How To Fix Battery Operated Clock

Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority

Is your phone battery suddenly taking significantly longer to charge? A brand new phone will usually charge much faster. Or maybe your phone has always taken ages to reach 100%! Whatever the case may be, there may be some things you can do to make your handset charge faster. Try some of these solutions to see if one of them can help your situation.

Is your cable in good condition?

Google Pixel 3 XL showing USB C and cable stock photo 3

Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority

A faulty cable is often the reason why your smartphone battery might be charging slowly. Especially if it's a charging cable you've owned for a long time. These accessories go through plenty of torture during their lifetime. You take them on trips, step on them, tangle them up, throw them in bags, and so on. Inspect your charging cable carefully and see if there are any signs of significant wear and tear. Any rips, bends, scratches, or damage may be the culprits. Sadly, the only solution to this issue is simply buying a new cable!

Read: Take a look at some of the best USB cables

How about the adapter?

The same goes with the adapter, otherwise known as a charging brick. This is the accessory that plugs into the wall. Check that there isn't any significant damage. Any bent plugs or cracked sections may be a sure sign that something's wrong with it.

Also: The best phone charging accessories

Don't forget the charging port

Dhruv Bhutani / Android Authority

Maybe your phone is the issue, and one of the most common reasons for a slow charging battery is something as simple as a dirty smartphone charging port. Look in there and see if you can spot any debris. Try to clean it out with compressed air or a small brush. Also, have you noticed the port or charger feeling looser than before? Sometimes these ports get worn out, and contacts may not be as solid, causing the battery to charge slower. Don't forget to look for any signs of corrosion.

You might have a weak power source

This is likely not an issue if you're using the stock charger and cable, but it could be if you've decided to charge your battery with something other than an outlet. Sometimes people like charging their phones using USB ports on laptops, portable batteries, cars, and power strips. These can often be weak sources of power, and don't have the necessary juice to charge up your device in a timely fashion. Try switching to a wall outlet and use a charger that's fast enough for your phone's standards.

Use the right charging accessories

Qualcomm Quick Charge 5 charger lying on its side

Robert Triggs / Android Authority

More often than not, these are incompatible with each other. In addition, your phone might not even be able to handle fast charging! And if it does, there's also a slight chance that your manufacturer didn't include a fast-charging cable/adapter. Look into your phone's specs and get the right charging accessories for it! And keep in mind not all wireless charging is made the same, either. Some wireless chargers are faster than others!

Keep an eye on your apps

The screen is known for being the #1 battery-sucker, but rogue apps can do much more to kill your battery and keep it from charging quickly. Android apps often boot themselves up or run in the background after only being opened for a moment. Although this used to be a bigger problem than it currently is — Android is getting better at efficiently managing resources — having a rogue app or two can give your phone's performance a nasty hit.

Google Pixel 5 using phone from the back 2

David Imel / Android Authority

If you're a heavy user and don't stop using your phone all day, chances are you aren't letting it rest while charging either. Using your handset while plugged in may take too many resources and cause your battery to charge slower. Give it a break! Maybe use a tablet or any other device in the meantime.

Related: Charging habits to maximize battery life

The battery could be dying

If you've had your phone for a long time and given it hell, this has probably taken a toll on your battery. Batteries, inevitably, degrade over time. And they do so faster if you go through many cycles, use them heavily, and let them run hot. Check out the post linked in the previous section to learn some tips on how to keep your battery healthy as long as possible.

Factory data reset

One last thing to try before letting go of your old phone could be a factory data reset. This process deletes everything on your device and gives it a clean start. It will essentially leave your handset the same way it was when you first turned it on (at least software-wise).

But why would this improve slow charging? Sometimes apps and phone processes take a toll on your phone's resources, and it may be hard to pinpoint what's going on, exactly. Is the GPS going nuts? Maybe the problem is a system app. Whatever the case, a factory data reset will get it all back to stock. Try it. And if the phone is still charging slowly after a full wipe, then the issue is probably hardware-based.

Here: How to factory reset Android devices

Is it time to upgrade your phone?

As sad as this may sound, every device comes to its end of life. If your phone is really struggling to charge (and hold a charge), and you've tried all the methods above with no success, maybe it's time to finally let it go. Look at the options in the link below if you want to see some true battery beasts.

Next: The best Android smartphones with the best battery life