Your iPhone X should charge quickly, especially when using official Apple chargers. But if it suddenly starts charging super slow — or slower than it used to — something’s not right. The problem could be with the software, charger, cable, or even the battery itself. Here’s how to troubleshoot and (hopefully) fix slow charging on your iPhone X.
Start With the Basics: Check Your Charger and Cable
Make sure your Lightning cable and power adapter are in good condition. Look for:
- Frayed wires or bent prongs
- Debris inside the Lightning port (blow it out gently or use a soft brush)
- Overheating while charging
Try a different Apple-certified charger if you have one. Also, try charging from a wall outlet instead of a USB port on your computer — USB ports typically deliver less power.
Switch Power Sources or Chargers
If you’re using wireless charging, try switching to a wired charger to see if charging speeds improve. Wireless charging is generally slower, and a faulty pad could slow it even more.
Also try:
- A different power outlet or wall charger
- Plugging into a laptop or car charger just to rule things out
Don’t Use Your iPhone While Charging
It might sound simple, but using your phone during charging — especially for heavy apps like games or video streaming — can drastically slow down charging speed. Let it sit idle or turn off the screen to help it charge faster.
Calibrate the Battery
Battery calibration helps the system report battery percentage accurately, and sometimes it improves charging behavior.
Here’s how to calibrate:
- Use your iPhone until the battery drains completely and shuts off.
- Try to turn it back on — if it doesn’t, you’re good to go.
- Plug it in and charge it all the way to 100% without interruption.
- Leave it on the charger for another hour even after it hits 100%.
- Unplug, restart the phone, then use it normally.
Repeat this process once or twice a month for best results.
Delete Problematic Apps
If the slow charging started after installing a certain app, that app could be misbehaving in the background.
To remove a suspicious app:
- Tap and hold the app icon until they jiggle.
- Tap the X to delete the app.
Or:
- Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage
- Select the app and tap Delete App
After deleting, reboot your phone and see if charging improves.
Update iOS
Sometimes a buggy iOS version can interfere with charging. Apple often releases fixes in software updates.
To update:
- Go to Settings > General > Software Update
- If an update is available, tap Download and Install
Make sure your phone is backed up before updating.
Reset All Settings
If something got messed up in your settings — especially after an iOS update — resetting all settings could help.
To reset:
- Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset
- Tap Reset All Settings
- Enter your passcode and confirm
This won’t erase your data, but you’ll lose saved Wi-Fi passwords and preferences.
Factory Reset (If Nothing Else Works)
If the problem is still happening after trying everything, a full factory reset might fix any deeper software bugs.
To do it:
- Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings
- Enter your passcode and confirm
- Set up your iPhone as new (don’t restore from backup immediately)
Make sure you back up everything important before doing this.