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Here’s How to Charge Your Phone as Quickly as Possible

You're ready to start your day and oh no! Dead cell battery. Fortunately, there's help. Here's how to charge your phone faster.

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man phone stressedAS photo studio/Shutterstock

Here’s How to Charge Your Phone Faster

You’re just about to head out for the day and grab your phone, but you notice you forgot to charge it and your battery power is in the single digits. Here’s how to charge your phone faster, or at least make sure you don’t lose any more power.

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phone airplane modeymgerman/Shutterstock

Switch into Airplane Mode

A quick way to preserve battery power is to switch into airplane mode. You won’t be able to get texts or search online, but you’ll save power because your phone isn’t constantly searching for a cellular or WiFi connection.

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turn off phoneLittlePigPower/Shutterstock

Switch to Low Power

Wait! Before you turn your phone off entirely, try shifting your phone to low power mode. Go to settings on an iPhone or Android phones and look for battery saver mode.

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phone charge wall wire cordBig Foot Productions/Shutterstock

Plug it into a Wall Socket

The USB port of your computer may be convenient when you’re working remotely, but an outlet will charge your phone faster. “This is because USB ports usually only charge at 0.5 amps, so it’s going to take twice the time to charge your phone than the one amp power adapter it came with,” according to Asurion.

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An iPhone charger is plugged into a lamp in a hotel room

Use a Powerful Wall Charger

It also helps to have a charger that works faster than the one that came with your phone. HTC’s Rapid Charger is a popular choice. Just find an outlet, plug the charger in and connect it to your phone.

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phone charge wireFabrikaSimf/Shutterstock

Keep a Charged Battery Pack Handy

When you know you’ll be far from a traditional power source, buying a battery pack is a good idea. Just make sure to plan for it in advance so you can charge the battery pack before you leave. Now that you know how to charge your phone faster using this method, find out about what you should do with your old cell phone.

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phone beach sand womanGorynvd/Shutterstock

Get Your Phone Out of the Sun

Avoid exposing your phone to temperatures 95 degrees and higher, Apple advises. The heat can damage your battery capacity, and your phone’s software may limit charging to about 80 percent when the phone gets hotter than the recommended temperature.

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wooden phone caseMr.Note19/Shutterstock

Take Your Phone Out of the Case

If you notice your phone heats up when you charge it, Apple suggests taking it out of its case before recharging. “Charging your device when it’s inside certain styles of cases may generate excess heat, which can affect battery capacity.”

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phone plug cord wireKaspars Grinvalds/Shutterstock

Clean Out Your Lightning Port

The problem may not be with the your battery itself. Over time, lint and dust can accumulate in your lightning port (where you plug your charger into your phone) and clog it. CNET recommends turning your phone off and using a toothpick to gently remove any debris from the port. Then plug in your charger again and see if it works better.

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laptop macExtarz/Shutterstock

Use Your Mac’s Power Adapter or iPad Charger

If you have an iPhone, you can plug it directly into Apple 12W and 10W USB power adapters, according to Apple. Connect your device to the power adapter with the USB to Lightning cable or 30-pin to USB cable.

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wireless chargerSkrypnykov Dmytro/Shutterstock

Get a Powerful Wireless Charger

For a quick juice boost, look for a charger with high wattage. “The higher the number of watts, the faster your device will charge,” Macworld reports. The typical chargers that come with iPhones and older Android phones carry one amp of current and produce five watts of power, according to the consumer blog Techlicious. But “new rapid chargers with technology such as Quick Charge support two amps and 12 watts or more, potentially charging your phone up to four times faster.”

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tech wires phone chargeMXW Stock/Shutterstock

Use an Apple USB-C to Lightning Cable

Got a half-hour to spare? If you have an iPhone 8 or later and an adapter, Apple’s USB-C Lightning Cable will allow you to charge your battery up to 50 percent of capacity. It’s compatible with Apple 18W, 29W, 30W, 61W, or 87W USB-C Power Adapter.

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phone wireless charge padDaniel Jedzura/Shutterstock

Get a Wireless Charging Pad

Though wired charging is faster, wireless charging is also a good option. The Samsung Wireless Charging Pad can work with phones including the iPhone 8 and Samsung Galaxy S8, Techlicious notes.

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An Apple Smart Battery Case

Invest in a Charging Case

For an ongoing solution to charging your phone quickly, consider getting a charging case. Some models, such as the Apple Smart Battery Case, can extend your battery’s life for 22 hours. They come in a range of prices and designs. Are you someone who likes to take your phone on adventures? Some of the cases are made with protective materials.

Reader's Digest
Originally Published on Reader's Digest