The fast charging feature is becoming increasingly popular, particularly on Android devices, as it allows users to power up their devices in a fraction of a second. But not all smartphones use the same type of fast charging, and not all chargers support the various standards. Whatever the case, when you plug your device, its battery level should increase after a couple of minutes. But why would a battery decrease while charging on Android?
Something is wrong if your Android’s battery decreases while plugged into a power outlet. Often, the fault is from the power adapter, cable, or charging port. A faulty battery or power outlet can cause this issue, as well as when your phone is overheating or running a heavy app.
Undoubtedly, it is frustrating when you plug in your Android but come to see the battery decrease when you plug in the charger. But before you panic that something is wrong, check if the power adapter is connected correctly.
In most cases, either the power cable isn’t well connected to the power outlet or your Android. If the issue isn’t with your connection, then keep the reason to learn other reasons that could cause this issue in this article.
Reasons Your Battery Decreases While Charging
Several reasons could cause your Android’s battery to decrease while charging. And this can happen irrespective of whether you have a new phone or not. In all, here are some of the reasons that can cause your battery to go down while charging.
Reason #1: Faulty Power Adapter
A faulty power adapter is one of the most common reasons your Android’s battery decreases while charging. When the power adapter is defective, it will not deliver the right ampere or voltage required by your device. Also, if you use a power adapter that is not authorized for your device, the output delivery will be off. And when your device does not get enough power to recharge the battery, it will keep using the battery, which causes it to drain. In this case, you should replace your power adapter, as using an unauthorized or faulty adapter can damage your device.
Reason #2: The Charging Cable Is Damaged
Not many people know about this, but the charging cable you use can influence the charging speed of your device. There are different qualities of charging cables, and the ones with bad quality will slow down your charging speed.
A charging cable with low quality may not deliver enough power to charge your device. So, even with a fast power adapter, your device will not get enough power if the charging cable is defective or built with low-quality material. Hence, when getting a charging cable, always go for the official cable for your phone, or else you might experience this issue on your device.
Reason #3: Issue With the Charging Port
The charging port or sub board is one of the more severe issues that can cause your Android’s battery to decrease while plugged in. Your device’s charging port is connected to the sub board, which allows power to charge your battery. Hence, if the charging port is damaged, enough power will not reach your battery.
Several things could go wrong with the charging port, like broken pins or liquid getting on the sub board. If you suspect the issue is with the charging port, inspect it if debris or dust is the issue, and try to clean the port. However, it is recommended that you take your device to a professional technician for repair.
Reason #4: The Battery Is Bad
When your device is bad, it may not only be able to hold a charge for very long, but it may not even recharge. A faulty battery is also notorious for causing this issue. However, you can use several symptoms to know when your Android’s battery is bad. In most cases, the inability of the battery to hold a charge is an indicator. Swelling may also occur sometimes, or you can use software to determine the battery’s health.
If you are sure your device’s battery is bad, you should take your device to a technician to have the battery replaced.
Reason #5: The Power Outlet Is Bad
The outlet where you plug your power adapter can also cause your device’s battery to decrease while plugged into a charger. Depending on your region, a power outlet should deliver 220 or 110 volts. But when the outlet is bad, it may not deliver enough to power your charger.
Every power adapter has a range of input specifications. When the outlet does not supply power within the adapter requirement, your phone battery will decrease even when plugged in. You can tell the power outlet is bad when you plug your device into another outlet and get better results.
Reason #6: Apps Are Draining Your Battery
Using too many apps simultaneously can also cause your device’s battery to decrease while plugged in. The reason is that every app you open on your device requires power. But when you have so many apps running that the power needed to use the app surpasses the power supplied to recharge your battery, the battery will decrease.
To fix this issue, you should close apps you no longer use. You should also enable battery optimization from the Settings app, which will help close apps running in the background for too long.
Reason #7: The Phone Is Overheating
Overheating can cause issues with your device’s battery decreasing while plugged in. The reason is that the battery requires an optimal temperature for the acid to be recharged. When the temperature is extremely cold or hot, it reduces charge acceptance.
Different battery technology has different tolerance to extreme temperatures. However, for most Android devices, when the phone overheats, it wouldn’t recharge. The solution is to shut down the device to cool while you charge.
Sometimes it could be that nothing is faulty with your device, and the reason its battery is decreasing while plugged in may be software bugs. To fix this, restart your device, or do a hard reset.
Conclusion
When your Android’s battery is decreasing while plugged in, you should troubleshoot the problem to fix it. While in most cases, rebooting your device or powering it off to recharge often works, sometimes it wouldn’t.
To rule out if the problem is with the power adapter, try using it with another device. To rule out the power outlet problem, try using another port. And remember to take your device to a professional technician for repair rather than fixing it yourself so as not to cause more issues.
