The fastest Android charging tips you should know about but you haven't

1. Enable Airplane Mode

One of the biggest draws on your battery is the network signal. As a general rule, the worse your signal, the faster your battery will drain.

The quick solution? Put your phone in Airplane Mode before you plug it in. Testing suggests it could reduce the amount of time needed for a full charge by as much as 25 percent.

To put your phone into Airplane Mode, simply swipe down on the notification bar with two fingers and tap the Airplane Mode icon.

Just make sure you turn it off again once your battery is full!

2. Turn Your Phone Off

Simple, obvious, but often overlooked. If your phone is turned off while it’s repowering, it’s going to charge a lot faster. Nothing will be drawing on the battery while you fill it up.

3. Ensure Charge Mode Is Enabled

Your Android device lets you specify what type of connection it makes when you plug in a USB cable. On the most recent versions of Android, it’s hidden in the Developer Options menu.

To access the Developer Options, you first need to enable them. To do so, head to Settings > About Phone > Build Number. Quickly tap on the build number seven times. After the first two presses, your device will give you an on-screen countdown for the number of necessary taps remaining.

Next, head to Settings > Developer Options > Select USB Configuration. On the list of options, make sure Charging is selected.

4. Use a Wall Socket

Using a USB port on your computer or in your car leads to a much more inefficient charging experience.

Typically, non-wall socket USB ports only offer a power output of 0.5A. Wall socket charging will usually give you 1A (depending on your device). There’s nothing wrong with receiving a lower amperage — it won’t harm your device — but you’ll definitely be twiddling your thumbs for a lot longer.

5. Buy a Power Bank

If you need to recharge your phone while you’re on the go — for example, if you’re often out travelling all day — a power bank can be a lifesaver.

Many power banks offer the same amperage output as a wall socket, and in some cases, even more. But a word of warning, while your phone might charge faster with a two-amp output, you need to make sure your USB cable can handle the extra power.

6. Avoid Wireless Charging

However, if charging speed is your number one priority, you should avoid them. They offer a considerably slower charging experience than their wired counterparts. In fact, testing suggests they could be as much as 50 percent slower.

7. Remove Your Phone’s Case

For optimal charging, the battery temperature (not the air temperature) should be between 41 and 113 F (5 and 45 C). Obviously, the battery temperature is in part controlled by the ambient surrounding temperature, and removing your case will help lower it.

And in case you’re thinking of putting your phone in the fridge to repower: don’t. The efficiency drop-off is even more severe at temperatures below the ideal range.

8. Use a High-Quality Cable

The difference in quality between two cables can be vast.