Here’s how to charge your phone faster

A quick way to keep the battery from draining so quickly is to switch it to plane mode. You won’t be able to get texts or search online, but you’ll save power because your phone won’t be constantly searching for a cellular or WiFi connection.

There’s no better way to make sure all the power goes directly to your battery than making sure there’s no competition for it by switching it off. Alternatively, leave your phone in low power mode. You can find it in settings. Sometimes it’s known as battery saver mode.

The USB port of your computer may be convenient when you’re working remotely, but an outlet will charge your phone faster. This is because USB ports usually only charge at 0.5 amps, so it’s going to take twice as long to charge your phone than the one amp power adapter it came with.

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It can also be helpful to have a charger that works faster than the one that comes with your phone, such as a rapid charger. Just find an outlet, plug it in in, and connect it to your phone.

For those situations when you know you’re going to be away from a traditional power source, buying a battery pack is a good idea. Just make sure to plan for it in advance, so you can charge the battery pack before you leave.

Avoid exposing your phone to temperatures above 35º Celsius. The heat can damage your battery capacity, and your phone’s software may limit charging to about 80% when the phone gets hotter than the recommended temperature.

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If you notice that your phone gets hot when you charge it, take it out of its case. “Charging your device when it’s inside certain styles of cases may generate excess heat, which can affect battery capacity,” according to Apple.

The problem may not be with the power of your battery itself. Over time, lint and dust can accumulate in your lightning port (that’s where you plug your charger into your phone) and clog it. CNET recommends turning your phone off and using a toothpick to gently remove any debris from the port. Then plug in your charger again and see if it works better.

For a quick juice boost, look for a charger with high wattage. “The higher the number of watts, the faster your device will charge,” Macworld reports. The typical chargers that come with iPhones and older Androids carry one amp of current and produce five watts of power, according to the consumer blog Techlicious. But “new rapid chargers with technology such as Quick Charge support two amps and 12 watts or more, potentially charging your phone up to four times faster.”

Though wired charging is faster, wireless charging is also a good option.

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