In today’s world of smartphones, it can sometimes be unclear if your device is actually charging properly. Many Android phones, including those made by Google, display a charging icon when plugged into a power source. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean your phone is charging as fast as it should be. There are a few quick ways to check if your Google phone is charging correctly and at maximum speed.
Check the Charging Speed
One of the easiest ways to check your Google phone’s charging speed is to look at the lock screen or notification panel. When your phone is plugged in and charging, you’ll see not only the charging icon but also the specific charging speed below it. For example, it may say “Charging rapidly” or “Charging slowly.” This gives you an idea of the power throughput. However, it’s still a bit vague.
For a more precise charging speed check, you need to look in your phone’s Battery settings menu. Go to Settings > Battery > Battery usage details. In here, you’ll see a “Screen” section that shows both screen time since full charge and also charging speed in mA (milliamps). The higher the mA, the faster the phone is charging. For comparison:
- Trickle charging:
- Slow charging: 500-900 mA
- Fast charging: 900-1500 mA
- Very fast/rapid charging: 1500-3000 mA
So if you see “Charging rapidly” but the mA is low, you know there’s an issue with charging speed.
Use the Appropriate Charger & Cable
One of the most common reasons your Google phone may charge slowly is if you’re not using the proper charger and cable for that device. Here are some tips:
- Use the factory-provided charger and cable that came with your phone. These are optimized for your specific model.
- If using a third-party charger, make sure it provides enough power output for fast charging (see device specs). For example, Google Pixel phones support up to 18W fast charging.
- Use a good quality USB-C to USB-C cable for fastest charging speeds.
- Avoid using old micro USB cables/chargers as these cannot provide enough power throughput.
Sticking to the manufacturer recommendation for charger and cable is your best bet. If charging is still slow, the problem likely lies elsewhere.
Check for Debris & Damage
It’s amazing how a little pocket lint or a damaged charging port can slow down charging speeds. Give your phone’s charging port and cable connectors a thorough inspection. Use a toothpick or soft brush to gently remove any debris, dirt, or dust buildup. Avoid using metal tools as these can damage the port. Also inspect the port for any damage like crushed/misaligned pins.
Inspect both ends of your charging cable as well. If the cable is frayed or bent at sharp angles, the wiring inside can be compromised. A faulty charging cable can prevent proper power throughput. Try swapping the cable and seeing if charging improves. Anker and Belkin make excellent third-party USB-C cables.
Update Software & Drivers
Outdated software and drivers on your phone can sometimes affect charging capabilities and speed. Updating to the latest OS version and device drivers makes sure everything is running efficiently and properly. On a Google Pixel phone, for example, you’ll want to install the newest Android updates issued by Google.
To check for system updates on a Google phone:
- Go to Settings > System > Advanced > System update
- Check for any available OS or security updates.
- Follow the prompts to download and install updates.
Restart your phone after the update completes. Keeping your Google phone’s software up-to-date is key for peak performance.
Toggle Airplane Mode
As odd as it sounds, toggling your phone’s Airplane mode on and off can sometimes “reset” the device’s charging capabilities. If your phone seems stuck in a slow charging mode, try this simple reset:
- Open Settings and enable Airplane mode. Wait 30 seconds.
- Disable Airplane mode. The device will reconnect to WiFi/cellular.
- Reconnect your charger cable and check if charging improves.
This battery calibration technique works for other phones brands too. Airplane mode cuts connections and forces the device to re-establish charging functions after being reenabled.
Check for Overheating
Extreme device heat can often cause slower charging. If your Google phone feels very hot when plugged in, the system may intentionally slow charging speed to help prevent overheating damage. Always ensure your phone has proper ventilation and is not covered/wrapped when charging.
You can download a free app like CPU Temperature to check your battery temp. If it’s consistently above 42°C/108°F while charging, overheating is likely slowing things down. Suspend charging and let the device cool off.
Reset Your Charging Chip
Google Pixel and Nexus phones have a built-in charging regulator chip that optimizes power distribution. Sometimes this chip needs a reset. With the phone powered off, use a paper clip to gently press and hold the reset pin for 20-30 seconds to reset the charging chip. On Pixel phones, the reset pin hole is on the bottom edge near the USB port.
This reset will delete any faulty charging profiles/data and let the chip start fresh. Charge as normal after the reset and see if it improves.
Check for Bad Apps
Rarely, a bad app can interfere with normal charging. Apps with high background activity, like video streaming apps, can prevent the CPU from entering lower power states. This indirectly keeps charging from ramping up properly.
If you don’t see any other issues, try checking for bad apps:
- Go to Settings > Battery > Battery optimization
- Select “All apps”
- Look for any apps that say “Not optimized”
- Select each one and change to “Optimize”
This prevents unchecked background activity. Also remove any suspicious or unneeded apps. Less software cruft improves charging performance.
Check Battery Health
If your Google phone’s battery is very old and worn out, its capacity and charging abilities will be diminished. Lithium-ion batteries slowly degrade over 2-3 years of heavy use. If you’ve noticed weaker battery life lately, the battery is likely due for replacement.
You can check overall battery health in Settings > Battery > Battery health details. There are a few key metrics:
- Maximum capacity – Should be close to the phone’s original capacity, such as 3000-3500 mAh for Pixel. Much lower capacity indicates a weak battery.
- Peak performance – If this is listed as poor, the battery is worn out.
- Charging cycles – 300-500 is normal over the lifespan. High cycles (1000+) also indicates aging.
Consider replacing the battery if health metrics are poor. DIY battery replacement kits are available for many models if you’re technically inclined. Getting a fresh battery will restore normal charging performance.
Try a Different Charging Brick
If you’ve tried different cables and cleaned the port thoroughly, the last thing to check is the charging brick itself. The USB port where you plug in the cable could be defective. Or the brick might not be providing proper power output due to an internal issue.
To isolate this, try charging your Google phone with different charging bricks, like:
- Someone else’s factory charger
- Wall charger vs. computer USB port
- Car 12V USB charger
- Third-party charging stand
If your phone consistently charges faster with bricks other than your primary one, the brick is likely faulty and should be replaced. Hopefully one of these options restores normal charging speed.
Conclusion
Slow or ineffective charging on Google Pixel and Nexus smartphones is often just a simple fix away. Follow the tips outlined here to troubleshoot charging issues and get your device juicing up properly again in no time. With the right combination of OEM charger, undamaged port, updated software, and properly calibrated charging chip, your Google phone will charge rapidly and reliably.