As an iPhone user, I’ve often wondered whether or not I should turn off my phone while charging. Frustrated with the lack of clarity around this topic, I decided to do some research and testing to get to the bottom of the issue. Here I’m going to share my findings and the solutions I discovered, so you can make the most out of your charging time and keep your iPhone running smoothly.
The myth is true, it is faster to charge your iPhone while off. However, that’s mainly because of other apps and features that are running in the background. The power is diverted between them and charging, causing a delayed charge of your iPhone.
Here, we’re going to discuss this delay along with how to reduce it and what happens if it’s not reduced. Keep reading to find out more.
| Main Points | Details |
|---|---|
| Turning off iPhone while charging | It is true that turning off an iPhone while charging will make it charge faster due to reduced power consumption. |
| Risk of using heavy applications while charging iPhone | Operating heavy gaming applications or streaming HD videos while charging can reduce battery’s maximum capacity, overheat the device, damage the USB port, and/or slow down the charging process. |
| How to reduce the slowing down in the charging process? | Turning on Low Power Mode, turning off Location Services, and turning off Siri are some of the ways to reduce the slowing down in the charging process. |
| Additional tips to make charging process more efficient | Turning on airplane mode, turning off Bluetooth, decreasing the volume, turning off vibration, and decreasing the brightness. |
| Should you turn off iPhone while charging? | Whether you should or not is totally up to you. It greatly decreases the charging time and reduces battery damage. |
Table of Contents
Can You Turn Off an iPhone While Charging?
If you tried before, putting a shut-down iPhone on the charger will turn it on again. So you might want to do the opposite. Connect the iPhone first to the charger, then shut it down.
When doing so, you’ll find the battery logo by pressing the lock button once. The green bar in the logo shows the charged amount of your iPhone’s battery.
And yes, this should charge it faster. The reason for that is found below.
Should You Turn Off an iPhone While Charging?
Turning off your iPhone while charging will sure make it charge faster. However, you might need to use some applications during the charging process. Don’t worry, as that’s still possible if you stop using other applications that are not needed.
The thing is, the device itself doesn’t use much of the charge injected through it. Alternately, The charge is lost to the running applications on the device.
What Happens if You Use Heavy Applications While Charging iPhone?
If you’re frequently operating heavy gaming applications or streaming HD videos while charging, you might run into the risk of damaging your device. Doing this might reduce the battery’s maximum capacity, overheat the device, damage the USB port, and/or slow down the charging process.
Reducing the Maximum Capacity of the iPhone Battery
The maximum capacity of your iPhone battery is attained only when the device is brand new. Once you start using the device, the capacity decreases according to the rate and intensity of usage.
Operating heavy applications while charging, decreases the capacity of your iPhone battery significantly. You might want to replace your battery or phone more frequently if you use heavy applications during charging on regular basis.
Overheating the iPhone
Overheating the iPhone could happen when charging and using heavy applications at the same time. It can also happen due to operating in hot conditions or direct sunlight.
Overheating can damage your iPhone battery greatly and may cause the CPU to be throttled.
Furthermore, If you feel the back of your iPhone getting hotter, stop using it. Additionally, turning it off or putting it to sleep will easily cool it down.
Damaging the USB Port
Handling your iPhone when charging might be harder with the charger cable in the way. Be aware that excessive movement of the cable in the USB port while handling, might damage the port or the cable.
Damaging the USB port will make the charging process harder in the future by slowing it down or even making it impossible.
Slowing Down the Charging Process
Finally, using heavy applications while charging the phone will definitely slow down the charging process. That’s because the power delivered will be divided between operating the phone applications and charging the phone.
How to Reduce the Slowing Down in the Charging Process Without Turning Off iPhone?
Here’re some great tips to reduce the slowing down that happens during charging, without having to turn off your iPhone.
Turn On Low Power Mode
The low power mode is automatically activated when the iPhone’s battery gets lower than 20%. However, You can turn it on manually while charging to reduce the power draining away from the charging process.
Low power mode turns off notifications, refreshing, automatic downloads, and other functions.
Turn Off Location Services
Location services are a heavy feature to have running while charging. It can greatly drain power from the charging process, thus, prolonging it.
If you’re not using it to reach a certain destination, just turn it off to make the charging process more efficient.
Turn Off Siri
Read more: Renewed iPhone meaning
The Hey Siri feature makes you connected to your iPhone all the time, that’s why it’s a very intensive app for your power.
Turn it off for a faster charging experience.
Additional Tips
Applying the following tips during charging can also reduce power draining and make the charging process faster:
- Turn on airplane mode
- Turn off Bluetooth
- Decrease the volume
- Turn off vibration
- Decrease the brightness
Conclusion
Read more: What to do if there is water inside an iPhone screen
Turn off iPhone while charging (can you? Should you?)
Turning your iPhone off while charging is easy, just connect the charger before turning it off, not after. Whether you should or not is totally up to you. Turning it off greatly decreases the charging time and reduces battery damage.
However, it wouldn’t take much longer time to charge your iPhone while on, if you turn off most of the power-draining applications. Power-draining applications could be location services, Siri services, and Bluetooth.
