Why Xiaomi is Slowly Charging: A Complete Discussion of Causes and Solutions

You plugged Xiaomi into charging, but battery percentages crawl like a turtle when things used to work fast? This problem is familiar to many owners of the brand's smartphones, from budget Redmis to the flagship Mi 13 Ultra. Slow charging can be associated with both banal battery wear and hidden system settings or even factory defects.

In this article, we'll not just list the possible causes, but give you step-by-step instructions for diagnosing and eliminating each of them, how to check the charger's health, what MIUI settings inhibit charging, and when it's time to bring your phone to the service, and also break down the myths of "fast charging" that prevent users from properly operating their gadgets.

Spoiler: 60 percent of the time, the problem is solved in 5 minutes without going to the workshop, and let's start with the obvious, and we'll gradually get to the hidden pitfalls.

1. Problems with charger and cable

The first thing to check is the charging kit. Even Xiaomi’s original power supplies and cables fail over time, and the non-original ones often don’t match the claimed specs.

How to diagnose:

• 🔌 Try charging your phone with another charger (preferably the original Xiaomi charger with the same power). If the speed has increased, the power supply is a problem.
• 🔗 Check the cable for insulation damage or inflection, especially the vulnerable spots on the connectors.
• 📱 Connect the same charger to another phone, and if it's slow charging, it's the power supply.

Note the power of the charger. For example, the Xiaomi 12 Pro supports 120W charging, but if you use an 18W unit, the speed will be many times lower.

⚠️ Note: Use of chargers with higher power than the phone supports (e.g, 120W redmi 9A), will not speed up charging, but may lead to overheating and shorten battery life.

2.Contamination of the USB-C or Lightning connector

Dust, pocket pile or contact oxidation in the charging connector are among the most common causes of slow charging, and the phone may periodically switch off charging or display a message saying “Charge is suspended.”

How to clean the connector:

1. Turn off the phone and get it out. SIM-card (if the connector is combined).
2. Take a toothpick (not a metal one!) or a plastic card wrapped in a soft cloth.
3. Carefully remove visible contaminants. For hard-to-reach places, you can use compressed air (a canister for cleaning equipment).
4. If there are signs of oxidation (green coating), wipe the contacts with an alcohol tampon (at least 70% alcohol).

Don't use metal objects (needles, paper clips) - they can damage the contacts! If after cleaning the problem remains, the connector may be mechanically damaged (for example, bent "tongues" inside), in this case, only replacing the connector in the service center will help.

3. MIUI software limitations: hidden settings

MIUI has several “hidden” features that can artificially limit charging speeds, most often due to energy saving modes or battery optimization.

Where to look for settings:

• 🔋 Settings → Battery. → Power saving mode. Turn it off if it's active.
• ⚡ Settings → Battery. → Optimized charging: This feature limits charging to 80 to 90 percent to extend battery life.
• 📱 Settings → Special facilities → Fast charging (not available on all models) Make sure the option is on.

Some models (such as the Xiaomi 12S Ultra) have a separate super-fast charging switch to find:

1. Open the Settings. → The phone.
2. Tap 5 times on the line of the MIUI version to unlock the developer mode.
3. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
4. Find the option to limit charging current and turn it off.

⚠️ Warning: Turning off optimized charging can reduce battery life by 10 to 15 percent.Use this feature only if you really need a full charge.

Turn off the power saving mode

Turn off optimized charging

Check the fast charging settings

Update MIUI to the latest version

Reset the battery settings (Settings) → Battery. → Three points. → Reset)-->

Battery wear: when it's time to change the battery

Lithium-ion batteries in Xiaomi smartphones are designed for 400-600 charging cycles. After that, their capacity decreases by 20-30%, and the charging speed drops by 2-3 times. If your phone is older than 2 years and charges for more than 3 hours, it is likely that the wear of the battery is to blame.

How to check the status of the battery:

1. Install the AccuBattery app (available on Google Play).
2. Charge the phone to 100% and discharge to 0% (full cycle).
3. Look at the battery health score in the app, and if it's below 80 percent, the battery is critically worn out.

MIUI also has a built-in diagnostics:

1. Go to Settings. → Battery.
2. Slap the icon. ⚙️ (gear) in the upper right corner.
3. Select Battery Status. If the capacity is below 3,000 mAh (for most models), it's time to think about replacing.

Critical point: if the battery is swelling (the phone body is "smoking"), immediately disconnect it from charging and do not use!

5.Overheating phone: why Xiaomi 'strangles' charging when heated

Xiaomi (like other manufacturers) artificially limits the charging speed if the battery temperature exceeds 40–45°C. This is done for safety, but often results in the phone charging for 4–5 hours.

Causes of overheating:

• 🔥 Game or resource-intensive tasks (video editing, streaming) during charging.
• ☀️ Charging under direct sunlight or in a hot room.
• 📱 Using a cover that blocks the heat sink.
• 🚫 Fault of the power controller (requires diagnosis in the service).

How to eliminate:

1. Remove the case before charging.
2. Charge your phone in a cool place (optimally - 20-25 ° C).
3. Do not use your phone for games or heavy tasks while charging.
4. If the phone warms even in simple, check Settings → Battery → Battery use for the presence of “gluttonous” applications.

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If the phone is too hot, disconnect it from charging and let it cool to room temperature. Quickly cool it will help to place the device in the shade or near the fan (but not in the refrigerator!).

6. Problems with firmware and MIUI updates

Sometimes slow charging is associated with bugs in the firmware. For example, after the update of MIUI 14, many users of Xiaomi 11T complained that the phone charges 2 times slower.

How to check and correct:

• 📲 Update. MIUI Up to the latest version: Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.
• 🔄 If the problem appears after the update, try resetting settings (not data!) via Settings. → Resetting settings.
• 🛠️ For advanced users: install custom recovery (TWRP) And run the clean version. MIUI. Careful: This may void the warranty!

If you suspect firmware is to blame, check forums (like 4PDA or XDA Developers) for similar complaints, often with ready-made solutions or patches.

⚠️ Attention: Before resetting or flashing, back up your important data. Use Settings → Additionally. → Backup or third-party applications like Swift Backup.

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If slow charging has occurred after the MIUI update, try resetting the battery settings first (Settings → Battery → Three Points → Reset).

7 Hardware malfunctions: when without service can not do

If all previous methods did not help, the problem may be in the hardware:

• 🔌 Faulty power controller - responsible for power distribution. When the phone breaks, it may charge with jerks or fail to see the original charger.
• 🔋 Bloated battery – even if the external deformation is not visible, the inner layers of the battery could be layered.
• 📱 Damaged motherboard – for example, after falling or getting moisture.

Signs of hardware malfunction:

• The phone does not detect the charger or shows “Charging suspended”.
• The speed of the charge is fast (and slow).
• The phone turns off when connected to the charger.
• The battery is discharged faster than before (even after replacement).

In these cases, self-repair is fraught with a complete failure of the phone. Contact the authorized service center Xiaomi will conduct diagnostics and replace faulty components with the preservation of warranty.

Cost of repair (approximately):

• Battery replacement: 1,500–3,000 ₽.
• Replacement of the charging connector: 1000–2 500 ₽.
• Repair of the power controller: 2000–5,000 ₽.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi's slow charging