The one overlooked reason why your phone won’t charge at full speed

Fast charging is an equally complex and fascinating technology that allows phones to consume much higher levels of power for faster battery recharges. What many people don’t realize is that this relies on constant communication between the phone and the charger, and when that communication breaks down, charging drops back to much slower speeds.

So if your phone isn’t charging quickly like it used to or no longer shows a fast charge notification when using its original charge, there’s a common culprit that often only takes a minute to resolve.

Lint and debris may prevent fast charging

Your phone’s USB-C charging port uses multiple pins to deliver power and communicate with the charger. If dirt, wear, or damage interferes with these delicate contacts, especially the pins responsible for negotiating charge, your phone may stop fast charging and revert to a much slower default charging mode.

In most cases this means charging at 5V, which tops out at around 15W (5V at 3A) in the best case. That’s essentially the same speed you’d get with a non-speed basic cable and charger.

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Over time, your phone’s USB-C port naturally accumulates dust and grime. Unless you use a dust cap, there’s not much you can do to completely prevent this buildup.

USB-C input

Yes

Color

Black

This 50-pack of USB Type-C dust plugs is the perfect solution if you don’t want dust and lint getting into your phone’s USB port. It is designed not to damage your port. Just insert it and when you need to charge the phone, remove it.

Unfortunately, dust is usually just the beginning. Since most of us carry our phones in the pockets of a jacket or jeans, lint from the pockets can easily get into the port, causing charging and data transfer issues.

This buildup can happen surprisingly quickly, especially if you keep your phone in your pocket with the USB port facing down, meaning even a phone less than a year old can end up with a significant amount of lint inside its USB-C port.

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How to tell if your phone’s USB port is dirty

A telltale sign of a dirty USB-C port is that plugging in the cable seems unusually difficult and you don’t feel it click into place. When you unplug it, the cable may feel loose, almost like there’s nothing holding it together and it wants to slide out on its own.

This is usually a sign that there is so much debris inside the port that the little retention hooks on the USB-C connector can’t snap into place properly.

In some cases, you may be able to spot dirt inside the port using a flashlight, but this is usually only possible when the buildup is significant. Even if the harbor appears clean on the surface, that doesn’t mean debris isn’t the problem.

Sticky gunk can build up directly on the pins themselves, where it’s hard to see with the naked eye or even a decent macro lens, but it will still cause charging slowdowns.

Credit: Justin Duino / How-To Geek

The first time I encountered this problem was in 2017, when my wife (then girlfriend) bought a second-hand Huawei P9 Plus. The phone supported 18W fast charging, but no matter which charger we tried, it refused to charge above 5W (1A). This turned what would be an hour or so charge until it was complete into an overnight ordeal.

While troubleshooting, I noticed that the charging cable seemed unusually loose, especially compared to my micro-USB phone at the time. I carefully loosened and removed the packed debris using a threading needle (don’t do this, it’s easy to damage the port), and just like that, fast charging was back.

Since then, whenever I encounter fast charging issues on my phones, cleaning the USB-C port is the first thing I try and so far it has worked every time. I just removed the threading needle in favor of safer methods.

How to clean your phone’s USB port without damaging it

Credit: Justin Duino / How-To Geek

The easiest and safest way to clean your phone’s USB-C port is to use compressed air. Hold the nozzle near the port and use short bursts to blow out dirt. If you don’t have a can handy, you can try blowing on the port yourself, but unless you have iron lungs, this probably won’t do much.

After using the compressed air, inspect the port for any remaining debris. If you still see lint stuck inside, you can gently remove it with a small, soft-bristled brush designed for electronic devices. A thin interdental brush can also work in a pinch.

The key is to push the debris around the corners and out of the port as gently as possible. Avoid putting any pressure on the center section, as this is where the pins are located.

If the port still doesn’t support fast charging, you can try electronic contact cleaner or isopropyl alcohol. Apply a small amount to the brush and gently clean the pins on both sides of the contact plate. This can dissolve sticky residue without damaging the port. You can even use a spare USB-C cable and plug and unplug it a few times to “brush” the pins without damaging them.

If your phone still fails to charge quickly, the USB port may be damaged

If you’ve done your best to clean the port, but fast charging still doesn’t work, the USB-C port itself may be damaged. The port is constantly exposed to physical stress from repeated unplugging and plugging, as well as moisture which can corrode the pins.

However, before drawing this conclusion, make sure to rule out the charger and cable by trying another compatible fast charger and cable.

Credit: Ismar Hrnjicevic / How-To Geek

If this doesn’t resolve the issue, you may want to consider replacing the USB-C port. Fast charging isn’t just about convenience: on phones with big batteries and super-fast charging speeds, like the OnePlus 15, it’s an essential feature. You shouldn’t miss it just because the port is bad.

The good news is that replacing a USB-C port is usually one of the cheapest and easiest smartphone repairs. Most ports rely on a “daughter card,” a small, self-contained component that is relatively affordable and easy to replace.

That said, the repair still involves removing the back cover, which you shouldn’t attempt yourself if you don’t want to risk breaking it. So, take it to a professional and have it repaired for you.