A lot of people tend to complain of slow charging issues on their iPhone 17 Pro Max. If you too are tired of keeping your phone plugged in all day, don’t worry, we’ve got your back. Here’s a simple guide on how you can fix the slow charging problem on your iPhone 17 Pro Max.
Fast charging is the perfect feature for people who hate to wait for their phones to get powered up before leaving for an evening out with friends and family. After just a short charge time, you can use your phone for hours. iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max models can be charged up to 50% in around 20 minutes with a 40W power adapter or higher paired with a USB-C charging cable, according to Apple’s website.
Although it is a big selling point for Apple, it can also be problematic at times. Here are a few fixes you can try if fast charging isn’t working on your iPhone 17 Pro Max.
Why does my iPhone 17 Pro Max charge slowly?
If your shiny new iPhone 17 Pro Max seems like it is charging slowly, there’s most likely a simple reason. Older low-wattage USB-C chargers will work with the iPhone 17 Pro Max but only at a lower power throughput. For full-speed charging, you need a 40W power adapter or higher with a USB-C cable. So if you have upgraded from an older iPhone, the chances are your power brick is outdated. In this article, I’ll explain why your iPhone 17 Pro Max is charging slowly and show you how to fix the problem for good!
Fix iPhone 17 Pro Max fast charging not working
If your iPhone 17 Pro Max is charging slower than it should, here are some ways to fix it.
Note: the solutions discussed in this article apply to iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max
Without further ado, here are all the ways you can fast charge iPhone 17 Pro Max.
1. Make sure your Charger Supports Fast Charging
For fast charging to work, your phone charger must support it. To fast charge an iPhone 17, iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro, or iPhone 17 Pro Max, you need to use a higher-wattage power adaptor. The iPhone 17 Pro Max doesn’t come with charging adapter, so you may have to buy one separately. One power adapter that supports the iPhone 17’s faster wired charging capabilities is Apple’s new 40W Dynamic Power Adapter with 60W Max. It is available to order in the U.S., Canada, China, Japan, Mexico, Taiwan, the Philippines, the UK, Ireland, the UAE, Singapore, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, and Malaysia. In the U.S., pricing is set at $39.
As its Dynamic Power name implies, this charger can dynamically deliver up to 60W of power, despite having a smaller form factor. However, due to the thermal limitations of its compact design, the charger can only reach that 60W peak in short bursts. A larger 60W-or-higher charger does not face that limitation.
Know that you do not need to use this specific new Apple power adapter to unlock the iPhone 17’s faster charging — most higher-wattage chargers should do the trick.
A charger that doesn’t have a label that says Fast Charging, Adaptive Fast Charging, or something similar signifies that it isn’t compatible with fast charging. This will charge your iPhone 17 Pro Max a lot more slowly.
2. Check your Cable
Of course, fast chargers also require a USB-C to USB-C cable. The iPhone 17 Pro Max uses USB-C, not Lightning. With a 40W power adapter or higher and a USB-C to USB-C cable, you can go from zero to 50% charged in around 20 minutes.
If your iPhone 17 Pro Max charging speeds have dropped significantly in the last few days, the reason could be a damaged USB cable. Generally, these cables tend to lose their efficiency over time and may break down at any moment without even showing any signs of damage.
So, try replacing your cable and see if it was the real culprit. Also, while buying a new cable, always prefer the ones from good brands that have a higher gauge and are compatible with your charging adapter’s output ratings.
3. Clean the Charger Port
Another possible reason fast charging does not work on iPhone 17 Pro Max is the accumulation of dirt or residue in the charging port. Your charger can’t operate at its full capacity or even at all if it has dirt or lint in it.
Using a toothpick or needle, remove any dirt, grime, or other residues. You can also use a cotton swab and rubbing alcohol inside the charging port in circular motions. Afterward, put it in a cool, dry place for at least an hour. Don’t worry about the liquid in the dock; it will naturally evaporate.
4. Avoid Using your iPhone While Charging
Using the phone while charging wastes a significant amount of juice on running up the display and other resources. This parallel power consumption reduces the current your battery is being charged at, thereby degrading the overall charging speed.
Similarly, the iPhone 17 Pro Max tend to heat up if you use them while charging. When the heat goes above a specific limit, the phone starts throttling the charging speed as well as performance in order to maintain the temperature.
Besides that, the excess heat from the display and processor can cause the iPhone 17 Pro Max battery to drain fast or suffer from severely reduced cycle life. Hence, it’s better to avoid using your iPhone during charging.
5. Avoid Charging from Laptop or PC
Ever wondered why your iPhone 17 Pro Max charges so slow when plugged into a PC or Laptop? Well, it’s because those ports are primarily meant for data transfers and are not capable of supplying the amperage required for fast charging.
For instance, a computer’s USB 2.0 port can shell out a maximum of 0.5A while the USB 3.0 port can provide a peak charging rate of 0.9A, which is way lower than current charging standards. A dedicated wall charger, in comparison, is usually rated at 2A.
6. Change the Charging Outlet
There is also the possibility that a faulty outlet does not supply enough current to support fast charging. Your charger won’t be drawing the power at the required rate to fast-charge your iPhone 17 Pro Max in the absence of sufficient power.
Try a different charging outlet to see if that makes a difference.
If you are using any other power source, like an external power bank, make sure it has enough wattage to support fast charging on your iPhone 17 Pro Max.
7. Update Your iPhone
A recent software update may have altered your iPhone 17 Pro Max charging speeds or battery performance. If so, then wait for a fix from Apple. Else, you can try downgrading the software to the previous version either manually or by taking your phone to your nearest Apple Store.
To check for an iOS update:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Go to General > Software Update. Install the latest update.
8. Turn Off Cellular Data or Wi-Fi
Even when you aren’t using your iPhone, cellular data and Wi-Fi connections might still be drawing the power. Turning them off may speed up the charge time of your iPhone 17 Pro Max.
To make things easier, always put your iPhone 17 Pro Max in Airplane mode before connecting your charger to speed up the process.
9. Fast charge iPhone 17 Pro Max using wireless charging
Wired charging always beats out wireless for speed and efficiency. However, using the Apple MagSafe charger, you can get reasonably fast inductive charging performance.
The MagSafe puck magnetically snaps to the back of the iPhone 17 Pro Max, and that secure fit enables a faster charging speed than standard Qi. Using MagSafe, you can achieve up to 25-watt charging speeds. Using MagSafe, you can charge from zero to 50% in about 30 minutes (with a 30W adapter or higher), and attain 100% charge in about 2.5-3 hours.
In contrast, using an older basic Qi charger, the iPhone will charge at a maximum of 7.5 watts. This is equivalent to about four-to-five hours charge time to reach 100%, depending on model. Although this is much slower than the above alternative methods, if you are just charging your iPhone at bedtime on a nightstand or similar, it’s probably fine and is otherwise the most convenient option. iPhone 17 Pro Max also supports Qi2 wireless charging up to 25W when paired with a Qi2-certified (Qi2.2) charger.
See also: Wireless Charging Not Working On iPhone 17 Pro Max? 10 Fixes!
10. Do a Factory Reset as the Last Option
In case none of the fixes work, you can try factory resetting the iPhone. As the name suggests, a factory reset returns your iPhone to its default settings.
This gives your phone a fresh start and may solve the problem of fast charging not working on iPhone 17 Pro Max. Since the process deletes all of your data, backup your iPhone before you perform the reset.
To reset your iPhone:
- Open Settings.
- Tap General.
- Tap Transfer or Reset iPhone.
- Tap Erase All Content and Settings.
Start Fast Charging Your iPhone 17 Pro Max Again
So these were some of the most feasible ways to fix slow charging on iPhone 17 Pro Max. However, if none of the above fixes have worked, there may be a hardware issue preventing your iPhone 17 Pro Max from fast charging. Do let us know if you have anything else to add via the comments below. And feel free to reach out in case of any doubts or queries.
