If you have plugged in your iPhone and noticed the lock screen saying “Slow Charger”, you are not alone.
Apple added this detail in iOS 26. It can look worrying at first, but it simply means your iPhone is telling you that your charger is not powerful enough for fast charging. So what does this mean for you, and how do you fix it? Let’s go through it step by step.
Why Your iPhone Says Slow Charger
Modern iPhones like the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro have bigger batteries compared to older models. Bigger batteries need more power to charge quickly.
Related: iPhone 17 Pro Max Hits Fastest Charging Speeds Ever for an iPhone
If you are still using an old USB-A charger with the rectangular port or a cable that is not designed for USB-C fast charging, your phone will recognize it and display the Slow Charger label.
In simple terms, your iPhone is saying: “This will charge, but it is going to take a while.”
How to Fix It With the Right Charger and Cable
The good news is that you do not need to buy Apple’s most expensive accessories. To unlock iPhone fast charging, all you need is:
- A USB-C charger with at least 20W to 30W output. Apple recommends its own Dynamic Charger coming in at $40, but affordable brands like Anker, Baseus, Ugreen or Belkin work just as well.
- A USB-C to USB-C cable that supports Power Delivery.
With this setup, your iPhone can go from zero to fifty percent in less than half an hour.
Slow Charger on Wireless Charging
If you see the Slow Charger label while using wireless charging, the reason is usually that you are using an older Qi charger that delivers less than 10W. For fast wireless charging, look for MagSafe or the newer Qi2 standard, which supports speeds up to 25W.
Suggested: Apple’s MagSafe Battery for iPhone Air Isn’t the Best Deal, So Try These Instead
Do You Really Need Fast Charging?
A slow charger is not harmful to your iPhone, and it will not damage the battery. If you charge your phone overnight, it does not matter if it takes three hours to fill up. The only time you will feel the difference is when you need a quick charge during the day.
So whether you keep your old charger or upgrade to a modern USB-C iPhone charger or MagSafe wireless charger, it is mostly about convenience and saving time.
Bottom Line
The Slow Charger message is not a warning. It is simply Apple letting you know that charging is happening at a slower speed. If you want the fastest iPhone charging experience, switch to a fast USB-C charger or MagSafe. If not, your current charger will still work perfectly fine.
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