The Charging Delay
In an effort to reduce their overall carbon footprint, Apple introduced a feature in iOS called “Clean Energy Charging.” When you plug your iPhone into the wall, it checks a database to see where your local power grid is currently sourcing its electricity. If the grid is currently burning heavily polluting coal, the iPhone will intentionally throttle its charging speed, waiting until the grid shifts to a cleaner energy source (like solar or wind) later in the day before it resumes fast charging. While this is an admirable environmental initiative, it can be extremely frustrating if you have a 30-minute layover at an airport and your iPhone refuses to pull maximum wattage because the local energy grid is considered “dirty.”
How to Turn Off Clean Energy Charging
You can disable this throttling algorithm and force the iPhone to pull maximum power from the wall socket immediately, regardless of the grid’s carbon emissions.
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Scroll down the main list and tap on Battery.
- Tap on Battery Health & Charging.
- Look for the toggle switch labeled Clean Energy Charging (located directly underneath the Optimized Battery Charging switch).
- Tap the switch to turn it Off.
Choosing the Duration
A confirmation pop-up will appear at the bottom of the screen, asking how long you want to disable the feature.
- Turn Off Until Tomorrow: This is the ideal option if you are traveling and need a fast charge right now, but generally want to support the environmental initiative when you are safely back home.
- Turn Off: This permanently disables the grid-checking algorithm. Your phone will always fast-charge instantly the moment it is plugged in, prioritizing your battery level over carbon emissions.