Charging is very slow

It used to fill up in 1 hour, now it takes 3? In 90% of cases the problem is the charger or cable — not the phone. Follow this checklist.

Steps

1. Use the original charger and cable
   The charger in the phone's box is built for its watt rating. Cheap market cables are the biggest cause of slow charging — get a branded cable.
2. Clean the charging port
   Turn the phone OFF. Carefully remove lint and dust from the charge port with a toothpick or soft brush. Often the phone picks up 'fast charging' again right after.
3. Check the charging speed
   When you plug in, the lock screen should say 'Fast charging' / 'Rapid charging' instead of just 'Charging'. If it only says 'Charging', change the cable/charger.
4. Stop heavy use while charging
   If the phone keeps running games/videos while plugged in, it uses almost as much battery as it gains — charging seems stuck. Just leave the phone aside while it charges.
5. Software update and battery saver
   Battery saver mode slows the charge rate — turn it OFF while charging. Keep the software updated too.
6. Battery health check
   Everything fine but still slow? The battery may be old. Get a battery capacity test at a service center.

Tips

• Charging from a laptop USB port is always slow — use a wall adapter.
• If the phone hits 0%, turn it OFF and charge for 30 minutes, then turn it ON — it helps kick-start the charge.