Symptoms
- Charging is noticeably slower than the advertised MagSafe speed
- No 'fast charging' indicator appears
- Charges fine wired but slow wirelessly
- Charging slows further when the phone is in use
Likely causes
- CommonUnderpowered wall adapterMagSafe needs a 20W or higher USB-C Power Delivery adapter to reach full speed; a basic 5W brick will charge much slower.
- CommonCase or accessory reducing magnetic alignmentA slightly misaligned charger transfers power less efficiently.
- PossibleLow battery percentage triggering different charging behaviorSome phones intentionally slow charging as the battery approaches full or gets very hot.
- PossibleUsing the phone actively while chargingActive use offsets incoming power, making charging appear slower.
- Less commonBattery health has declinedAn older battery may accept charge more cautiously.
What to do
- Confirm you're using an official or Power-Delivery-certified adapter rated 20W or higher.
- Remove any case and make sure the charger is centered and fully attached.
- Let the phone sit idle while charging rather than using it actively.
- Check if the phone or charger feels hot; excessive heat can trigger intentional charging slowdowns.
- Compare charging speed to a wired charge to see if the gap is normal (wireless is inherently a bit slower) or unusually large.
- If speed stays far below expected even under ideal conditions, test with a different MagSafe charger.
Tools and parts
- 20W+ USB-C Power Delivery wall adapter
MagSafe chargerSearch: “MagSafe wireless charger”
USB-C PD wall adapterSearch: “20W USB-C power adapter”
When to call a pro
If charging stays unusually slow across chargers and conditions, have the phone's battery health checked by a repair shop.
Safety
Generally low risk
Generally low risk for a careful person. Stop if anything looks different from what this guide describes.