You may remember a time when it didn't take all night to charge your phone. In those golden days, your Android device's battery indicator went from a pixel-wide red bar to a thick green bar in a quarter of an hour. Nowadays, however, your poor phone takes ages to recharge and you're constantly switching from one charging session to the next. Or maybe your phone has always been a charger at a snail's pace, constantly being left in the dust by your friends' devices.
Whatever your experience, it's time to finally put your smartphone under a diagnostic microscope and get to the root of its slow charging problem. Chances are, your phone is suffering from one of these ten ailments, and we're going to show you how to fix it. if possible.
We're going to tackle these problems in roughly decreasing order of likelihood, so let's start with the most common culprit.
10 Reasons Why Your Android Battery Charges Slowly
- Your cable is bad
- Your power supply is weak
- You have a bad adapter
- Your phone is old
- Your battery is bad
- The enemy is you
- Background apps save battery power
- Your USB port is blocked
- Your USB port is damaged
- Your USB port is corroded
Your cable is bad
If your phone is charging slowly, checking the USB cable should always be your first step. It's actually pretty understandable when you consider all the wear and tear on the main USB cable from everyday use. Many people continue to use the same charger setup that came with their device for years, not realizing that USB cables tend to fail quite easily.
USB cables get dropped, bent, stepped on, left in cars while burning and freezing, and devices are plugged in and out of devices every day. One thing to keep in mind is that USB cables are less secure than your device's port. When it comes down to it, you'd rather have your cable break than your phone's port because the cable is much easier (and cheaper) to replace. This is why manufacturers deliberately design USB cables to reduce wear and tear.
In most cases, the USB cable is to blame.
Have you ever had one of those cables that just doesn't seem to "plug" into your phone anymore? Does it just pop out annoyingly for no reason? Look inside the front end of the connector. You will find several tiny teeth made of relatively soft metal. Make sure they are not bent or damaged as they could damage your phone.
In short, there's a lot that can go wrong with a USB cable, and they're made for the weak. Get a new USB cable and you'll be fine. This and this alone probably accounts for 90 percent of the problems with slow charging.
What to do if Samsung is charging slowly
The problem for many users is that they ignore the problem, tolerate the problem and do not try to find out its cause. In fact, smartphone malfunctions can be eliminated. Below we will consider what to do if your Samsung phone charges very slowly (regardless of the reason) and consider what to do in this case.
Algorithm of actions:
- Make a visual inspection of the device, wire and adapter for mechanical damage. If any, replace the faulty device.
- Check the status of the charging port. If dirt is detected there, it is necessary to clean the connector. During the inspection, use a flashlight and a magnifying glass to see possible defects (cracks, damaged contacts, etc.). The presence of such damage is often the reason why Samsung charges slowly. If you cannot fix the problem at home, take the phone to a service center.
- Check background processes. The reason for slow charging may be the activity of many applications. We noted above that to study this information you need to go to Settings and the Battery section.
- Diagnose your Samsung phone for internal errors. For example, you can use CCleaner or other similar software.
- Update your smartphone to the latest version of Android. This action helps correct some errors. If your Samsung is still charging slowly as before, move on to the next step.
- Remove viruses. There are many applications available in the Play Store that allow you to quickly scan your phone and remove unnecessary files. Alternatively, you can use Dr. Web or Kaspersky. Run a full scan of your Samsung phone and delete all suspicious files that are detected by the program. Often the smartphone charges slowly due to the action of viruses.
- Return to the official firmware. If you used an unofficial version of the software, return to the previous version. Perhaps Samsung began to charge slowly precisely because of errors in the new software.
- Calibrate the battery. Google offers the safest and easiest method to do this job. First, completely discharge the device. After that, put it on charge and do not remove it for eight to nine hours. During this time the phone must be turned on. Next, unplug the plug from the socket and turn off your Samsung smartphone. After this, put the device on charge again and keep it in this position for an hour. Unplug the cord and use the devices for a few minutes (pre-switch on required). After this, turn off the device again and charge it for an hour. You can then use the device as usual. Using this method, it is possible to solve the problem when Samsung charges slowly. The point is that with such actions the normal operation of the controller is configured.
- Do not use the device while charging. If you set your Samsung phone to charge, leave it alone until it reaches the required level of 100 percent.
- Change the battery. If it is possible to remove and replace the battery, install a new power source. This is true if the reason that the smartphone is charging slowly is due to natural wear and tear. If the problem persists, you will have to contact the service center. Often, for this reason, the battery on a Samsung smartphone also discharges quickly.
In conclusion, we note that to calibrate the battery, which was mentioned above, you can also use special programs. Let's highlight several options:
- Battery Calibration is a program in Russian that only works if you have root rights. To check, you need to enter the software, connect the charger and bring the battery to 100%. After that, click Battery Calibration, disconnect the charger and discharge the smartphone to zero percent.
- 3C Battery Monitor Widget. This is a free application that helps you do calibration. At the same time, the built-in wizard itself gives recommendations on what needs to be done and when. Calibration is carried out during an update and if there is an error in the charge indication. It will also come in handy if your Samsung phone is charging slowly. The average frequency of such checks is about once a month.
To determine the cause of the malfunction, it is necessary to measure the charging current. This can be done using a USB tester or program. The second option is more convenient and involves using the Ampere application. In this case, the charge current is displayed directly on the smartphone display.
Your power supply is weak.
If you use a computer to charge your phone, it will charge very slowly. Even with USB 3.0, the standard power output is only 0.9A (0.5mA for USB 2.0). This is under ideal conditions - any damage to the USB cable or ports can reduce this meager power flow.
Likewise, if you use wireless charging (or even reverse wireless charging), you'll get a pretty icy charge compared to a wall outlet. There's no arguing that wireless charging isn't cool—it certainly is—but at the moment we're kind of banging our heads about physics and safety. In short, plugging your phone into an outlet has become faster.
So yes, here is your solution. Many device owners use ineffective methods because they simply think that "charging is charging," but currently the fastest way to fully restore your battery is to use a dedicated wall charger and physically plug your device into it. If you do this and still have slow charging, the problem may be with your home's wiring (if it's a particularly old building).
Poor cable quality
The original cable (internal conductors or connector) becomes damaged over time, the electrical signal begins to be lost in it, it stops charging, does it slowly or every once in a while. Try bending it in different directions and see if contact is lost (charging stops in certain positions).
If you bought a new, initially weak cable with thin conductors, then it will not be able to transmit the required current and will charge slowly. The conductors and connectors in such cables quickly break down and it stops charging altogether.
The cable is the first thing to check and replace if necessary. It should be thick enough, of high quality and cost accordingly (not too cheap). On AliExpress you can find many good options for $2-3 from popular manufacturers with a rating of 4.8-4.9 and thousands of reviews.
You can check the cable on another device (smartphone or tablet), which charges normally and quickly enough with the original cable.
You have a bad adapter
Yes, that little blocky thing that fits into the wall. Maybe a power surge made it a little wobbly or it got kicked while driving. Again, this device is designed to take the brunt of any injury, not your phone, so they generally aren't the toughest little devices. Get a new one and get back to full charging speed.
How else can you fix the problem?
If the charging block, USB cable, connector of the Huawei Honor 10 Lite smartphone and its battery do not raise suspicions, you need to proceed to software troubleshooting. Charging problems arise due to a malfunction in the Android operating system. The only way out of this situation is by resetting to factory settings:
- Open your phone settings.
- Go to the "Backup and Reset" section.
- Click the "Reset Settings" button.
Performing this operation deletes all files from the device memory. To avoid losing important information, it is recommended to first make a backup copy through the settings.
Your phone may be old.
This may be a touchy subject, but it might be time to upgrade your device. Modern smartphones have processors that support faster charging, and some devices have turbocharging capabilities. If you feel like your phone is charging slower than people with newer devices, this could be your problem.
However, even if you have a reliable phone that you know charges faster (not just compared to your peers), the sad reality is that things fall apart. The center doesn't hold. Hardware decomposition. The falcon cannot hear the falconer, and telephones are not immune to the inexorable pull of entropy, dragging everything towards the final heat death of the Universe.
Basically I was considering buying a new phone.
Insufficient charger power
If you bought a new charger, but it charges your smartphone much slower than the previous one, the reason may be insufficient power or the lack of the necessary fast charging technology.
As a minimum option, today it is recommended to use a charger with a charge current of 2A, since 1A is already too little, they charge the smartphone slowly. Sometimes manufacturers include a charger with less power and without support for fast charging, while the phone supports it. Find out what technology your smartphone supports and select the appropriate charger.
It is important that the cable matches the power of the charger and can provide high-quality fast charging; this is usually indicated in its characteristics.
Make sure that your smartphone does not heat up too much during charging; if possible, place it in a cool, ventilated place, remove the case, and place it vertically (on a stand). Because due to overheating, the controller reduces the current and, accordingly, the charging period increases. In addition, overheating has a very negative effect on the battery, reducing its service life.
Your battery is bad
There have been many cases where manufacturers have recalled entire batches of batteries. Search online to see if your phone model's battery is dead and see if you can purchase a replacement from your provider. Plus, like your phone in general, batteries simply age and fail.
Unfortunately, most modern smartphones no longer offer user-replaceable batteries. This means that if the cells in your device start dying, you will either have to jailbreak your phone or send it to a store or OEM for a battery replacement
Physical wear and tear of the battery
When you have already tried everything, but nothing helps - the smartphone charges slowly and quickly loses charge, it is most likely time to change the battery. It is better to do this at a service center, especially if it is not removable.
Finding an original battery yourself or choosing a good quality battery is quite difficult. Analogues are often much worse and may not improve the situation in any way. If the battery is removable, then everything becomes simpler - you can find a replacement from well-known manufacturers. We recommend purchasing a high-capacity battery, if available for your device.
Information about battery wear in iOS can be found using the CoconutBattery program, in Android through the service menu (*#*#4636#*#*).
The enemy is you
Take a look in the mirror because it's time for some introspection. How addicted are you to Facebook? Do you have a problem with Candy Crush Saga? Do you usually play with your phone while charging?
A surprising number of smartphone users don't realize that the biggest drain on their phone's battery is the screen. If you're running high-resolution YouTube drama on that gorgeous display, your battery is being drained even as your phone sucks it up. If you combine this with one of the other problems described above, you may find yourself in a situation where you're using up battery power faster than your phone can take it.
If you need your phone to charge quickly, let it rest while it's on the charger
Which mobile phones are at risk?
Android, iOS, Windows - a phone with any of these operating systems may be at risk of relatively slow charging. Even a very expensive smartphone can sooner or later die, especially if you use it very actively.
But still, usually phones with large batteries are most susceptible to this problem. For example, Lenovo, LG, Honor, Xiaomi, Huawei, Meizu, Asus. But iPhone, Samsung, Nokia, Sony Xperia and HTC are not so prone to such a malfunction. True, this does not mean that the problem of slow charging will not affect them at all.
Background applications drain your battery.
While your screen is your number one battery, you may have some hidden apps running in the background that are constantly draining power, causing your phone to charge more slowly. Could your phone not only charge slowly, but also charge faster than before? If yes, then this may be your problem.
Apps on Android often download themselves or run in the background after only being open for a moment. While this used to be a bigger problem than it is now—Android is getting better and better at managing resources efficiently—having one or two rogue apps can really slow down your phone's performance.
The simplest solution is to get a good task manager and check it often to see what's working and what shouldn't be. If you find an app that's not working properly, try uninstalling it and see if your battery life and charging speed improve over the next few days.
Charging time
First, let's figure out how long your Samsung smartphone should charge. This information is individual and depends on several components:
- Battery capacity. The larger it is, the longer it takes to charge the power source.
- Smartphone model.
- Availability of fast charging, etc.
Older Samsung phone models require two to three hours to fully charge. A new smartphone charges in less time - within 1-1.5 hours (sometimes this period is even shorter with fast charging). Information on this matter is indicated in the operating instructions or on the manufacturer’s website. You can look at the forums and get more accurate information on charging time.
Your USB port is blocked.
Your phone sits around all day in your pocket or purse with all sorts of lint, dust, and particles. It's quite common to get a bit of debris in a USB port. If you plugged in the charger without noticing, it may have filled the obstruction even deeper, which may be preventing the charger from making a good connection.
Using a bright light and perhaps magnification, look around inside your phone's USB port for anything that shouldn't be there. If you see something that clearly doesn't belong to him, take a thin, pointed object and carefully try to remove it. Do you remember playing the board game Operation as a child? We're in that kind of territory here. Be very careful not to damage any components of the port, otherwise you may end up with a more serious problem than you already have.
I recommend using a plastic (not wood) toothpick if you can find one. Alternatively, scrubbing the port with a dry, new toothbrush is a very effective and safe way to ensure it is free of blockages.
Battery problems
Sooner or later, any battery will stop working.
And the longer you use it, the worse it will hold its charge over time (and, accordingly, the longer it will last). The battery life is about five hundred operating cycles (discharging and charging). As a rule, this is enough for 2-3 years.
First of all, you need to check the battery capacity to understand the remaining resource. If it has dropped significantly, the easiest way is to replace the battery.
But remember: you should only purchase a replacement battery in specialized stores or retail outlets, otherwise you may end up with a low-quality product.
Your USB port is corroded.
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Yes, you can also have corrosion due to sweat or humidity. Corrosion is a particularly serious minor problem because it creates a film on the connecting hardware that prevents proper charging. Worse, if you don't get rid of it, it may continue to eat away at your device, causing more serious problems.
How long should a phone charge?
How quickly the phone will be powered depends on the size of its battery and, naturally, on the power of the charging itself.
A new phone with a “native” charger will be charged 100% in 2-4 hours. This time is approximate, since each manufacturer has different battery sizes and memory power.
When the phone is completely saturated, it will notify you about this through a certain signal. In addition, a corresponding message will appear on the screen.
Some modern models have a fast charge function. Thanks to it, you can charge your phone 2-3 times faster.
True, it is better not to use such a function unless absolutely necessary, because this may have a bad effect on the properties of the battery.
IT IS IMPORTANT! When charging your phone, put it aside for the time being. Li-ion and Li-pol batteries are afraid of overheating, and they definitely do not need additional load on the processor. Because of this, there is also no need to charge your phone on fabric surfaces.
Broken cables and adapters
The first culprit of slow charging is often the USB cable. They bend, twist, fold: none of this is good for maintaining a strong connection and flowing power.
If the cable that came with your device is no longer reliable or you've simply lost it, beware of buying cheap options. Higher quality cables have copper wire (some manufacturers use aluminum and other substitutes that don't hold up well) and a thicker rubber sheath around the wire, making them more resistant to damage.
The USB connector itself also wears out. For example, when you connect a cable to an adapter or phone, it dangles, falls out, and becomes clogged with dust. If this is the problem, then you can try to remove the dust with a toothpick.
Your charger may be damaged. If your phone won't charge when plugged in, try checking the power adapter (the small box that plugs into an outlet). If it is too hot or, conversely, cold, this may be an indirect sign of a breakdown. Connect your phone to your computer via a USB cable. If it starts charging, the problem is with the adapter. Go to any hardware store and buy a new one that matches the model of your device.
Suspect number 3 - socket
Sometimes it happens that sockets (especially in old houses) begin to “fail”. This is usually due to worn-out electrical wiring, so try recharging your smartphone from another outlet at home or, for example, at work. And if you find that your smartphone is charging faster in another place, this will tell you not only that the device’s battery is in perfect order, but also that it’s time to call an electrician and check the wiring in your apartment.
Suspect number 4 - smartphone
If the above methods for determining the “culprit” did not help you, then with a high degree of probability the reason for slow charging may be the smartphone battery. Here you can’t do without specialized diagnostic tools, although you can go into the device settings and look at the battery capacity. If it drops below 50%, the battery will have to be replaced.
