In iOS 18, Apple introduced a clever new way to identify if your iPhone’s charging settings are running at a less than optimal speed. The new feature appears directly in Settings, making it easy to see when things aren’t charging as quickly as possible.
In the Battery section you will see: slow charger If your iPhone detects a “slow” charger in use, you’ll see a message. You can also see the charging period with the orange bar. This visual indicator appears in both the 24-hour and 10-day battery usage views.
What makes my charger “slow”?
- Wired charger providing less than 7.5W of power
- Standard Qi1 wireless charger (less than 10W)
- USB port in car or hub
- Charger where multiple connected devices share power
Common causes of slow charging
Several situations can cause your iPhone to charge slowly. For example, a counterfeit charger could be the culprit. Some genuine third-party wireless chargers also claim MagSafe compatibility, but only offer standard Qi charging speeds.
If you keep accessories such as headphones connected during wireless charging, the device automatically limits power to 7.5W to meet safety standards. While charging, running demanding apps, playing graphics-intensive games, or streaming video at high brightness may result in slower charging as your iPhone manages power and heat. Finally, keep in mind that charging in a warm environment may cause your iPhone to temporarily pause charging until the temperature cools.
Get faster charging speeds
For the fastest charging speeds, we recommend using a USB-C Power Delivery charger with an appropriate cable (USB-C on iPhone 15 and later, USB-C to Lightning on earlier models). Alternatively, you can choose Apple’s MagSafe charger or Qi2 certified wireless charger. Both offer much faster charging than standard Qi chargers.
