How to Make Your Phone Charge Faster

We’ve all been there — staring at a phone stuck at 12%, wondering if it’s even charging. Whether you’re racing to head out or watching your battery crawl up one percent at a time, you’ve probably searched how to make your phone charge faster.

Good news: there’s real science behind fast charging — and small changes can make a big difference. Here’s how to do it right, without damaging your battery.

 

 

How to Make Your Phone Charge Faster: 10 Proven Tips

Charging speed depends on two things — power input and power loss. Boost one, reduce the other, and your phone fills up far quicker. These practical, proven techniques actually work.

1. Use a Certified Fast Charger and Cable

Not all chargers are created equal. In fact, this single factor often decides whether your phone charges in 40 minutes or crawls for two hours.

Modern iPhones and Android devices support standards such as USB Power Delivery (PD) or Qualcomm Quick Charge. But you’ll only get those speeds if your charger and cable are certified to match.

For instance, a 20W PD charger can charge an iPhone 15 from 0–50% in around 30 minutes, while a standard 5W brick might take over an hour.

Pro tip: Always look for “PD”, “PPS”, or “Quick Charge 3.0/4.0+” on your adapter and use an MFi-certified (for iPhone) or USB-IF-certified (for Android) cable.

2. Plug Into the Wall, Not Your Laptop

You might have been looking for ways to make your laptop charge your phone faster, but unfortunately, that’s not really possible. Unless your laptop has a USB-C Power Delivery (PD) port, its regular USB ports only deliver around 2.5–5 W, barely enough to maintain charge during use.

A proper wall adapter, on the other hand, can push anywhere from 20 W to 100 W, giving your phone the power it actually needs. So whenever possible, skip the laptop connection and go straight to a wall outlet using a reliable fast charger.

 

 

3. Turn On Fast Charging in Settings

Some Android devices hide fast charging under settings like “Battery” → “More battery settings” → “Superfast charging”.

iPhones don’t have a manual toggle, but they automatically use fast-charge protocols when paired with compatible adapters (20W or higher).

If you’ve ever felt your phone charges slower after an update, check these settings — sometimes they reset.

4. Switch to Airplane Mode (When You Can)

Yes, turning on Airplane Mode can make your phone charge faster.

By disabling mobile data, Wi-Fi, GPS, and Bluetooth, your phone stops background syncing and radio use — all major energy drains. In some tests it has cut charging time by up to 10%.

Just don’t forget to turn it off afterward — especially if you’re waiting for an important message.

5. Stop Using the Phone While Charging

It sounds obvious, but many of us scroll through TikTok while plugged in. That drains current faster than the charger can replenish it, especially with older adapters.

If you must use it, stick to light apps — messaging or notes — and avoid games, video calls, or camera use.

Even better, switch the screen off completely for the first 10–15 minutes. That alone can cut charging time dramatically.

6. Keep Your Phone Cool

Phones charge slower when hot. Heat forces the battery management system to reduce current to protect the cells.

Avoid charging in direct sunlight, on beds, or under pillows. If your phone gets warm, unplug it briefly, remove the case, and let it cool.

GaN chargers are a good solution for keeping things cool — they’re designed to deliver high power efficiently without generating excess heat. For example, the Anker Prime 100W GaN Wall Charger maintains steady output even during long charging sessions, helping your phone stay cooler and charge faster without strain.

 

 

If you often power multiple devices at once, the Anker Prime Charger (250W) goes a step further. Its intelligent power distribution ensures every connected device receives the optimal current while maintaining low heat levels — perfect for fast, stable charging without overheating.

7. Use Low Power or Battery Saver Mode

Even if you don’t have a premium GaN adapter, there are still ways to make your phone charge faster without a fast charger — like switching on Battery Saver or using Airplane Mode to cut background drain.

Enabling Low Power Mode on iPhone or Battery Saver on Android reduces background tasks, location tracking, and visual effects.

With fewer apps running and less power drawn for background processes, more energy flows directly into the battery — helping your phone recharge noticeably faster.

8. Disable Background Sync and High-Drain Apps

Cloud syncing, social feeds, and email refresh cycles quietly slow down charging.

For a temporary speed boost:

[if !supportLists]l [endif]Pause auto-backups (Google Photos, iCloud).

[if !supportLists]l [endif]Turn off social media notifications.

[if !supportLists]l [endif]Close apps running in the background.

You’ll notice the battery percentage rising much faster.

9. Use a Short, Thick Cable (Under 1 Metre)

Cable length and quality dramatically affect power delivery. Longer or thinner cables introduce resistance, reducing effective wattage.

A short, high-quality cable rated for 100W PD can improve speed by 10–15% compared with budget versions.

10. Keep Software and Firmware Updated

Updates aren’t just about security — they also improve charging management and thermal efficiency.

Manufacturers regularly tweak algorithms that balance speed and heat. Keeping your OS current ensures your phone benefits from those optimisations.

Restart your phone once a week too — it clears background processes that drain battery and slow charging performance.

Conclusion

So, how to make your phone charge faster? It’s not magic — it’s just physics done right. Use the proper adapter, manage power-hungry apps, and keep your device cool.

A few smart tweaks can shave minutes (sometimes hours) off your charging time, extending battery life and sanity alike.

Try these proven tips today — and if you’re upgrading your setup, check out our top-rated GaN fast chargers for faster, cooler, and smarter charging anywhere.

FAQs

How can I make my phone charge quicker?

Use a certified fast charger, plug into a wall socket (not a laptop), switch to Airplane Mode, and stop using the phone while charging. Keeping it cool also helps.

How do I turn on fast charging?

On Android, go to Settings → Battery → More Battery Settings → Fast Charging or similar.
On iPhones, it activates automatically when using an adapter rated 20W or higher.

Does Airplane Mode charge faster?

Yes — usually 5–10% faster, since it disables power-hungry radios and background processes. But the difference depends on signal strength and phone model.

Why is my phone slow charging?

A slow charge usually happens because of low-quality cables, weak adapters, or too many background apps. Old or uncertified cables can’t carry enough power, and cheap adapters often output just 5W. Heat also slows charging — your phone automatically reduces current when it gets too warm.