Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro is one of the most popular smartphones of the mid-price segment, which is still actively used thanks to the powerful processor Helio G90T and a capacious battery of 4500 mAh. However, many owners face a problem: despite the support of fast charging technology 18 watts, the phone charges too slowly. What is the matter and how to fix?
In this article, weβll look at all the ways you can activate fast charging on the Redmi Note 8 Pro, including hidden MIUI settings, checking the compatibility of chargers and cables, and solving typical problems. Youβll learn why a smartphone can βfailβ to fast-charge even with the original adapter, and how to make it work at full power.
Importantly, not all methods are equally effective β some require manual intervention in system settings, others depend on the firmware version, and we tested each method on current versions of MIUI 12-14 and prepared clear instructions with explanations.
1. Checking the compatibility of the charger and cable
Before digging into your smartphone settings, make sure your charger and cable really support fast 18W charging. The Redmi Note 8 Pro uses Quick Charge 3.0 protocol, but with some nuances:
- π Original adapter: complete with the phone is a charger MDY-11-EP (18 If you use another, check its power, it must be at least 18 Watt (9V/2A).
- π Cable: Must support data transmission and high current strength. Original cable from Xiaomi or certified USB Type-C β USB-A (or Type-C. β Cheap cables often limit power to 10-12 watts.
- β‘ Protocol: Adapter must support Quick Charge 3.0/4.0 or USB Power Delivery (PD). Qualcomm Quick Charge Adapters 2.0 They will work slower.
How to check the current charging power?
- Connect your smartphone to the charger.
- Open the Security app β Battery.
- Click on the icon. β‘ in the upper right corner β the current power will be displayed (for example, βFast charging 18Wβ or βNormal charging 10WΒ»).
β οΈ Warning: If the charging power is below 15 watts, the problem is probably a cable or adapter. Try replacing them with certified accessories. Cheap chargers can not only slow down charging, but also damage the battery.
2. Enabling fast charging in MIUI settings
In some versions of MIUI, the fast charging feature is disabled by default or hidden in deep settings. Here's how to activate it:
Method 1: Through the battery menu
- Go to Settings β Battery and performance.
- Select Battery Settings.
- Find the Quick Charging (or Quick Charging Mode) option and turn on the switch.
Method 2: Through Hidden Settings (for MIUI 12-14)
If there is no standard item, try this method:
- Open the phone app and enter the combination: ##4636##
- In the menu that opens, select Battery Information.
- Check AC powered status β if the value is βtrueβ, but the power is low, then the problem is in the system settings.
- Go back to Settings β All settings β Additional and find Charging Optimization. Turn it off.
Is fast charging enabled in the battery settings?
Is charging optimization disabled in additional settings?
Is the charging power checked through the "Safety" application?
Have you tried another cable/adapter for the test?
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Critical nuance: on some firmware (for example, global MIUI 13.0.4), the βFast Chargeβ option may not be available, in which case only resetting or updating the software will help.
3. Update firmware and reset settings
If fast charging doesn't work despite the right settings and a compatible charger, the problem may lie in the firmware.
Step 1: Update MIUI to the latest version
- Go to Settings β About the phone β System update.
- Click Check Updates and install available patches.
- After the update, restart the phone and check the charging.
Step 2: Reset your settings (if the update didnβt work)
Sometimes, fast charging failures are due to conflicts in system settings.
- Go to Settings β About the phone β Reset settings.
- Select Reset all settings (not to be confused with Reset to factory β it will delete all data!).
- After restarting, check the charging again.
| MIUI version | Support for fast charging | Typical problems |
|---|---|---|
| MIUI 11β12 | Yes, but it may require manual activation. | Item in settings is hidden, activation through the engineering menu is required |
| MIUI 12.5β13 | Yeah, it usually works out of the box. | Conflicts with battery optimization |
| MIUI 14 (global) | Yes, but there are possible bugs on some assemblies. | Charging is limited to 10-12 watts for no reason. |
| Brush firmware (LineageOS, Pixel Experience) | Depends on the build. | Often requires a core with QC 3.0 support |
β οΈ Note: if you use custom firmware (not official) MIUI), fast charging may not work due to the lack of drivers for the power controller, in which case only the firmware of the core with support for Quick Charge will help.
4.Battery problems and their solution
Over time, the battery capacity decreases, and the smartphone can automatically limit the charging power to extend the battery life.
Checking battery status
- Install the AccuBattery app (available on Google Play).
- Charge the phone to 100% and check the battery health setting. If the value is below 80%, the battery is worn out and needs to be replaced.
- Pay attention to the Temperature during charging β if it exceeds 40Β°C, the system can force the power down.
Battery data reset (calibration)
If the battery shows an incorrect charge level or discharges quickly, calibrate:
- Reduce the phone to 0% (until it turns off).
- Connect the original charger and charge up to 100% without interruptions.
- Turn off the power and turn the phone back on. Repeat the cycle 2-3 times.
π‘
If the phone gets too hot while charging, remove the case and charge it in a cool place. Overheating is one of the main reasons for automatic lowering of charging power.
Battery replacement
If the battery capacity has fallen below 70% and the phone is quickly discharged, consider replacing the original battery for the Redmi Note 8 Pro has the article MBJ4056 (4500 mAh).
5.Problems with the USB-C port and their elimination
A contaminated or damaged USB Type-C connector is a common cause of slow charging. Here's how to diagnose and fix the problem:
Signs of port failure:
- π Charging is interrupted at the slightest movement of the cable.
- π± The phone defines the charger as USB 2.0 (power up to 500 mA).
- π In the port, dirt, oxidation or bent contacts are visible.
Cleaning the USB-C port
- Turn off the phone.
- Take a wooden toothpick (not metal!) and gently remove the dust from the connector.
- Use alcohol wipes to remove oxidation (do not overdo it with moisture!).
- Allow the port to dry for 10-15 minutes before connecting the cable.
Contact checks
If the cleaning didn't work, the problem could be the damaged contacts.
- If it is identified as an Unknown device or permanently shuts down, the port requires repair.
- If charging is slow, try another cable β perhaps only the quick charging pins (they are responsible for transmitting power data) are damaged.
What happens if the port is physically damaged?
6. Alternative methods of accelerating charging
If the standard methods didnβt work, try these non-obvious techniques:
Switching on the aircraft mode
During charging, turn off all wireless modules:
- Activate Airplane Mode in the notification curtain.
- Turn off Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS manually (unless they are automatically disabled).
- Close all background applications through Recent Tasks.
This will reduce the load on the processor and speed up charging by 10-15%.
2.Using Power Bank with Quick Charge Support
If the socket is not at hand, choose an external battery with Quick Charge 3.0 or USB-PD support.
- π Xiaomi Mi Power Bank 3 Pro (45 W, USB-C + USB-A).
- π Baseus 65W Power Bank (supported by the Bank) PD and QC).
- π Anker PowerCore 26800 (30W) Quick Charge).
3. Background restriction setting
MIUI aggressively restricts background processes, which can interfere with charging.
- Go to Settings β Applications β Application Management.
- Find Security (a battery monitoring app).
- Select Background Limitation β No restrictions.
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The most efficient way to speed up charging is to combine the original 18W adapter with quality cable and aircraft mode, which gives you up to 20 to 25 percent speed gain over standard conditions.
7. Frequent errors and myths about fast charging
There's a lot of rumors going around about Quick Charge technology.
Myth 1: βFast charging ruins the batteryβ
In fact, modern power controllers (such as the Redmi Note 8 Pro) automatically adjust current and voltage.
- π Original or certified adapter used.
- π‘οΈ The battery temperature does not exceed 45Β°C.
- π The phone does not charge to the point (it is optimal to keep the charge between 20% and 80%).
Myth 2: βThe more powerful the adapter, the faster the chargeβ
No! Redmi Note 8 Pro supports a maximum of 18 watts. If you plug in a 30 watt or 65 watt adapter, the phone will still charge at 18 watts - the excess power is simply not used.
Myth 3: βYou should always charge to 100%β
This is bad for lithium-ion batteries. The optimal range is 20-80%. MIUI has Optimized Charging, which automatically stops charging by 80% (includes in Settings β Battery).
Error: Using wireless charging
The Redmi Note 8 Pro doesn't support wireless charging. If you see wireless charging adapters on sale on this phone, that's a hoax! The maximum they'll give is 5 watts (like a standard USB), but at the risk of overheating.