

On tech forums, groups and social media, I have seen many people complaining about Slow Phone charging problem.This is a very common issue and not just limited to phones or tablets. It affects all devices that use micro-USB port to receive power to charge the devices. If you are affected by this annoying problem, don’t you worry, I am going to provide you a list of solutions that will hopefully solve slow charging on Galaxy S7, Nexus 5X, OnePlus 2 whatever.

How to Fix Slow Charging on your Android Device

There are many factors responsible for slow charging of your Android smartphone, I have highlighted the most common ones. Perform the steps mentioned below until your problem is sorted.

1. Replace the Charging Cable


Many times, it is the micro-USB to USB cable that is the culprit. These cables lose their efficiency over time and therefore can’t provide enough current (amperage) to charge the phone/device. Change the Micro-USB to cable. Either purchase a new one or borrow the one that’s being used on other device. If you are using iPhone, change the lightning cable.

Tip: When purchasing cables, always go for slightly thicker ones (higher gauge). They can transfer high current without breaking down.

2. Use Airplane Mode

Airplane mode completely turns off wireless connectivity (Cellular and WiFi) of your phone. So it does not interfere with the instruments present in the aircraft. Surprisingly, Airplane mode on your smartphone can significantly improve the charging process by decreasing the charging time. The only disadvantage is that you would not be able to communicate with others through mobile network or internet.

3. Get a new Charger

If changing the charging cable doesn’t work. It’s time to change the charger. Variety of USB based chargers available in the market are of low quality, so getting a good charger is a bit challenging.

A good charger must have following specifications:

5v 2.0A – This is the standard. Get a charger which has an output of at least 2.0 ampere . Read the information written on the front/back of the charger.

– This is the standard. Get a charger which has an output of at least . Read the information written on the front/back of the charger. Avoid chargers with detachable USB cables, their ports/connections become lose after frequent usage. It is better to get charger with fixed micro-USB output.

I’m using a charger from Blackberry PlayBook, it is my favorite and works on all of my devices. It has a stable 2.0A output and a fixed micro-usb cable.

Warning: Refrain from using multi-purpose chargers that come with universal connectors.

4. Avoid Charging from Powerbanks, Laptop or PC

While they can charge your device using USB ports, it is still not a best idea to do so. USB ports on Computers are meant for transferring data, they do not enough current for a device to charge. Hence, slow charging.

Output current for USB in ideal scenario:

USB 2.0 can provide up to 500mA

USB 3.0 can provide up to 900mA

If you don’t have a charger nearby and using PC USB port as a last resort. It would be great if you connect your device to a USB 3.0 (blue) port.

5. Stay away from Phone while Charging

Using your phone while charging may put a negative impact on your Android’s battery life. It puts battery under heavy load and cause the device to heat up. Do these things before you put your phone to charge:

Close/End all the applications that are running

Turn off WiFi, Bluetooth and GPS

Put your Smartphone Airplane mode, it will turn off all the wireless/cellular connectivity. Only do this if you’re not expecting any communication.

6. Replace your Smartphones Battery

If your device is an year old and it quickly drains battery after a long charging session. Chances are your device battery is dying a slow painful death. Get a new battery from Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM). If they discontinued the production of phone/battery. Don’t worry, you can still find replica batteries. Proceed with caution though.



7. Change the Android/iOS version of your Device

If you recently upgraded your device’s operating system through System Update (i.e. Android Marshmallow) and experiencing quick battery drain or slow charging. It means the new OS is buggy or incompatible with your device. Look for steps to downgrade the version or wait for a bug fix patch.