Charging Slow? Here’s How to Make Your Phone Charge Faster

We’ve all been there. You glance at your phone—12% battery! You have ten minutes before you need to dash out the door. Frantically plugging it in feels like a race against time, watching that percentage bar crawl upwards slower than a queue at the post office.

The good news? With a few simple tweaks and smarter charging habits, you can speed up the charging process. In this guide, we’ll walk you through practical, proven tips on how to make your phone charge faster, and keep your battery healthy in the long run.

How to Make Your Phone Charge Faster

Charging faster comes down to two things—getting more power into your phone and stopping unnecessary power drain while it’s plugged in.

Try these 9 essential tips on how to make phone charge faster:

1. Use Certified Fast Chargers and Cables

Let’s start with the right hardware. Fast charging only works when all three pieces—phone, charger, and cable—agree on both the wattage (volts x amps) and the protocol. Start by checking your phone’s spec sheet for its maximum wired-charging watts. Then grab a charger and USB-C cable that can supply at least that number over a protocol the phone understands.

The near-universal standard is USB Power Delivery (PD); its 3.1 “EPR” update negotiates up to 240W, but that headroom is meant for laptops. Today’s phones typically top out at 30W, 45W, and 60W. Your handset will draw only what it’s designed for, but pairing a low-power charger with a high-demand phone will slow you down.

And to tap into that speed safely, look for quality cables and adapters that carry USB-IF or equivalent third-party certification—tests that verify voltage stability and protect against “cheap-cable” meltdowns. Using faulty, worn-out, or uncertified gear may throttle charging speeds or trigger your phone’s safety circuits, undoing any benefit.

Many Android devices also layer on proprietary fast-charging systems to deliver even faster top-ups. HONOR’s SuperCharge is a good example: its latest silicon-carbon-battery phones accept up to 100W, rocketing from empty to 51% in just 15 minutes. But, of course, you’ll need HONOR’s certified adapter and cable to hit that mark.

2. Plug Into a Wall Socket

When you’re asking, how to make my phone charge faster, wall outlets deliver much more power than laptop USB ports or furniture-grade USB sockets. A dedicated PD wall charger can push 100W or more, letting your phone accept its maximum rated input without fighting for power on a shared hub. Whenever possible, skip the computer port and head straight for the mains.

3. Enable Airplane Mode

Every active radio (cellular, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS) burns energy even when your screen is off. Flicking on Airplane Mode eliminates that draw and can cut total charging time by 25% or more, especially in low-signal areas. If you don’t need to stay connected, this one-tap fix gives you a noticeable speed boost with zero downside.

4. Avoid Using Your Phone While Charging

If you’re wondering, how do you make a phone charge faster, one thing that works for sure is to stop using it when plugged in—or better yet, switch it off completely for a turbo boost.

Streaming videos, scrolling social feeds, or gaming while plugged in keeps your screen and processor working. That means the power going into your phone has to compete with the power going out.

It also generates extra heat, and heat is the enemy of both fast charging and battery health. Lithium-ion batteries slow down their charge rate when temperatures rise to avoid damage.

5. Close Unnecessary Apps and Background Processes

Even if you’re not actively using your phone, background apps can keep the CPU and radios busy, pulling power and slowing charging.

Disable Background App Refresh, close power-hungry apps, and keep the screen off to help the charger do its job. This doesn’t mean force-quitting every app, but it’s smart to rein in anything that doesn’t need to run while plugged in.

6. Keep Your Phone Cool

Heat is one of the biggest reasons your phone charges slowly, and it’s also the number one factor that shortens battery lifespan. Modern devices are smart enough to throttle charging speeds or even pause charging completely when they get too hot.

So, how can you make your phone charge faster?

• Remove thick or rubberized cases while charging. They trap heat and can add several degrees.

• Keep the phone on a hard surface rather than a couch or bed, where airflow is poor.

• Avoid charging in direct sunlight or leaving your phone plugged in inside a hot car.

7. Clean Your Charging Port

If your smartphone doesn’t seem to charge properly, or the cable feels loose when you plug it in, there’s a good chance the charging port is clogged with lint or dust. Even a thin layer of debris can interfere with the connection and prevent fast-charging protocols from kicking in.

To clean it safely, first power off your phone. Use a flashlight to check for any buildup inside the port. Gently remove lint or dirt with a wooden toothpick or a soft anti-static brush.

Avoid using metal objects or compressed air, which can push debris further in or damage the pins. A clean port ensures a solid connectio n and helps maintain optimal charging speeds.

8. Avoid Wireless Charging for Speed

Wireless chargers are convenient, but they’re not built for speed. Unlike wired connections, wireless charging loses more energy as heat, which makes it far less efficient. Tests have shown that wireless charging can be 15% to 40% slower than using a cable, depending on the charger and phone.

If you’re in a hurry, stick with a wired connection. Save the wireless pad for overnight charging or when you’re not pressed for time.

9. Update Your Phone’s Software

When you wonder, how do you make your phone charge faster, software matters, too. Manufacturers regularly release updates that fine-tune charging speeds, improve thermal management, and add features to extend battery life.

Check for software updates regularly under Settings and install them promptly to take advantage of these optimizations. Staying up to date ensures your phone charges efficiently and safely.

Practical Tips for Maintaining Battery Health

Yes, knowing how to make the phone charge faster is great when you’re short on time. But if you want your battery to last for years, it’s worth adopting a few simple habits. These tips will help you maintain battery health while still enjoying the benefits of quick top-ups:

• Keep your phone cool. Heat speeds up battery wear more than anything else. Avoid charging in hot environments, remove thick cases when plugged in, and keep your phone on a hard surface to allow heat to dissipate.

• Avoid deep discharges. Letting your battery regularly drop below 20% puts unnecessary strain on the cells. Lithium-ion batteries prefer shallow charge cycles, so try topping up whenever your battery dips into the 20–30% range instead of waiting for it to hit 0%.

• Don’t always charge to 100%. Leaving your phone at 100% for hours stresses the battery over time. If your Android device has a feature like Adaptive Charging, enable it. These features slow down charging above 80% and time the final top-up to match your routine.

• Use certified chargers and cables. Stick to accessories from your phone’s manufacturer or those with USB-IF certification. They maintain stable voltage and temperature control, which helps both with charging speed and long-term battery health.

• Stay up to date with software. Updates often include improvements to charging algorithms and thermal management. Keeping your phone’s software current ensures it charges safely and efficiently.

Conclusion

No one likes being stuck tethered to a wall charger, but now you know exactly how to make your phone charge faster. Whether it’s closing unused apps, using a high-quality fast charger, or simply keeping your device cool while it charges, small tweaks to your habits and settings can make a big difference. Try these charging hacks today, and you’ll see a noticeable improvement every time you plug in.

FAQ

How can I make my phone charge quickly?

To make your phone charge quickly, use a wall charger along with a certified fast-charging cable and adapter. Check your phone’s settings and enable fast charging if it’s supported. You can also speed things up by turning on Airplane Mode, closing background apps, or turning the phone off while charging. These small changes can significantly cut down charging time.

How do I make my phone charge faster in settings?

To make your phone charge faster through settings, go to your phone’s Battery or Device Care menu, then look for an option like Fast Charging or Super Fast Charging and enable it. This setting is usually found on Android devices and helps boost charging speed when using a compatible charger. Just make sure you’re using the right cable and adapter for it to work properly.

Why is my phone charging slowly?

If your phone is charging slowly, it could be due to a few common issues. Faulty or low-quality cables and chargers, a dirty or blocked charging port, and too many background apps can all slow things down. Charging in extreme heat or cold can also affect speed. Try cleaning the port, closing unused apps, and using a certified fast charger to improve charging performance.

Source: HONOR Club