Having to charge your phone constantly is frustrating. If your usage is above average, it's still often unlikely your handset can make it throughout the day without a top-up of power in the early evening.
And although the steady introduction of USB-C cables is whittling away at the time it takes to give your device some extra juice, hanging around while your battery reenergizes itself can be tortuous.
But don't worry, there are some tips, tricks, and gadgets that can make the charging experience less painful. Here are the eight smartest Android charging tricks you're not using.
1. Enable Airplane Mode
One of the biggest draws on your battery is the network signal. As a general rule, the worse your signal, the faster your battery will drain.
Consequently, if you live in an area with a poor signal, charging your phone takes longer than if you reside in a place with a strong signal—the signal is eating through your power as you charge.
The quick solution? Put your phone in Airplane Mode before you plug it in. Testing suggests it could reduce the amount of time needed for a full charge by as much as 25 percent.
2. Turn Your Phone Off
Simple, obvious, but often overlooked. If your phone is turned off while it's re-powering, it's going to charge a lot faster. Nothing will be drawing on the battery while you fill it up.
Of course, turning your phone off while it is charging has its downsides—you will not be able to receive urgent calls or messages. But if you're looking to give your phone a quick 15-minute boost before you leave the house, powering it down is definitely the way to go.
3. Ensure Charge Mode Is Enabled
Your Android device lets you specify what type of connection it makes when you plug in a USB cable. If you're charging via your laptop of other device you need to make the charging feature is turned on and has not been accidentally disabled.
Head to Settings > Connected devices > USB preferences. On the list of options, make sure the Charge connected device is toggle is enabled.
(Note: You will not be able to change options in this menu unless your device is connected to a USB cable at the time.)
4. Use a Wall Socket
Using a USB port on your computer or in your car leads to a much more inefficient charging experience.
Typically, non-wall socket USB ports only offer a power output of 0.5A. Wall socket charging will usually give you 1A (depending on your device). There's nothing wrong with receiving a lower amperage—it won't harm your device—but you'll definitely be twiddling your thumbs for a lot longer.
As a rule of thumb, only use your car or laptop for a top-up, not for a full charge.
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