi network instead of using cellular data whenever it’s possible. This will save both your battery life and your data plan.

5. Goodbye Push Notifications

Every time your phone lights up with a push notification, it uses battery power. While being informed is important, you can turn off the notifications for non-essential apps. This small adjustment can have a big impact on your phone’s battery life.

6. Location Services: Only When Necessary

Location tracking is another silent battery drainer. Unless you’re using a certain app that requires your exact location, you can turn off the location services for all the other apps. You can do this in your phone settings, allowing every app to use location only when required.

7. The Power of Low Power Mode

Most smartphones today have a Low Power Mode (or something like that), which adjusts settings such as email fetch, background app refresh, and visual effects to save battery power. When you are running low on battery, turning on this mode will give you the extra time you need to get through the day.

Supercharge Your Phone: Quick Tips to Boost Charging Speed

Whether you’re getting ready for a night out or preparing for an unexpected meeting, it’s always frustrating to wait until your phone is fully charged. But don’t worry – these simple but powerful tips will make charging your device faster than ever before.

1. Embrace Airplane Mode

The simplest trick is to put your phone into airplane mode while charging it. This mode shuts down all wireless connections in the phone, including cellular data, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. It reduces power consumption and helps your smartphone concentrate entirely on recharging itself. But remember you won’t be able to receive phone calls and messages while the airplane mode is on, so use it only when you’re not waiting for an important call.

2. Power Off: The Ultimate Charging Mode

Turning your phone off during the charging process can work wonders. That way there will be no activities running in the background and all the power will be used at full capacity for charging your phone. It’s also a great option when you have important work to do and want to stay away from constant distractions on your phone.

3. Choose the Right Charger: Compatibility Matters

Chargers differ in design and functionality. It’s recommended to use the charger that came with your device, or the one that is certified by your phone’s manufacturer. Off-brand or incompatible chargers might not only charge your phone slower but also can potentially harm your device. 

4. Don’t Use a Computer USB Charge

Charging your phone through a computer’s USB port is very convenient, but not the fastest way. Compared to wall chargers, USB ports usually have lower power output, resulting in slow charging. If you want to speed up the process, plug your smartphone directly into a wall socket, using the correct charger.

5. Do Not Use Wireless Charging for Speed

Wireless charging is cool, but only if you have nowhere to rush. In case you’re out of time, use a cable with a wall socket instead to give your phone a quick juice-up.

6. Keep It Cool: Temperature Matters

Did you know that phones charge faster when they are cool? Hot temperatures can slow down the charging process and even damage the battery. For example, Apple recommends taking off the phone case while charging if it’s too thick and causes overheating. Try to avoid hot environments while charging your phone, it will keep your battery in good health for a longer time. Also, try not to use your phone while it’s charging. 

7. Opt for Fast Charging Technology

Many modern smartphones support fast charging technology which can significantly increase the charging speed and make your life easier, especially if you’re often on the go. However, make sure that both the cable and charger support the fast charging feature and are compatible with your phone.

These simple but effective suggestions will improve your charging habits and minimize the time you spend near a power source. You don’t have to follow them all at once, but it’s always great to know about all the options you have. So give them a try and enjoy your phone charging faster than ever before.