Why is my iPhone 14 Pro Max charging so slowly?

There are many reasons why your iPhone 14 Pro Max is charging slowly. Among them are dirty ports and noncompatible MagSafe chargers. This article looks at these and other reasons so you can have your iPhone charge normally.

• Using an old charger

To charge your iPhone Pro Max, you’ll need a 20-watt adapter while using a USB-C Lighting cable. Fortunately, Apple provides you with the cable but not the adapter. And as you’d expect, you can charge the iPhone from zero to 50% in 30minutes, which is 100% in one hour.

To achieve this, you’ll need to buy an adapter either from Apple or third-party sellers on Amazon. And if you are to opt for Amazon, you might buy a knockoff or a less than 20-watt adapter. This can significantly affect the charging speed. As such, ensure to buy from Apple or reputable brands such as ESR.

• Using a faulty charger

Another reason for slow charging could be a faulty charger. For example, the protective layer of the charging cable might fray, causing issues while charging. You should also inspect the adapter to see if there are issues with it. For example, the adapter might be made of low-quality material that breaks down after long use.

Meanwhile, if you find the protective layer frayed, you should get a new one. Likewise, you should replace the adapter, if you find it faulty. Alternatively, you can choose to use another power outline, as the outlet might be faulty.

• Using your iPhone while charging

If you want fast charging, take a break from your iPhone. Using power “hungry” apps such as TikTok and Instagram can cause your iPhone 14 Pro Max to charge slowly. Besides, this can lead to overheating, which can ruin the battery’s health. If possible, let your iPhone charge for at least 30 minutes to ensure the battery is halfway full or so.

• The port might be dirty

Interestingly, many iPhone 14 Pro Max users overlook this problem. As you use your phone over an extended period, lint, dust, and dirt might accumulate in the charging port. This can cause issues to your phone charging system.

As the dirt accumulates overtime, the charging system can be rendered useless. As such, you should always check for lint and dust buildup. If you notice this, you can use a toothpick or dry air to remove the dirt.

• You are using a thick case

Like other iPhones, the 14 Pro Max allows for wireless charging. Luckily, there are many MagSafe compatible cases on the market that allow you to charge the phone, without removing them. Unfortunately, thick cases might slowdown the charging speed significantly.

How to speed up charging

• Update your iPhone

Outdate software might cause issues when charging your iPhone. As such, you should check whether the phone and its apps need updates. Furthermore, iPhone users have had to deal with charging issues after an update. And this might be the case with your phone.

To check whether your iPhone needs an update, navigate to the Settings app and tap General, then select Software Update.

Related article:

Which iPhone 14 Model Should You Choose?

• Stop using your laptop to charge your iPhone

Another way to prevent slow charging is to avoid charging the 14 Pro Max using a computer or other USB devices. While charging the phone using a laptop might seem convenient, it charges your phone slowly.

You are better off finding a MagSafe compatible wireless power bank for this. As you’d expect, your computer’s USB port cannot produce the 20-watt power ideal for fast charging. Besides, it does not produce as much power as a wireless charger.

Related article:

Is it Safe to Use Portable MagSafe Chargers Every Day?

• Turn off your phone

Turning off or putting your phone in Airplane mode can improve the charging speed significantly. Switching to Airplane Mode turns off the Wi-Fi and mobile data. When the two are running, background apps might download updates or other files, which causes your iPhone to charge slowly.

• Turn down the screen brightness

While many phone users overlook screen brightness, it is a leading cause of slow charging. Turning down will of course improve the charging speed. You can go to the Control Center which has a brightness bar and drag it down.

• Remove the case

As mentioned, most iPhone 14 Pro Max cases are MagSafe compatible. However, they cause interference, which causes charging issues. To mitigate this, take off the case when charging. Fortunately, you can get thin ESR MagSafe compatible cases that won’t impede fast charging.

• Use in-built settings to improve charging speed

Fortunately, the iPhone 14 series comes with settings that can improve the charging speed. For one, the low power mode reduces the impact some apps have on your phone’s battery. It affects features such as email fetch, background app refresh, 5G, and display brightness.

Another setting to use is the dark mode. With dark mode on, there’s less power to the OLED screen, which of course improves the charging speed.

How do you improve your iPhone’s battery health?

• Minimize your charge cycle

According to Apple, you iPhone will retain 80% of its initial battery capacity after 500 cycles. A full charge cycle is when you use up to 100% of your phone’s battery. So, the less you use your iPhone, the better the battery’s health.

• Avoid leaving the phone without charge for long

Leaving the iPhone’s battery without charge for long can reduce its health. The lithium battery might enter into deep discharge state, causing it to retain even 60% of the initial capacity. So, if your iPhone turns off due to low battery, ensure to charge it as soon as possible.

• Avoid leaving your iPhone charging overnight

As you’d expect, most people leave their iPhones charging overnight. Unfortunately, this leads to overcharging, which can result in a damaged battery or charging system. Luckily, you can use the in-built battery charging optimization to prevent charging to 100%.

Conclusion

Slow charging can be caused by many aspects among them a faulty charger, dirty port, and a noncompatible case. You should ensure to clean the charging port and use a 20-watt adapter when charging your iPhone 14 Pro Max.

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