Why Xiaomi Redmi 10 takes a long time to charge: from cable to firmware

If your Xiaomi Redmi 10 is charging 2-3 times longer than usual, it’s not always a sign of battery wear. 60% of the time, the problem is incorrect settings, faulty accessories or software failures that can be fixed on your own, for example, using a non-original cable can reduce the charging speed from 18 watts to 5 watts — almost like old smartphones 10 years ago.

But how do you tell a hardware defect from a software bug? In this article, we'll look at all the possible causes, from the banal contamination of the connector to the hidden MIUI functions that inhibit charging, and we'll also give you a step-by-step checklist for diagnostics and ways to speed up the process without harming the battery, and if after checking all the points, the problem remains, then it's the physical wear of the battery or the power controller.

Redmi 10 supports fast charging of 18 watts, but only if three conditions are met:

1. Use of an original or certified charger.
2. The battery temperature is in the range of 15-35 ° C.
3. No background processes consuming >20% of energy.

If at least one of them is broken, the smartphone automatically goes into a slow charging mode (5-10 W).

1. Problems with charger and cable

The most common reason is the unoriginal accessories. Redmi 10 comes with 18 watts (9V/2A) charging, but cheap Chinese counterparts often only give out 5V/1A or unstable voltage. How do you check?

Take another charger (preferably from Xiaomi, Samsung or Anker) and compare the speed. If the new adapter charges faster, the problem is the old power supply.

• 🔌 Damaged overflow – bare wires can cause short circuits and reduce current.
• 🔍 Oxidized contacts - a green plaque on a plug USB-C impair energy transfer.
• 📏 Length >1.5 m long cables lose up to 30% of power due to resistance.

Another test is to connect your smartphone to your computer via the same cable, and if you charge very slowly (or not at all), it means that the cable does not support data and power transmission at the same time, which is a sign of damaged internal veins.

⚠️ Warning: Never use chargers with power output >20 watts (for example, from laptops). Redmi 10 does not support Quick Charge 3.0 protocols+ or PD 3.0, and high voltage can damage the power controller.

2.Contamination of the USB-C connector or battery contacts

Dust, pile and debris in the USB-C connector are the second most common cause of slow charging, and even microscopic particles can block contacts, which makes it impossible for the smartphone to recognize the full power of the charger.

1. Turn off your phone and get the SIM card.
2. Light up with a flashlight – if you can see debris inside, carefully remove it with a plastic toothpick (not metal!).
3. Use alcohol wipes to remove oxidation (do not overdo it with moisture!).

Also check the battery contacts (if you've taken the phone apart). On Redmi 10, they're located at the top of the battery. If the contacts are bent or corrosive, the smartphone will charge in jerks or disconnect altogether.

After cleaning, plug in the charging and look at the current indicator in the status bar. If you previously displayed Charging (slow) and now you're showing Fast Charging, the problem is solved.

3. Software failures and MIUI settings

MIUI 12/13/14 has hidden features that can artificially limit charging, such as Optimized Charging (on by default) mode, limiting current to 80% to extend battery life.

1. Go to Settings → Battery and Performance → Battery Settings
2. Click on the icon. ⚙️ top-right.
3. Turn off the option of “Optimized charging”.

Also check the background processes. If you're charging:

• 🎮 Games (e.g. Genshin Impact or PUBG Mobile).
• 📹 Video calls (Zoom, WhatsApp).
• 🔄 Application updates (Google Play, MIUI Updater).

Charging speeds can drop by 2-3 times, closing all applications through the multitasking menu or turning on Airplane Mode.

If the smartphone started to charge slowly after the MIUI update, try resetting the battery settings:

Settings → Applications → Application Management → Three Dots (⋮) → Reset application settings

💡

After resetting the battery settings, the first 2-3 charging cycles may be slower than usual. This is normal: the system calibrates the power controller.

Battery wear: how to check and what to do

The average life of a Redmi 10 battery is 300-500 charge cycles (about 2 years of active use), after which the capacity drops by 20-30%, and the charging speed decreases.

1. Install the AccuBattery app (free on Google Play).
2. Charge your phone to 100% and check the battery health score.
3. If the value is <80%, the battery needs to be replaced.

Also note the bloating of the battery.

• 📱 The screen or back cover bent outwards.
• 🔋 The phone is overheating even without loading.
• ⚡ Charging is interrupted by 50 to 70%.

A bloated battery is dangerous, it can explode when heated or mechanically exposed, and turn off your phone immediately and call the service center.

If the battery is normal but charging is slow, try calibration:

1. Reduce the phone to 0% (until it turns off).
2. Charge to 100% without interruptions (don’t turn off the cable!).
3. Repeat the process 2-3 times.

5.Overheating phone: why it slows charging

Redmi 10 automatically reduces the charging current if the battery temperature exceeds 40 ° C. This is damage protection, but it can take 4-5 hours to process.

• 🌞 Direct sunlight (even 10 minutes in the sun increase the temperature by 10-15)°C).
• 🎮 Games or video rendering while charging.
• 🔥 Faulty battery (swelling, short circuit).
• 📦 Case with poor ventilation (especially silicone).

To speed up charging:

1. Take off the case.
2. Put your phone on a cooling stand (or just on the table, not on the sofa).
3. Turn off Wi-Fi/4G if you are not using the internet.
4. Close all applications through Settings → Apps → Clean.

If the phone is warming up even in standby mode, check the power controller.

1. Turn off your smartphone.
2. Connect the charger and touch the area near the USB-C connector.
3. If it is hot (not warm) the controller is faulty.

⚠️ Warning: Do not use the refrigerator to cool your phone! A sharp temperature drop can cause condensation inside the case, which will lead to corrosion of contacts.

Remove the case|

Close all applications |

Disable mobile data/Wi-Fi|

Put your phone on a flat surface |

Use the original charging-->

6. firmware problems or viruses

If all hardware causes are ruled out, the software is to blame, and most often, slow charging is caused by:

• 🐞 Betas MIUI (assemblies).
• 🦠 Viruses (miners of cryptocurrency, spyware).
• 🔄 Failures after the update (for example, transition from the MIUI 12 on MIUI 13).

First, check your phone for viruses with Malwarebytes or Dr.Web Light.

Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (Tap 7 times to turn on Developer Mode) → Additional → Cache Reset

If the problem has occurred after the update, try to roll back to the previous version of MIUI:

1. Download stable firmware from miuirom.xiaomi.com.
2. Go to Settings. → The phone. → Updating the system → Three points (⋮) → Select a firmware file.
3. Select the downloaded file and wait for the process to be completed.

In extreme cases, perform a hard reset (but save the data first!):

Settings → About Phone → Backup and Reset → Resetting settings

💡

If the charging normalized after reset, the problem was in the conflict of applications or system files. Install programs only from official sources (Google Play, Mi App Store).

7. Failures of the power controller or motherboard

If none of the previous methods helped, the problem may lie in the hardware breakdown:

• 🔌 Charging controller (responsible for current distribution).
• 📱 Motherboard (damaged tracks or chips).
• 🔋 Connector. USB-C (slurred).

Signs of hardware malfunction:

• The phone is charged only in a certain position of the cable.
• Charging is interrupted after 5-10 minutes.
• The smartphone does not turn on without a connected cable.
• In Settings → Battery displays the message “Charging suspended”.

For diagnosis:

1. Connect your phone to your computer via USB, and if it's not detected, it's a problem with the connector or the controller.
2. Try charging from a power bank. If the speed is normal, it's the power outlet or the network adapter.
3. Check the voltage at the battery contacts with a multimeter (should be 3.7-4.2V).

Repairing these breakdowns requires soldering and specialized equipment, and the average cost of replacing a power controller in a service center is 1,500-3,00. ₽. If the phone is warranty, contact the authorized service Xiaomi.

FAQ: Frequent questions about charging Redmi 10