How to Fix iPhone Charging Slowly? A Full Guide 2025

Is your iPhone charging slowly and keeping you stuck by the wall for hours? Many users struggle with sluggish charging speeds that make daily use frustrating and inconvenient.

In this blog, we'll explore the most common reasons why your iPhone might be charging slowly and share practical fixes you can try right away. By the end, you'll know exactly how to restore faster charging and keep your iPhone powered up without the long wait.

Why Is My iPhone Charging Slow?

The first step to restoring your iPhone's charging speed is figuring out what's causing the slowdown. A sluggish charge isn't always the phone itself-it could be software settings or even accessories.Here, we've rounded up the most common reasons for slow charging.

Damaged Cable or Charger: A frayed cable or a bent connector can restrict the power flow to your device, making the iPhone charge slowly.

Dirty Charging Port: Lint, dust, or other debris can accumulate in the charging port, preventing a solid connection with the cable.

Background Apps: Background apps consume power without notice. If you don't close them, they cause your iPhone to charge slowly.

Using Your iPhone While Charging: Playing games, streaming video, or using other processor-intensive apps while the phone is plugged in will significantly slow down your iPhone's charging process.

Temperature: The iPhones use lithium-ion batteries, which are sensitive to extreme temperatures. If your iPhone gets too hot or too cold, it will slow down or even stop charging to protect the battery.

Optimized Battery Charging: The "Optimized Battery Charging" feature allows the system to learn your daily charging routine. Therefore, it may intentionally apply the iPhone's slow charging strategy to prevent the battery from sitting at 100% for an extended period.

Outdated Software: A pending iOS update could contain bug fixes and performance improvements that directly affect charging speed. Make sure your phone is running the latest version of iOS.

Low-Wattage Adapter: Using a lower-wattage charger will naturally result in an iPhone slow charging issue. For example, if you're still relying on an older 5W adapter, it will charge much slower than high-efficiency options like the Anker Nano Charger (45W). Powered by GaN technology, it delivers rapid charging while staying compact and portable. With ActiveShield 3.0 safety monitoring and a foldable plug for easy travel, it's designed for both speed and reliability, perfect for powering not only iPhones but also other USB-C devices.

How to Fix Your iPhone Charging Slowly?

After spotting what's causing the Phone's slow charging, the next step is finding the right fix. Below are some practical, easy-to-follow solutions that can help speed up your iPhone's charging and keep it running smoothly.

Solution 1. Clean the Charging Port

The charging port at the bottom of your iPhone can easily collect lint, dust, and other debris. Use a soft, non-metallic tool, such as a wooden or plastic toothpick, to gently scrape out any gunk that may be blocking a solid connection. Avoid using metal objects that could damage the pins inside the port.

Solution 2. Inspect Your Cable and Adapter

A damaged cable can't deliver power efficiently. So, check your charging cable for any signs of damage, like frays, bent connectors, or a loose connection. Also, try a different power adapter and a different wall outlet to rule out those as the problem.

Solution 3. Use a Higher-Wattage Charger

If you're still using an old 5W adapter, it's no surprise your iPhone charges slowly. To speed things up and even power multiple Apple devices, consider upgrading to the Anker Nano Charger (100W). This compact charger features a USB-C port that works seamlessly with the latest iPhones, iPads, and even MacBooks.

Performance-wise, it's impressive: it can charge a 14-inch MacBook Pro to 40% in just 27 minutes, far outperforming older adapters. Despite its power, it remains ultra-portable, 62% smaller than Apple's original 96W charger, and its foldable plugs make it perfect for travel. If you want both speed and convenience in one device, this high-wattage charger is an ideal solution.

Solution 4. Cool Down Your Phone

If your iPhone gets too hot, from being in direct sunlight or running a demanding app, it will intentionally slow down charging to protect the battery. To fix this, move your phone to a cooler environment, unplug it for a few minutes, and remove the case if you're using one. Once it cools down, charging speed should return to normal.

Solution 5. Power Off or Turn on Airplane Mode

Cellular, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth connections constantly consume power in the background, which can slow down charging. Turning off your iPhone completely or enabling Airplane Mode minimizes energy use, letting the battery charge more quickly and efficiently.

Solution 6. Disable Optimized Battery Charging

When this built-in feature is enabled, your iPhone slows its charging speed after 80%. If you need to charge your phone to 100% quickly, you can temporarily disable this feature in "Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging".

Solution 7. Check for Software Updates

Sometimes, bugs in an older version of iOS can cause iPhone slow charging issues. Go to "Settings > General > Software Update" to make sure your iPhone is running the latest version of iOS.

Conclusion

If your iPhone is charging slowly, don't worry-it's usually easy to fix. A quick clean of the charging port, swapping out an old cable, or updating iOS can speed things right back up. Using Airplane Mode or a cooler spot for charging also helps keep things smooth. And if you really want hassle-free fast charging every day, a reliable Anker charger is a simple upgrade that makes keeping your iPhone powered up so much easier.

FAQs

Why is my iPhone charging so slowly all of a sudden?

A sudden slowdown in iPhone charging can be caused by a faulty cable or power adapter, or debris clogging the charging port. Other culprits can include a recent software update, an overheating phone, or an issue with the "Optimized Battery Charging" feature.

How can I force my iPhone to charge faster?

A higher-wattage power adapter (20W or more) with a quality cable is the best way to speed up your iPhone's charging. You can also turn on Airplane Mode or power off the phone. This ensures your phone charges solely without disruption.

How do I fix my iPhone when it is barely charging?

When your iPhone is barely charging, it's often a sign of a deeper issue than just slow charging. You can first try another adapter, cable, and wall outlet. Then, restart your iPhone and troubleshoot software and temperature issues.

If these don't work, it may indicate a hardware issue with the charging port or the battery itself. In this case, your best option is to contact Apple Support or an authorized service provider for a professional diagnosis and repair.