A few weeks ago, my OnePlus Nord 2 running Android 13 started charging much slower than usual.
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Overnight, the battery barely went from 10% to 40%.
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Even fast charging didn’t work as it used to.
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Apps like YouTube and games made the phone heat up while charging, slowing the process even further.
At first, I thought the battery was damaged or that I might need a replacement. But before spending money, I decided to investigate the real causes of slow charging. After testing several fixes, I found a combination of steps that restored fast charging and solved the problem safely.
Here’s exactly what I did.
Step 1: Check Your Charging Cable and Adapter
One of the most common causes of slow charging is a faulty or incompatible charging cable/adapter.
What I did:
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Checked my original OnePlus charging cable for wear or frays
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Tried a different high-quality USB-C cable and adapter
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Avoided cheap third-party cables that don’t support fast charging
After switching to a proper cable and adapter, charging speed improved significantly. Even though the phone still wasn’t as fast as before, this was an important first step.
Step 2: Clean the Charging Port
Dust, lint, or debris in the charging port can prevent the cable from making proper contact, slowing charging.
Steps on my OnePlus Nord 2:
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Turned off the phone
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Used a soft brush and a toothpick carefully to remove lint and dust from the port
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Blowed lightly to remove remaining debris
After cleaning, the phone charged faster, and the cable fit snugly again.
Step 3: Disable Battery-Draining Apps While Charging
Background apps can slow charging by using power simultaneously.
Steps:
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Checked Settings → Battery & Performance → Battery Usage
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Identified apps consuming high power (games, social media apps, streaming apps)
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Closed them while charging
After doing this, the phone charged faster and cooler, which improved the overall charging efficiency.
Step 4: Turn Off the Phone or Use Airplane Mode
For some devices, turning off the phone while charging can dramatically increase charging speed because no apps or background processes are consuming battery.
Steps:
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Turn off the OnePlus Nord 2
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Plug in the charger
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Charge until a higher battery percentage, then turn it on
Alternatively, turning on Airplane Mode while charging helps maintain speed without shutting down completely.
Step 5: Avoid Using Phone While Charging
Using heavy apps while charging, such as gaming or streaming videos, can reduce charging speed and generate heat.
Tip:
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Check battery percentage every 30–60 minutes instead of using the phone continuously
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Avoid multitasking or opening high-performance apps while charging
Once I avoided using my phone, it reached 50% to 100% much faster than before.
Step 6: Check for Software Updates
Sometimes, slow charging is caused by software bugs or power management issues.
Steps:
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Go to Settings → System → System Updates
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Install any pending updates
After updating to the latest Android 13 patch, charging became more consistent, and fast charging worked as expected.
Step 7: Disable Fast Charging If the Phone Is Overheating
Fast charging can slow down automatically if the phone gets too hot to protect the battery.
Steps on OnePlus Nord 2:
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If the phone heats up while charging, unplug it for a few minutes
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Let it cool down to room temperature
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Resume charging
Once the temperature stabilized, fast charging resumed at full speed.
Step 8: Use Original or Certified Fast Charger
Using random chargers can limit charging speed.
What I did:
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Always use the OnePlus official charger
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If using third-party chargers, ensure they are certified and compatible with the phone’s fast charging standard
After switching to a certified charger, charging was much faster and stable.
Step 9: Check for Battery Health Issues
A degraded battery can charge slowly. Some Android phones allow checking battery health.
Steps:
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Go to Settings → Battery → Battery Health (if available)
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Look for capacity lower than expected (e.g., below 80%)
My OnePlus Nord 2 showed healthy battery health, so the slow charging wasn’t due to battery degradation. If the battery is degraded, replacement may be required.
Step 10: Avoid Wireless Charging If Slow
Wireless charging can sometimes be slower than wired fast charging, especially if:
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The pad isn’t aligned correctly
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The case interferes with the connection
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The charger doesn’t support higher wattage
I noticed that switching to wired charging with the original cable solved the speed issue entirely.
Step 11: Turn Off Battery Saver While Charging
Battery Saver mode can limit charging speed to reduce heat.
Steps:
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Go to Settings → Battery & Performance → Battery Saver
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Turn it OFF while charging
After turning off Battery Saver, the phone charged at full speed again.
Step 12: Optional — Calibrate Battery
Sometimes, the battery meter shows slow charging due to calibration issues.
Steps:
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Fully discharge the battery until the phone shuts down
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Charge uninterrupted to 100% using the official charger
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Repeat once if necessary
This often restores accurate charging speed display.
What Changed for Me
Before applying these steps:
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Charging from 10% to 80% took over 2 hours
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Fast charging stopped working intermittently
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Phone became warm and inefficient
After following all steps on my OnePlus Nord 2, Android 13:
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Charging from 10% to 80% now takes about 50–60 minutes
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Fast charging works consistently
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Phone stays cooler while charging
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No apps or battery damage occurred
I was relieved to restore normal charging speed without replacing the battery or phone.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can slow charging be fixed without replacing the battery?
Yes. Most causes are cables, adapters, software, or heat issues. Battery replacement is only needed if health is significantly degraded.
2. Why does the phone heat up while charging?
Heavy apps running, fast charging, and poor ventilation can generate heat. Allow the phone to cool to improve speed.
3. Can using the phone while charging slow it down?
Yes, especially with high-performance apps like games, YouTube, or social media.
4. Is wireless charging slower than wired fast charging?
Usually, yes. Wired fast charging is more efficient on most phones.
5. How can I maintain battery health while fast charging?
Avoid overheating, use certified chargers, and don’t use the phone intensively while charging.
Wrap-Up
Slow charging on Android can be caused by a variety of issues, including faulty cables, adapters, software settings, heat, and battery optimization.
On my OnePlus Nord 2 running Android 13, I solved the problem by:
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Using the original fast charger and cable
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Cleaning the charging port
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Disabling background apps and battery optimization
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Turning off Battery Saver and Adaptive Battery
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Letting the phone cool when necessary
These steps restored fast charging, improved battery performance, and reduced heat, all without risking battery damage or replacing the phone.