Waiting hours for a full charge? Slow charging is usually fixable — and rarely means you need a new phone. Work through these in order.

1. Clean the charging port

This is the number-one cause. Pocket lint compacts into the port and blocks a solid connection. Power off and gently clear it with a wooden toothpick — you'll often pull out a surprising plug of fluff, and charging speed returns instantly.

2. Check the cable and adapter

Cheap or damaged cables can't carry full power. Try a different quality cable and a higher-wattage wall adapter (charging from a laptop USB port is always slow).

3. Charge from the wall, not a computer

USB ports on laptops deliver far less power than a wall charger. Always use a proper adapter for fast charging.

4. Close apps and lower the screen while charging

Using the phone heavily while charging fights the charge. Let it rest.

5. Check battery health

An old, worn battery charges slower and holds less. If health is below 80%, the battery is the bottleneck.

When it's hardware

If cleaning and a new cable don't help, the charging port or battery is likely worn — both are cheap, common DIY fixes. Find your model's kit.