How to Make Your Cell Phone Charge Faster
- by Joe Weber - updated on 5/19/2023
You've all been there before, sitting down on the couch after a long day at work, pulling out your phone to scroll Instagram or play a game and realizing that you've only got 30% of your battery left. What do you do? Read our helpful tips below to get your phone charged up to a desirable level fast so you can relax on the couch and decompress with some funny videos.
8 Tips to Charge Your Phone Faster
- Use a wall charger, not a computer
Computers will not charge your device at the speed a wall charger would. When you are in a bind, always use a wall charger for the best results. - Turn off the phone while it's charging
Leaving your phone on, even if you aren't using it, will continue to draw power from the battery. Turning the phone off will ensure that all of the charge is going to the battery and nothing is using that power for any other purpose. - Don't use the phone while it's charging
This is similar to #2, if you are using your phone while it's charging, apps, the display, and antennas will continue to use power, slowing down the charging process. - Switch to airplane mode
Switching on airplane mode will shut off all wireless connectivity. This will help your phone charge faster. - Use a fast charger
Fast chargers are designed to transfer more power to your phone, helping it charge faster. In certain devices, using a fast charger can charge up to 50% of a phone's battery in as little as 30 minutes. Most newer phones accept fast charging but this will vary by brand and model. It's important to note that USB PD fast chargers do require the use of a USB-C to USB-C or Lightning cable. - Keep the phone cool
Heat can damage your battery if you don't keep an eye on it. Keeping the phone cool while charging is not only good for the battery, it may help charge up the battery a little faster. Take your case off, charge in a cool area and never charge it while it's in your pocket. - Use a high-quality portable charger
Having a portable power bank around can be a huge help in a pinch and can let you charge up your phone wherever and whenever you need to charge it. In "What is the Best Way to Charge My Cell Phone On the Go?" we'll walk you through all of you're portable charging options. - Don't charge the phone overnight
As we learned in "Cell Phone Charging 101" it's actually bad for your phone's battery if you charge it overnight and leave it plugged in after it reaches 100%. Many newer iPhones have optimized charging that will charge the phone up to a certain percentage, then finish charging to 100% when it gets closer to when you wake up. - Update the phone's software
It may not seem like much, but keeping your phone's software up to date can be a big help when it comes to the battery. Many bugs in the software that could be draining your battery unintentionally are often fixed in these updates.
Will Cleaning My Phone's Charge Port Help Charge the Battery Faster?
Over time, dust and debris, especially pocket lint, can build up inside your charging port. This build-up of dirt and lint definitely does have an effect on your phone's charging capabilities. Your phone's charging port should be cleaned regularly, and carefully, to keep the connections clean.
How Do I Clean My Charge Port?
It's easier than you think to clean out your phone's charging ports.
Things you'll need:
- A can of compressed air
- Toothpicks
- Small tweezers (optional)
How to clean your charge port:
- Turn off your device
- While holding the can of compressed air upright, blow a few short bursts into the port.
- Always hold the can upright to avoid any moisture escaping while blowing air.
- Look into the charge port
- If you see any debris left after blowing the air, use the toothpick to carefully scrap out any leftover dust and lint.
- Be careful not to damage the components in the port. You don't need a lot of pressure or force to complete this step
- Spray the compressed air into the port one more time to remove anything that you may have loosened up with the toothpick.
- Power on the device and enjoy better charging.
If you are feeling a little uneasy about doing this yourself, no problem! Let the cell phone repair technicians at Batteries Plus help put your mind at ease. Stop into a store and speak to one of our technicians to have your charge port cleaned fast and for a great price.
Should I Replace My Cell Phone Battery?
If all of those tips don't have a positive effect on your battery life or charging, it may be time to look into having the battery replaced. A battery replacement at Batteries Plus is inexpensive and much cheaper than buying a new phone.
Most battery replacements can even be done in less than an hour, depending on staffing and how busy the store is, and come with a 6-month nationwide warranty. If it doesn't work the way it should after the repair is complete, we'll fix it, no matter where you are.
Schedule your Apple or Samsung battery replacement online or stop by your local store today to see if a battery replacement is right for you. Have a different phone or need something else fixed? No problem! We offer a variety of cell phone repair services including screen repairs, charge port repairs and much more.