How to Fix Slow Charging on Samsung Galaxy S9

If you have a Samsung Galaxy S9, you’re probably enjoying all the great features of this high-end smartphone. One of the best things about the Galaxy S9 is its battery, which can either be a 3000 mAh or a 3500 mAh depending on the model. With this battery, you can use your phone for 27 to 31 hours or keep it on standby for 3.5 to 4.0 days (depending on how you use apps, signal strength, Wi-Fi, and other factors). However, some users have experienced slow charging with their S9. In this article, I’ll talk about common reasons for slow charging and provide suggestions to fix the problem.

Why Your Samsung Galaxy S9 Might Charge Slowly: Hardware Issues

There are four main hardware-related reasons why your S9 might charge slowly. Let’s go through each one, starting with the least likely reasons:

1. There might be dirt, dust, or debris in the charging port.
2. Your power adapter might be damaged or faulty.
3. Your USB cable might not be working properly.
4. You might be using the wrong power adapter or a weak USB port.

Dealing with Dirt in the Charging Port

Over time, dirt or debris can get stuck in the charging port of your charger, making it difficult for your Samsung Galaxy S9 to charge quickly. You can use a toothpick to clean the dust, but be careful not to damage the port. Inspect it with a flashlight first, work slowly, and be gentle. You don’t want anything to break or get stuck in the port. Avoid using compressed air, as it can be too forceful. Blowing into the port might help clear out light dust, but avoid getting moisture in the port.

Checking for a Damaged Power Adapter

If your power adapter is broken, you can easily tell by checking your device screen. Whenever you plug in your charger, there should be a message that says ‘fast charging is enabled.’ This message confirms that your power adapter is working properly to charge your Samsung Galaxy S9 quickly. If you don’t see the message when you plug in your charger, consider replacing the power adapter. It’s always worth a try.

Testing for a Faulty USB Cable

To confirm whether the USB cable is the issue, you can borrow a different USB cable from a friend or colleague and test if the slow charging problem persists. If the issue is solved with a different cable, then it’s time to get yourself a new USB cable. They are not expensive and can be found easily, either online or in department or dollar stores.

Using the Correct Power Adapter and USB Port

All those small, cubical power adapters that we use to charge our phones might look interchangeable, with their ports and plugs, but they are NOT. Each adapter delivers a different level of power to the connected cable. Your Samsung Galaxy S9 expects to receive 5.0 volts at 2.0 amps, which adds up to 10 watts of electrical power. Many common power adapters only provide a fraction of that power. If your Samsung Galaxy S9 is plugged into an adapter that provides 5.0 volts at 1.0 amp, it’s no surprise that it will take a long time to charge your phone.

Also, not all USB ports are the same. They deliver different power levels as well. There are USB ports that provide as little as 0.5 amp of power, while others give 5 volts at 5 amps (which can damage your battery since it’s too much for your Galaxy S9). It’s more common for USB ports to be “weak,” delivering only half an amp of power, which is not enough to charge your phone quickly. This is especially true for cheap power adapters found at dollar stores or gas stations. If you need a replacement adapter, make sure it’s compatible with fast charging.

Software Reasons for Slow Charging on the Samsung Galaxy S9

Usually, the issue is hardware-related, but it is theoretically possible that a software issue is causing slow charging.

One possible reason your phone’s software could be causing the problem is if there are too many apps running, using up most of the power from the charger and leading to slow charging.

Clearing Background Apps

Sometimes, there might be apps running in the background of your Samsung Galaxy S9 without you even realizing it. These apps drain the battery and can slow down the charging process. To solve this, try closing all the apps, including the ones you’re not actively using. Alternatively, restart your phone to start fresh and see if that fixes the slow charging issue on your Samsung Galaxy S9. When in doubt, turn it off and on again!

How to Clear Background Apps

1. Tap and hold on your Home screen.
2. Release your finger when the list of recently used apps appears.
3. Tap on the Task Manager.
4. Select the option to End All Applications.
5. Tap on the RAM option.
6. Delete the RAM.

Uninstalling Third-Party Apps

If the slow charging issue started after you installed a new app or updated an existing app, it’s possible that the app is causing the problem. In this case, you don’t need to uninstall all the third-party apps on your Samsung Galaxy S9. Just uninstall the new app and see if that resolves the issue. If the problem persists after removing the new app, you’ll need to uninstall the rest of the third-party apps on your phone.

Entering Safe Mode on Samsung Galaxy S9

1. Restart your Samsung Galaxy S9.
2. Wait for a few seconds until the Samsung logo appears on the screen.
3. Press and hold the Volume Down key of your Samsung Galaxy S9.
4. A ‘Safe Mode’ text will appear; release the Volume Down key.
5. Navigate to Settings and select More, then enter the App menu.
6. Click on the Downloaded category.
7. Choose the third-party app that you suspect is causing the issue.
8. Click on Uninstall.
9. Click on OK to confirm the process.
10. After uninstalling the app, press and hold the Power key to restart your Galaxy S9.

If none of the tips and methods above solve your charging issue, it’s possible that your Samsung Galaxy S9 needs a battery replacement.

Need more help with your charging issues? We’ve got the resources for you.