Why Xiaomi phone is discharged on charging: 10 reasons and how to fix it

You plugged Xiaomi into a charger, but instead of the usual increase in battery percentages, you see the opposite: the charge level drops and the phone discharges right before your eyes. The situation is not just annoying, it signals serious problems that can lead to a complete failure of the device. In this article, we will discuss all possible reasons why this happens, from the banal (bad cable) to the hidden (power controller failures).

The feature of Xiaomi smartphones is their sensitivity to the quality of charging accessories and firmware, for example, the models of the Redmi Note 12 series or the other two. POCO X5 They may refuse to charge due to incompatible fast charging protocols, and older devices like Mi can be used to charge. 9T We're not going to limit ourselves to general tips like "change charge" -- instead, we're going to offer step-by-step diagnostics with specific tests for each possible malfunction.

Important: If your phone is not just slowly charging but actively losing charge when connected to the network (for example, from 30% to 10% in 10 minutes), this is a critical signal.

1. Poor or non-original charger

The most common reason is the use of cheap no-name charging or cables not certified for Xiaomi, MI Fast Charge, PD), If the charger does not meet the requirements, the phone can:

• 🔌 Do not recognize charging as original and limit current to 0.5A (actually – do not charge).
• ⚡ Give false alarm protection against overheating, interrupting charging.
• 📉 Show charging, but actually consume more energy than it receives (e.g. when using active energy).

How to check? Connect your phone to charge and go to Settings → Battery status: If the charge type is indicated USB Instead of fast charging or adaptive charging, your charger doesn't fit. Also, pay attention to the body temperature -- if it's heating up more than usual, it's a sign of a mismatch.

⚠️ Note: Using chargers with an output voltage above 5V (e.g. 9V or 12V) without Quick Charge support may damage the power controller in Xiaomi phones older than 2019 (Mi 8, Mi 9 series).

2. Damaged cable or connector USB-C

Even the original cable wears out over time, with internal wires being rubbed, contacts oxidized, or the screen (metal protection at the base of the connector) broken. USB-C A common problem is incomplete contact, where the phone detects the connection but is actually not getting enough power.

How to diagnose:

1. Try to move the cable slightly in the connector while charging, and if the percentage of the battery jumps or the charging is interrupted, the contact problem is.
2. Check the phone’s connector for contamination (dust, debris) or mechanical damage (bent contacts).
3. Connect the phone to the computer, and if it's not defined or the connection is unstable, the cable or connector is faulty.

Try another cable (original)

Wipe the connector with alcohol and compressed air

Check charging on another device

Examine the cable for inflections at the base-->

Especially vulnerable models with an aluminum body (for example, Xiaomi Mi 11 or other models). POCO X3 Pro), where the connector USB-C It's often loosened when you're using it heavily, and if the contacts inside the connector are bent, you can straighten them neatly with a needle, but you'd better go to the service.

Wear or failure of the battery

The batteries in Xiaomi smartphones are designed for 400-500 full charge cycles, after which their capacity decreases by 20-30%, and internal resistance increases, as a result, the phone can:

• 🔋 Discharge faster than charge (e.g. when playing games or video).
• 🌡️ Overheating during charging, activating protection against high temperature.
• 📊 Incorrect percentage of charge (jumps from 50% to 20% per second).

How to check the status of the battery:

1. Go to Settings. → Battery status → Battery use: If the discharge schedule is uneven (sharp drops), it's a sign of wear and tear.
2. Install the AccuBattery app (available on Google Play) and it will show the actual battery capacity and wear and tear.
3. If the phone has less than 4-5 hours of battery life when used in moderation, the battery needs to be replaced.

Every year.

Every 2-3 years

Only when the phone stops turning on

Never changed.-->

⚠️ Attention: A bloated battery is a fire hazard. If the phone body is deformed (for example, the screen is "stepping away" from the case), immediately disconnect the device from the power and contact the service!

In Xiaomi 2020-2023 models (such as the Redmi Note 10 Pro or Mi 11 Lite), a defect is often encountered when the battery controller falsely detects high charging current and turns off power. This manifests as cyclic charging: the phone takes charge, then suddenly discharges, solves the problem of flashing or replacing the power management board.

4. Software failures and firmware errors

Operating system MIUI It's known for its features, which sometimes interfere with normal operation, such as when you upgrade to a new one. MIUI 14 Many Xiaomi users 12T and POCO F4 I encountered a bug in which the phone was discharged on charging because of:

• 🤖 Background activity of system processes (com.miui.analytics, com.xiaomi.midrop).
• 🔄 Incorrect operation of the Linux kernel, responsible for power management.
• 📱 Failures in the charging controller driver (battery driver).

How to fix it:

1. Reset the settings to factory: Settings → The phone. → Reset settings. Pre-reverse the data!
2. Turn off battery optimization for system applications: go to Settings → Battery → Optimize your battery and select “All Apps.” for Google Play Services and MIUI Daemon: Install "No Limitations».
3. Install custom restoration (TWRP) And run the clean version. MIUI Pixel Experience (for advanced users).

If the problem has occurred after the update, check the reviews on the forums (for example, check the reviews, 4PDA or XDA Often Xiaomi releases patches for critical bugs within 1-2 weeks of the release of a new version. MIUI.

5. Background processes and malware

One of the less obvious reasons is that there are hidden processes that consume energy faster than the phone can charge.

• 🕵️‍♂️ Spyware applications (e.g., Cleaner utilities from unknown developers).
• ⛏️ Mining bots using phone resources to mine cryptocurrency.
• 📲 Apps with aggressive advertising (such as some games from Google Play).

How to detect:

1. Open the Settings. → Battery → Battery usage and see which applications consume the most power. Normal standby consumption is no more than 5% per hour.
2. Install Malwarebytes or Kaspersky Mobile and perform a full system check.
3. Launch your phone in Safe Mode (click the power button) → «Safe Mode. If this mode is charging normally, the problem is with third-party software.

💡

To temporarily disable all background processes, go to Settings → Developer → Process limit and set "No background processes" to help identify the culprit.

Xiaomi models with Snapdragon processors 8 Gen 1/2 (for example, Xiaomi 12 Pro or Black Shark 5) Sometimes a bug goes off, where the cores of the processor don't go into low-power mode, and it causes a constant discharge even on charging, so the solution is to roll back the firmware or wait for a patch from Qualcomm.

6.Problems with the power controller or motherboard

If all previous methods did not help, the reason may lie in a hardware malfunction:

• 🔧 Damage to the charging controller (PMIC — Power Management IC).
• 🔥 Burnt out elements of the power chain (capacitors, resistors).
• 📱 Detachment of battery contacts from the motherboard.

Symptoms of hardware problems:

• The phone is charged only when it is off.
• The swelling is then turned off (and then turned off).
• The phone warms up in the processor area even without a load.

Diagnosis:

1. Connect the phone to the power source and measure the voltage at the battery contacts with a multimeter. Normal - 3.7V-4.2V.
2. Check if the capacitors on the motherboard are inflated (visually or with a magnifying glass).
3. If you have a soldering hair dryer, try to solder the controller. PMIC (Electronics repair skills required).

⚠️ Warning: Self-repairing the motherboard without experience can cause the phone to fail completely.In Xiaomi models with a Snapdragon 888 chip (such as the Mi 11 Ultra), the power controller is integrated into the processor - its replacement requires specialized equipment.

💡

If the phone is discharged on charging and at the same time strongly warmed, most likely, the faulty power controller (PMIC) Or a short circuit in the battery circuit, which requires professional diagnosis.

7. Influence of external factors: temperature and humidity

Xiaomi smartphones automatically turn off charging at extreme temperatures:

• ❄️ Low 0°C: Lithium ions in the battery stop moving, charging becomes impossible.
• 🔥 Above 45.°C: Overheating protection is activated, the phone may even turn off.
• 💧 Increased humidity: oxidation of contacts leads to poor connection.

How to minimize the impact:

• Do not charge your phone in the direct sun or near heat sources (such as a car torpedo in summer).
• If the phone overheats, let it cool to room temperature before connecting to charging.
• Avoid charging in the bathroom or other wet areas.

In models with a Loop LiquidCool cooling system (for example, Black Shark 4 Pro or POCO F3 GT) overheating may occur due to:

• Dust clogged heat pipes.
• Drying thermopaste between the processor and the radiator.
• Fan malfunctions (in game models).

8. Failure of the socket or power source

Sometimes the problem is not the phone, but the power source.

• 🔌 Unstable voltage in the socket (for example, in old homes or when using extension cords).
• 🔋 Power Bank with low efficiency (loss up to 30% of energy on heating).
• 🚗 Charging in the car through a lighter (voltage can jump from 12V to 14.5V).

How to check:

1. Connect your phone to another power outlet or power source.
2. Use a voltage stabilizer if your network has frequent swings.
3. To charge in the car, use an adapter with voltage surge protection (for example, Xiaomi Car Charger Pro).

Xiaomi phones with Quick Charge 4 support+ (Like Mi. 10T Pro) unstable voltage can damage the charging controller. If you charge your phone frequently in the car, it is recommended to use a ferrite ring cable to suppress interference.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi’s charging discharge