How to enable fast charging on Xiaomi Redmi 8 and Redmi Note 8: the complete guide

Owners of Xiaomi Redmi 8 and Redmi Note 8 often face the question of why their smartphone charges too slowly, despite the promised support for fast charging. The fact is that even with the appropriate power supply, the function can be turned off by default or not work correctly due to system settings, damaged cable or incompatible adapter. In this article, we will understand how to check the support for fast charging on your model, correctly configure it in MIUI, and what to do if the phone stubbornly ignores the “fast” mode.

It’s important to understand that the Redmi 8 and Redmi Note 8 come with different types of fast charging. The first model supports Quick Charge 3.0 (18W), But it's a regular package. 10W-Adapter. Second, Quick Charge 4.+ (18W) It's based on Xiaomi's proprietary technology called Fast Charge, which means that to make it work, you'll need to buy a compatible charger, and then we'll go through all the nuances, from checking hardware support to manually activating hidden options.

1. Check support for fast charging on Redmi 8/Note 8

Before you try to turn on fast charging, make sure your smartphone supports it. The Redmi 8 and Redmi Note 8 have different specifications:

• 🔋 Redmi 8: Quick Charge 3.0 (max. 18W), but a standard adapter is included — 10W (5V/2A).
• ⚡ Redmi Note 8: Quick Charge 4+ (max. 18W) + Proprietary Fast Charge by Xiaomi.
• 📱 Both models require cable. USB Type-C (compliantly included).
• 🔌 Fast charging works only when the charge from the screen is turned off (in games or when using active speed drops).

To find out if your phone supports accelerated charging:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → All the characteristics.
2. Find the line Quick Charge or Quick Charge.
3. If you don’t have that line, check the model in the settings: Settings → About Phone → Model (should be M1908C3JG for Redmi Note 8 or M1908C3IC for Redmi 8).

Attention! Some firmware (especially custom ones) may hide information about fast charging support, in which case check the phone box - the sticker should indicate the supported standard (for example, QC 3.0 or 18W Fast Charge).

2. Which chargers are suitable for fast charging

Even if your Redmi 8/Note 8 supports fast charging, it won’t work with any adapter.

Important: Using uncertified chargers can overheat the battery and reduce its life by 30-40%, and it is especially dangerous to combine a cheap adapter with a damaged cable is one of the main causes of battery bloating.

How to check the originality of the adapter:

• 🔍 The original power supply Xiaomi has a laser engraving with a serial number.
• 🏷️ The label indicates the exact parameters (for example, 5V≈3A 9V≈2A 12V≈1.5A).
• 🛡️ The box must have a certificate of conformity (for the European market - a sign) CE).

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If you lose the original charger, don’t buy the first one you get on AliExpress. Better get a certified adapter from the brands Baseus, Anker or Belkin – they support Quick Charge and are safe for the battery.

3. Step-by-step instruction: how to turn on fast charging

If your phone and charger support fast charging but it doesn’t activate automatically, follow these steps:

1. Connect the original cable (or a certified USB Type-C) to the phone and adapter.
2. Turn off the screen – fast charging often only works in standby mode.
3. Check the notification: When connecting a compatible adapter, a message should appear: Quick Charge or Quick Charge.
4. If there is no notification, go to Settings → Battery → Battery Settings and turn on the Quick Charging option (if any).

On some MIUI firmware (especially global ones), the fast charging option is hidden to activate it:

Check the phone model in the settings

Use an original or certified USB Type-C cable

Connect the adapter with support for QC 3.0/4.0 or PD

Turn off the phone screen (charging may not work when used actively)

Update. MIUI last-minute-->

For the Redmi Note 8 with MIUI 12+ firmware, there is a hidden Ultra Battery Saver mode available that can block fast charging.

1. Go to Settings → Battery → Supersaving mode.
2. Turn off the option or add the charger in exceptions.
3. Reboot the phone.

4.Why fast charging doesn't work: common problems

If you’ve followed all the steps but your phone is still charging slowly, the reasons may be as follows:

• 🔌 Incompatible adapter: even if the power supply is 18W, It may not support Quick Charge.
• 📵 Damaged cable: microcracks or fractures reduce current. Try another cable.
• 🔋 Worn-out battery: After 500 charging cycles, capacity drops and fast charging shuts down.
• 📱 Software limitations: Some applications (such as Greenify) block background processes, including power management.
• 🔥 Overheating: if the battery temperature exceeds 45°C, the system automatically reduces current.

How to diagnose the problem:

1. Connect your phone to your PC and check the charging current with AccuBattery (should be ≥1,500mA).
2. Try charging your phone in Safe Mode (without third-party apps).
3. Check the battery temperature in Settings → About phone → Battery status.

⚠️ Attention! If the charger starts to vibrate or the charger fails, immediately turn it off! This is a sign of short circuit in the adapter or cable, which can cause a fire.

5.How to speed up charging without fast charging: alternative methods

If your Redmi 8/Note 8 doesn’t support Quick Charge, or you don’t want to buy a new adapter, you can speed up charging a little with standard means:

• ❄️ Refrigerate your phone before charging (but don't put it in the fridge!) The optimal temperature for charging — 20-30°C.
• 🛩️ Turn on flight mode - this will turn off background processes that consume energy.
• 🔕 Turn off Wi-Fi and mobile data while charging.
• 🔄 Use a low-resistance cable (such as the original one from Xiaomi or Anker PowerLine).

You can also try calibrating the battery:

1. Discharge the phone before automatically shutting down.
2. Connect to charging and do not turn it on until it is charged to 100% (usually 2-3 hours).
3. Turn off the charger, turn on the phone and wait for 100% again.

AccuBattery (an Android app) will help you track the actual charging speed and battery health, and if the current is below 500 mA using the original adapter, the cable or USB port is a problem.

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Fast charging works better when the screen is off and the background is off, and even simply syncing a Google account can reduce charging speeds by 20-30%.

6. Frequent User Errors and How to Avoid Them

Many Redmi 8/Note 8 owners slow down their charging without realizing it.

• 🔄 Using your phone while charging – playing games or watching videos increases heat and the system reduces current.
• 🔋 Charging "to" 100%" Each time – Lithium-ion batteries last longer when charging before 80-90%.
• 🌡️ Charging in heat or cold - the optimal temperature: 10-35°C. In the cold (<5°C) charging may not be running at all.
• 📵 Using wireless charging - Redmi 8/Note 8 It is not supported, and adapters with Qi give the maximum. 5W.
• 🔌 Connection to USB-PC port - standard port USB 2.0 gives you everything. 0.5A (2.5W).

Another common problem is that the protections are falsely triggered, and if the phone suddenly stops charging fast, try:

1. Disconnect and reconnect the charger.
2. Reboot the phone.
3. Clean the USB port of dust (carefully with a toothpick).

⚠️ Never use turbo charges from other brands (e.g., turbochargers, VOOC or DASH Charge: They are incompatible with Xiaomi and can damage the power controller, and avoid cheap powerbanks labeled Quick Charge, most of which are not certified.

7. Comparison of fast charging on Redmi 8 and Redmi Note 8

Although both models belong to the same line, their charging capabilities are different:

The Redmi Note 8 has a more advanced power controller that distributes current better, but can overheat when used heavily (games, video shooting), and the Redmi 8 is more reliable in this regard, but loses in speed.

If you’re choosing between two models and you want fast charging, the Note 8 is definitely preferable, but remember that a 20 minute difference when fully charged is not as critical unless you use the feature daily.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions