How to Fix When your iPhone 18 Pro Charges Slowly

Yesterday, I plugged in my iPhone 18 Pro to charge, but I realized that it was charging very slowly. Fortunately, I was able to resolve my issue. iPhone 18 Pro can charge up to 50 percent in around 15 minutes, or wirelessly charge up to 50 percent in around 30 minutes with a MagSafe Charger and a 35W or higher adapter.

On iPhone 18 Pro Max, five minutes of wired charging provides around seven hours of video playback, and based on a new battery usage model that leverages real-world data, it provides up to 30 hours of usage on a full charge.

Apple says iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max can fast charge up to 50 percent battery in around 15 minutes with the USB-C cable that came in the box and a supported adapter.

Is your iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max charging slowly? Sometimes you, too, may experience issues when you try to charge your iPhone. There can be many reasons why your iPhone 18 Pro is charging slowly. This article details a few simple steps you can take to fix this problem.

Also note that when your iPhone is successfully charging, you will see a lightning bolt next to the battery icon in the status bar if your iPhone is unlocked. If it is locked or if it is powered off, you will see a big battery icon. Sometimes you may see a message saying “Not Charging” when plugged in which indicates that there are some issues ranging from a faulty or damaged cable to intermittent connections.

How to Fix Slow Charging on iPhone 18 Pro

Dealing with a phone that is charging slowly can be extremely frustrating. But do not worry. You may easily fix it. If your iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max is charging slowly, here is what you can do:

1. Check where you are plugged in. Yes, this sounds silly but check anyway. Make sure that your iPhone is tightly plugged in and it is connected firmly to the power source. Furthermore, make sure that you hook up everything as it should be. Look at each contact. There should be only a very minimal wiggle room.

2. Check your cables and adapter. To fast charge an iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max, you need a USB-C cable, like the one that came in the box, and one of these adapters:

Apple 40W Dynamic Power Adapter with 60W Max
A comparable third-party 60W-capable (or greater) adapter that uses Adjustable Voltage Supply (AVS) and supports USB Power Delivery (USB-PD) 3.2

If your iPhone 18 Pro is charging slowly, make sure that you are using the cable that came with your phone and one of the adapters listed above. If this is not possible, make sure that you are using a comparable third-party USB-C power adapter and that your accessories are Apple certified. You may see a “This Accessory Is Not Supported By This Device” message.

Furthermore:

Make sure there is no damage to the cable or adapter. If you notice anything, do not use the damaged accessories.
Try a different cable and adapter.

3. Check the power source. It is possible that your iPhone or your cable and adapter may not be the problem, the problem may be the power outlet. You may want to try a different power source:

If you’re trying to charge from the wall, try even a different wall outlet. Make sure that the wall outlet is functioning properly.
If you’re charging from a USB-C port, try a different port and if that does not work, plug iPhone directly into a wall outlet.

4. Maybe your charging port is dirty? One of the causes of your iPhone 18 Pro slow charging issue is dust, lint, and debris. It is possible that this dust and dirt can keep the connector from making a proper electrical connection. This means that it is possible the USB-C port may be clogged. This can cause your charger port to stop working properly. Apple’s instruction is to remove any debris from the charging port, then firmly plug your charging cable into your device. Please follow the tips below:

Turn off your phone. You can turn off your iPhone by going to Settings > General > Shut Down. You can also turn off by:
- Pressing and holding the power (side) button and either volume button together until you see the power off slider. Then drag the slider.
Use a flashlight to light the port, and carefully look for any material. If you see anything:
Remove any debris gently. Do not use a metal object such as a paper clip or pin. You may damage your iPhone’s charging port.
You may repeat this step until the port is cleaned.
And then turn on your iPhone. To do this, press and hold the side button until the Apple logo appears.

5. The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max support wireless charging. Apple says that to wirelessly charge iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max up to 50 percent in around 30 minutes, you use a MagSafe Charger and a 35W or higher adapter.

If your iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max is charging slowly while on wireless charger, please pay attention to the following:

If your iPhone has a thick case, remove it.
Place your iPhone in the center of the charger.
Ensure that your wireless charger is properly connected to a power outlet.
Make sure you are using a MagSafe Charger with a 35W or higher adapter.

6. Check for updates. Make sure that your iPhone 18 Pro has the latest version of the iOS software. It is really easy to update your device.

Tap Settings.
Tap General.
Tap Software Update.
If there is an update available, follow the onscreen instructions to install the updates on your iPhone.

7. Are you using Charge Limit or Optimized Battery Charging? It is possible that your iPhone stops charging because of the Charge Limit feature making it appear as if your phone is charging slowly. Charge limit is a feature that allows you to choose a maximum battery charge between 80% and 100%, in 5% increments. Once your iPhone hits that percentage, charging stops. If the battery drops 5% below your set limit, charging resumes automatically.

The idea is simple: avoid charging all the way to 100% to reduce battery wear over time. Optimized Battery Charging on the other hand, learns your daily routine—especially when you charge overnight—and delays charging past 80% until just before you usually unplug your iPhone.

It’s on by default, and once it learns your habits, you’ll start seeing notifications like “Charging on Hold” or “Will Finish Charging by 7 AM.”

You can easily check this. Here is how: