If your Google Pixel phone has suddenly started charging at a snail’s pace, you might not be dealing with a defect. A new battery tweak is intentionally slowing down charging speeds. Here is how to disable this.
Google’s recent Pixel March Feature Drop update has ushered in new and useful features. But beyond the fresh tricks, it includes changes that users are only starting to notice. Among these is a tweak to battery charging behavior that many users initially mistook for a bug. Google, however, suggests the contrary, stating that this is an intentional battery-enhancement tool designed to protect the phone’s long-term health.
On Pixel devices, there are two primary charging optimizations: Adaptive Charging and an 80% limit. With the latter, the device is allowed to reach its full potential charging speed, but current is cut off once it hits that threshold to preserve the battery’s lifespan.
Now, frustration is mounting as users claim the latest March update is significantly hindering charging speeds (via Android Police). One user described their Pixel 10 Pro XL shifting to an incredibly slow charge rate upon hitting the 77% mark, making the final stretch to the 80% limit feel interminable.
Another Pixel 10a owner shared a similar experience, initially suspecting a software bug or a faulty USB cable. Several other users have reported the same woes, noting that refilling the final few percentage points can now take up to 45 minutes.
Google Says This Is Not a Bug
Some technical analyses suggest this behavior is designed to encourage users to unplug their devices before they even hit the 80% mark. The logic is that the heat generated during the final stages of a charge cycle is a primary driver of battery degradation over time. By slowing the process to a crawl, Google may be attempting to minimize thermal stress.
A Google moderator on the official Issue Tracker confirmed this stance, stating that the behavior is intended.
“While this may result in slower charging speeds near the limit, it is intended to manage battery health and should not impact normal device usage,” the moderator noted.
Conversely, impacted users argue that this change defeats the purpose of the original feature and that Google should provide an option to maintain standard charging speeds. For now, it remains unclear if Google will stick to this aggressive adjustment or if it will eventually revert to the previous speeds in a future update.
How to Restore Faster Charging Speeds
If you find that your device is charging too slowly, you can opt to disable the 80% limit or switch to the Adaptive Charging feature instead. Here is how:
- Open your phone’s Settings.
- Select Battery and tap Battery health.
- Tap on Charging optimization.
- Ensure Charging optimization is enabled.
- Select Adaptive Charging.
- Exit the menu to save your changes.
It is clear that Google is doubling down on battery health measures for the Pixel lineup. This caution is understandable considering the battery-related hurdles faced by older models like the Pixel 6 and Pixel 7, which included reports of overheating and even rare incidents involving battery fire and swelling.
Which charging mode do you prefer for your daily routine? Would you rather have your device capped at 80% at all times? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
Would you like me to look up the exact technical specifications for the Pixel 10 Pro XL charging curve to see if the speed drop-off is officially documented?
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