iPhone Slow Charging After iOS 26 Update

After updating to iOS 26, you might notice that your iPhone is charging much slower than you’re used to. This is a common and frustrating issue that many users have experienced, as confirmed in this Apple Community discussion. While it might seem like a hardware problem, the slow charging speed is almost always related to software changes in the new update. The causes typically range from intensive background tasks and thermal protection to new, intentional battery management features designed to preserve your battery’s long‑term health.

Why Your iPhone is Charging Slowly

Slow charging after an iOS update is usually a symptom of your iPhone working hard to protect itself or optimize its battery. The most common cause is the heavy background activity that occurs after any major update. Your iPhone re‑indexes files, photos, and app data, which uses the processor, generates heat, and causes the system to automatically slow the charging rate to prevent overheating. You can also enable the adaptive power feature to help manage battery usage more efficiently.

Additionally, iOS 26 includes intelligent charging features like Optimized Battery Charging and Clean Energy Charging. These features are designed to slow down charging under specific conditions—for example, holding the charge at 80 % overnight—to reduce battery aging. If you’re unaware these features are active, the slower charging can seem like a new problem.

How to Fix Slow Charging on Your iPhone

These solutions will help you identify whether the slow charging is intentional, a temporary side effect of the update, or a problem you can fix.

1. Restart Your iPhone

A simple restart can stop any rogue background processes that are consuming excessive power and generating heat, which in turn causes the charging speed to be throttled.

1. Press and hold either volume button and the side button until the power‑off slider appears.
2. Drag the slider to turn your iPhone off.
3. After 30 seconds, press and hold the side button until the Apple logo appears.

2. Use a Certified 20W+ Fast Charger

iOS updates can sometimes be more stringent about the accessories used. For the fastest charge, you must use an Apple‑certified or MFi‑certified USB‑C Power Delivery (PD) adapter that is at least 20 W, paired with a certified USB‑C to Lightning or USB‑C to USB‑C cable. Older 5 W USB‑A chargers will charge the device very slowly.

3. Keep Your iPhone Cool

Heat is the biggest enemy of fast charging. If your iPhone’s internal temperature rises, iOS will automatically and significantly reduce the charging speed to protect the battery.

• Remove your case while charging.
• Do not use the phone for intensive tasks like gaming or streaming video while it is charging.
• Charge the phone in a cool, well‑ventilated area, away from direct sunlight.

If your device gets too hot, consider the fix iPhone overheating guide.

4. Disable Optimized Battery Charging

This feature learns your daily charging routine and delays charging past 80 % until you need it, which can be perceived as slow charging. Disabling it will allow your phone to charge to 100 % more quickly, though it may impact long‑term battery health.

1. Go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging.
2. Turn off the toggle for Optimized Battery Charging.

5. Turn Off Clean Energy Charging

This feature, available in certain regions, slows charging when the electrical grid is using less clean energy sources. While environmentally friendly, it can interfere if you need a fast charge.

1. Go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging.
2. Tap on Clean Energy Charging and select Off.

6. Clean the Charging Port

Lint, dust, and other debris can accumulate in the charging port, preventing the cable from making a solid connection and resulting in a slow or intermittent charge.

1. Turn off your iPhone.
2. Carefully use a non‑metallic tool like a wooden or plastic toothpick to gently scrape out any debris from the port.

7. Update to the Latest iOS Version

If the slow charging is a known bug in the initial iOS 26 release, Apple will likely fix it in a follow‑up update.

1. Go to Settings > General > Software Update.

   

2. If an update is available (e.g., iOS 26.0.1), tap Download and Install.

If none of these solutions work, contact Apple Support.