How to turn off fast charging on Xiaomi Mi A3: all the ways and consequences

The Xiaomi Mi A3 is a popular smartphone with a balance of performance and price, but its Quick Charge 3.0 feature doesn’t always live up to expectations. Many users face overheating, accelerated battery wear, or simply prefer slow charging for safety. In this article, we’ll look at how to fully or partially deactivate fast charging, what alternatives exist, and what happens to the phone after a shutdown.

It's important to understand that the Mi A3 runs on pure Android One, so some of the techniques that are relevant to MIUI won't work here. We've tested all of them on Android 10/11 firmware and have only put together working solutions, from standard settings to engineering menus, and we'll also uncover myths about the impact of fast charging on the battery and give you recommendations for optimal power.

Why users are turning off fast charging on the Mi A3

The Quick Charge 3.0 feature in the Xiaomi Mi A3 should theoretically speed up charging to 18W, but in practice many face problems:

• 🔥 Overheating of the case - the battery temperature rises above 40°C, which reduces its resource.
• 📉 Accelerated battery degradation – after 300-400 cycles, the capacity may fall on 20-30%.
• ⚡ Unstable voltage – Cheap chargers or cables cause current surges.
• 🛌 Night charging – fast mode is not optimal for long-term network connection.

According to a study by Battery University, charging above 1C (~3.5A for the Mi A3) reduces the life of lithium-ion batteries by 30-50%, especially for devices older than 2 years, where battery capacity is already reduced.

⚠️ Attention: If your Mi is yours A3 heats up above 45°C during charging, this may cause the battery to bloat or the power controller protection to go off.

Another reason is wireless charging compatibility, and many Qi stations don't support Quick Charge, and the phone starts to cycle to plug in/off, and turning off the fast mode solves this problem.

Method 1: Disconnect via standard Android settings

The easiest method is to use the built-in Android One options. Unfortunately, there is no direct “Fast Charge” switch in the Mi A3, but you can limit power indirectly:

1. Open the Settings. → Battery.
2. Go to Power Mode (or Adaptive Battery in newer versions of Android).
3. Select the option to Limit charge to 80% (if available) or Optimized charging.
4. Activate the slider Enable adaptive charging.

This method doesn't turn off Quick Charge completely, but it reduces charging current after 80%, which reduces heating.Suitable for overnight charging or if you often leave your phone on recharging.

Use the original cable and power supply

Check the battery temperature in Settings → Battery → Status

Close all background applications before charging

Turn off your phone for 5 minutes before changing your settings.-->

If you don't have the option to Limit Charge, upgrade to the latest version of the firmware. Android 11 for the Mi A3, this feature appeared in the update from QKQ1.200216.002.

Method 2: Use of an engineering menu (for power users)

To completely disable Quick Charge, you will need access to the engineering menu (#4636##).This method works on all versions of Android, but you need to be careful:

1. Open the Phone app and enter the combination ##4636##.
2. Go to the Battery Information tab.
3. Click on the menu (three dots) → Battery information.
4. Find the Fast Charge or Quick Charge option and change the value to Disable.

Note: In some Mi A3 firmware, this option may be called USB PD disable or Charge control. If it is not, then the manufacturer has blocked the change.

⚠️ Warning: Changing the parameters in the engineering menu can lead to unstable charging or resetting after rebooting!

If after the changes the phone stopped charging at all, return the settings to the original state or reset through Settings → System → Reset settings (without deleting data).

Method 3: Using Third-Party Applications

If standard methods don't work, you can use charging control apps. The best options for the Mi A3 are:

• 📱 AccuBattery analyzes battery status and allows you to limit the charging current to 80%.The free version has limitations, but basic features are available.
• ⚡ Battery Charge Limit – sets a hard charge limit (e.g. 75%), but requires root rights.
• 🔧 Quick Charge Switcher – switches charging modes (only for devices with a Qualcomm processor). A3 partially.

Example of settings in AccuBattery:

1. Install the application and provide all the permissions requested.
2. Go to the Charging section → Charge limits.
3. Activate the option to Limit to 80%.
4. Enable notification when you reach the limit.

The downside of this method is that the apps only work when the screen is active, if the phone is off or in sleep mode, the restrictions are reset, and you need root to be fully controlled.

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If after installing AccuBattery, the phone began to charge more slowly even without restrictions, clear the application cache in Settings → Applications → AccuBattery → Memory → Clear the cache.

Method 4: Hardware Shutdown (for Advanced Users)

If the software methods don't work, there's a physical power limitation, and that's true if:

• 🔌 You are using an unoriginal power supply.
• 📱 The phone does not respond to settings.
• 🔋 The battery is swelling or degraded.

Options for hardware shutdown:

1. Using a "dumb" charger - take the power supply on the 5V/1A (like an old smartphone). the Mi A3 will automatically go into slow charging mode.
2. USB-Current-limited hub – devices like Anker PowerPort allow you to set fixed 5V/2A.
3. Cable modification – if you are versed in electronics, you can solder the resistor into a USB-cable to limit the current to 0.5A. Dangerous!

⚠️ Note: When using uncertified chargers Xiaomi Mi A3 It can block charging because of the surge protection, and then the screen will see a notification saying, "Charge suspended. Use the original adapter".

The safest hardware method is to buy a fixed current Qi charge of 1A. Wireless charging by default runs slower than Quick Charge and does not heat the battery.

What happens to your phone after you turn off fast charging

Many users fear that disabling Quick Charge will negatively affect the operation of the device.

As you can see from the table, the only downside is the increased charging time, but the benefits are significant:

• 🔋 Extension of battery life on 30-50%.
• 🌡️ Temperature drop by 10-15°C.
• ⚡ More stable work at high loads (games, video).

According to GSMArena tests, the Xiaomi Mi A3 with the fast charging turned off loses only 5-7% of battery capacity in a year of active use, against 15-20% with the Quick Charge.

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Turning off fast charging doesn't affect smartphone performance, app speed or communication quality. The only change is recharging time.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When you try to disable Quick Charge, users often make mistakes that lead to the opposite effect.

• ❌ Using a damaged cable -- even with fast charging turned off, a bad cable can cause overheating.
• ❌ Charging at high loads – if you play games while recharging, the battery will warm up regardless of the mode.
• ❌ Ignoring updates – newer versions of Android may have bugs affecting charging.Always install the latest security patches.
• ❌ Resetting settings without backup – if you’re experimenting with an engineering menu, save the original settings.

Another common mistake is using smart sockets with a timer, and if you disconnect your phone from the grid at 80% and then reconnect it, it creates microcycles that are more harmful than just charging it.

⚠️ Note: If after switching off fast charging, the phone began to spontaneously turn off when 20-30% This is a sign of critical battery degradation, which requires a battery replacement, not a charge adjustment.

To avoid problems, follow a simple rule: charging up to 80% and discharging up to 20% is the optimal range for lithium-ion batteries. Use a full cycle (0-100%) no more than 1 time per month to calibrate the controller.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions