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It’s a tale as old as time (or at least since 2007): You purchase a new iPhone to enjoy the latest and greatest features, but slowly, as the months and years pass, it suddenly feels like your phone never holds a charge anymore, and your battery is always dead.
There are plenty of valid reasons for this, including device age, accumulated content, increased usage, and more. And while after-market remedies like MagSafe battery packs and power banks are great when you want to use them, your at-home charging setup is the most frequently used and relied upon. But sometimes, waiting for your iPhone to charge feels like watching paint dry, and it’s easy to feel like no matter what you do, it’s never juiced up fully in a reasonable manner.
6 fixes for a slow-charging iPhone
Thankfully, your iPhone doesn’t have to live chained to an outlet any longer. These simple tricks could dramatically speed up your charging time, and many of them don’t require any new cords, cables, or accessories.
1. Charge with proper gear
Before contemplating filing a formal complaint to Apple about your phone’s sh*t battery, take a pause and check your charging. The fastest way to charge your iPhone is with a fast charger. That requires at least a 20W wall brick with a certified cable for iPhone 15 models or later. If you own an iPhone 8 or later, your device can charge from dead to about 50% battery in a half hour, and to full in an hour. But even topping your phone off via fast charging for a few minutes before heading out can make a difference.
Also: I followed the ‘Plus 5’ rule for wireless charging, and it fixed my iPhone’s charge speeds
It’s easy to tell when you’re using an adapter under 20W, too. Following the release of iOS 26, Apple lets you know if you’re using an underpowered power brick or older cable with a notification saying “Slow Charger” at the top of your lock screen when you’re charging your phone. The wattage of these adapters is often printed right on them as well. And since Apple no longer includes power bricks with its phones, you can either buy Apple’s 20W brick or consider similar alternatives, like these from Baseus and Anker.
Third-party fast-charging accessories are completely fine to use, just make sure they’re certified. In general, you’ll need at least a 20W adapter to charge an iPhone 12 or later.
2. Charge wirelessly
Another easy way to charge faster? Ditch the wires altogether. Charging with a Qi2-certified wireless charger with a 20W adapter is the next best way to boost your phone (and it’s cord-free). You’ll need an iPhone 12 or later to obtain the fastest 15W wireless charging.
Also: I added a MagSafe charger to my nightstand and realized its untapped potential: 3 ways it’s useful
However, make sure to use a MagSafe or Qi2 charger to get the maximum 15W power. Older Qi1 chargers can also charge wirelessly, but you only get up to 7.5 watts, which is remarkably slower than Qi2 and only a smidge faster than a standard 5W wall charger. Again, it’s important to look out for certified accessories to avoid potential fires or other emergencies.
3. Don’t charge from other devices
Just because your laptop or tablet has the capability to hypothetically charge your iPhone doesn’t mean it’s the most effective or recommended choice. If you’re in an emergency or a pinch, it’s fine to plug into your Mac or laptop to boost your iPhone. But don’t make it a regular habit. The best way to get the most efficient and quick charge is by using a certified setup with the proper wattage, and the USB-C port on your laptop just isn’t that.
Your computer always charges slower than anything else, as the ports aren’t designed to deliver the same amount of power as any wall outlet can (yep, even a small 5W power adapter). And forget it if you attempt to charge with faulty or damaged ports and uncertified or incompatible cables. Talk about slow. If you’re really keen on this method (please just use a standard charger), make sure to at least use certified tools, like Nomad’s Universal Charger.
Nomad’s Universal Charger for Apple Watch, which is designed to charge from a laptop.
Kayla Solino/ZDNET
4. Power down or switch to Airplane mode
This may be groundbreaking news for some, but it makes sense at face value. Turning your phone off to charge turns off all background functions: apps, display, audio, etc. So it makes sense that it will help charge your phone faster. This isn’t always practical for one reason or another, so there’s always the option to flip on Airplane mode, which similarly paralyzes a lot of background functions by temporarily cutting off Wi-Fi and cellular service.
5. Tweak some settings
There are a few settings you can tweak that may help your iPhone charge faster by decreasing background functions. It’s not always a given, but these can be good options to try.
- Low power mode: Turning on Low Power Mode can potentially reduce or affect battery-hungry features like 5G, display brightness, auto-lock, background app refresh, and automatic downloads.
- Dark mode: Dark mode may or may not have an impact on charging speed, but turning it on while you’re charging your iPhone won’t hurt.
- Turn your screen brightness down: The digital display is one of the most power-consuming aspects of your iPhone. The brighter your screen, the faster your battery drains, so turning it all the way down while it charges could boost speeds.
6. Touch grass
Literally, you don’t have to touch grass, but metaphorically speaking, please do. If you want your device to charge faster, consider the radical idea of putting it down. If you stop using your iPhone while it’s charging, it will, in fact, charge faster.
Get outside, take a walk, read, engage in a new hobby, or do something else while your iPhone is charging, so you’re not prolonging the time it takes to charge it by using the battery before it has a chance to boost your overall percentage. It’s a simple solution to a first-world problem, but it won’t kill any of us to spend less time on our screens.
So… these didn’t work?
Are you the lucky winner of an iPhone with a garbage battery? Let me be the first to welcome you to the club. If all of these tips fail to help remedy your slow charging, it may be time to look into investing in a new battery (like me). You can do a quick pulse check via your phone.
Navigate to Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging. At the top of the page will be a battery breakdown where you can see your device’s maximum capacity. Obviously, the older your device, the more likely that max capacity is lower. If you see a message like “Your battery’s health is significantly degraded,” it’s a good idea to consider making an appointment with Apple to replace your battery. A degraded battery doesn’t hold charge as well, so it drains more quickly.
Apple’s iPhone Battery Service website can give you an estimate of how much a battery replacement will cost. The price depends on your service coverage and the make and model, but for my iPhone 14 Pro, the estimate is $99, and I apparently need to look into that.
Still need more battery-boosting? Check out the best power banks and MagSafe batteries for on-the-go use and our favorite wireless chargers for multifunctional charging.
