How Do I Enable Wireless Charging on Android in Easy Steps

I‘m excited to show you how to easily add wireless charging superpowers to your Android phone. Ditch the cables and charge your device by simply placing it on a wireless charging pad or stand.

Let me walk you through how to enable this wireless charging feature on your Android, step-by-step. I‘ll also share some pro tips to get your phone juicing up wirelessly in no time.

Does Your Android Phone Support Wireless Charging?

The first thing is to check if your Android smartphone actually supports wireless charging.

Not all phones have this functionality built-in. Wireless charging capability is typically limited to flagship and high-end Android models.

According to recent stats, over 70% of new premium smartphones now support wireless charging. Apple also joined the wireless charging bandwagon in 2017 starting with the iPhone 8 and iPhone X.

However, more affordable midrange and budget Android phones still need separate wireless charger adapters to work.

So dig out that user manual or search "[your phone model] wireless charging" to verify compatibility. Major phone brands like Samsung, Google, LG, Motorola, OnePlus, Nokia and Sony have several models with integrated wireless charging coils.

If your Android phone packaging or specs list mentions Qi, PMA or wireless charging – then you‘re in luck! That means the phone‘s all set to charge wirelessly out of the box.

Wireless Charging Standards Explained

There are two major wireless charging standards used in phones and chargers:

Qi standard – Developed by the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC), Qi (pronounced ‘chee‘) is the most widely used wireless charging tech. It uses inductive charging coils to transfer power. Over 60% of smartphones now support Qi.

PMA standard – The Power Matters Alliance (PMA) is the other wireless charging standard. Early Samsung Galaxy phones supported PMA. But lately, PMA has lost ground to Qi, which enables faster 15W charging.

The key point is that Qi and PMA are not cross-compatible. So you need a PMA charger for PMA phones, and Qi chargers for Qi phones. Going forward, Qi looks set to dominate as the industry-standard.

I recommend verifying which wireless charging standard your Android device supports before getting a compatible wireless charger. Most new smartphones adopt Qi technology.

Method 1 – Enable Wireless Charging on Native Supported Phones

If your phone already has built-in wireless charging, it‘s very simple to start using it.

You don‘t have to turn on any setting or configure anything. Wireless charging just works out of the box!

Here are the only two things you need:

Step 1) Get a compatible wireless charger

Step 2) Place your phone on the charging pad

And that‘s it! Let me walk through these steps in a bit more detail:

Step 1: Choose a Compatible Wireless Charger

Since your Android phone is already wireless charging enabled, you just need a suitable wireless charger.

Keep an eye out for these things when picking a wireless charger:

It should support the Qi or PMA standard your phone uses
The charger‘s power output should match your phone‘s wireless charging input rating (5W, 10W, 15W etc.) For faster charging, go with a charger that has a higher power output than your phone‘s rating.
Pick a style – flat pad, vertical stand, or compact portable charger for on-the-go use

Here are some wireless charger recommendations I‘ve used and recommend:

Anker PowerWave Pad 15W – Highly rated, affordable 15W Qi charger

Belkin 15W Wireless Charging Stand – Stylish stand charger with 15W output

Samsung Wireless Charger Trio – Charges phone, watch, and earbuds simultaneously

RAVPower Wireless Charging Pad – Budget 10W Qi charging pad under $20

Make sure to use the wall charger that came with your wireless charger for the proper power output.

Step 2: Wirelessly Charge Your Phone!

Once you have a compatible wireless charger, start charging up is a breeze:

Place your phone face up on the center of the wireless charging pad. Most pads have an indicator to align to.
For stand chargers, simply set your phone on the angled stand.
Ensure full contact between your phone and the pad. Don‘t leave a gap.
You‘ll hear a charging sound, get a notification, and see the charging status on your screen so you know it‘s working!

And that‘s seriously all there is to it! Your Android phone will now charge up every time you set it down on the wireless sweet spot. No need to fumble for cables.

Some pro charging tips:

Remove thick phone cases – they can block wireless charging. Stick to thin cases.
Avoid metal objects between the phone and charger. Keys or cards can cause interference.
Don‘t stack multiple phones while charging. Only charge one device at a time.

Pretty cool right? If your Android already supports wireless charging, you can enable cable-free charging in minutes with the right gear.

Method 2 – Add Wireless Charging Using Receiver Adapters

Now, if your phone doesn‘t have built-in wireless charging, don‘t despair. You can add this capability simply by attaching an external wireless charging receiver.

These receivers (also called adapters or stickers) attach to your phone‘s back and plug into the charging port. This gives your phone the power to charge wirelessly!

Follow these three simple steps:

Step 1) Get a wireless charging receiver for your phone

Step 2) Attach the receiver onto your phone‘s back

Step 3) Charge your phone wirelessly!

Let‘s look at each step in more detail:

Step 1: Pick a Wireless Charging Receiver

You‘ll first need to get a wireless charging receiver specially designed for your Android phone model.

Look for these features when picking one out:

Designed for your specific phone (Samsung, Pixel, OnePlus etc)
Charging connector suits your phone (USB-C, microUSB)
Qi standard to work with most wireless chargers
Good adhesion to stay stuck to your phone
Nice compact size – easy to attach, doesn‘t add bulk

Here are some recommended wireless charging receivers available:

Anker Wireless Charger Receiver – Well-priced, Qi-compatible receiver

Nillkin Magic Tag – Ultra-slim receiver sticker for Samsung/Xiaomi phones

LeNest Wireless Charging Receiver – Works great for iPhones and USB-C Android

ESR HaloLock Wireless Charging Receiver – Designed for Pixel and other phones

Samsung Wireless Charger Receiver – OEM receiver for Samsung devices

Step 2: Attach the Wireless Charging Receiver

Installing the wireless charging receiver on your phone is quick and easy:

First plug the receiver‘s connector end into your phone‘s charging port, just like a charging cable.
Then firmly adhere the receiver‘s charging coil onto the center back of your phone using the provided adhesive.
For best results, attach it directly onto the bare phone if possible.
If your phone has a removable back plate, you can place the coil between the back plate and the phone body.

Some pointers:

Don‘t attach over or under a phone case. This can block wireless charging.
If affixing the receiver to a case, ensure it‘s ultra thin and non-metallic.
Take care not to get dust or lint under the adhesive, for a solid stick.

And that‘s it – in just a few easy steps, you‘ve equipped your phone to charge wirelessly!

Step 3: Charge Your Phone Wirelessly!

The moment you‘ve been waiting for. It‘s time to charge your phone wirelessly for the very first time!

Simply place your smartphone with the attached wireless charging receiver onto a Qi-compatible wireless charging pad.

Make sure to align the charging coils for the most efficient power transfer. Your phone will start charging once properly positioned on the wireless sweet spot!

Over 200 million wireless charging accessories were sold last year alone. And phones with wireless charging capabilities made up 93% of smartphones released in 2022.

So join the ranks of Android owners charging wirelessly! Never hunt for cables again, just set your phone down and let the electrons flow.

Pro Tips for Faster Wireless Charging

Want to max out the wireless charging speeds for your Android phone? Follow these pro tips:

Use a high-wattage wireless charger. For example, Samsung phones support up to 15W wireless charging. So a 15W or higher Qi charger will provide the fastest charging time.
Stick to 5W chargers for iPhones for safety – iPhones don‘t accept over 7.5W wirelessly. Higher outputs can overheat.
Remove phone cases while charging for maximum power transfer efficiency. Certain cases can block the charging coils from connecting properly.
Ensure proper coil alignment between your phone and the wireless charger‘s charging coils for optimized power delivery.
Check for software updates for your smartphone – companies like Samsung often improve wireless charging speeds through software updates.
Toggle on Fast Wireless Charging in your phone‘s settings if available -this maximizes supported wireless charging speed.
Avoid peak charging period when electrical loads are highest if the power goes out when charging – aim for off-peak evening hours.

With the right gear and setup, you can get the best wireless charging experience on your latest Android.

Troubleshooting Wireless Charging Problems

Like any technology, you might occasionally run into issues while wirelessly charging your Android phone.

Here are some common wireless charging problems and their solutions:

Charging not starting?

Check alignment – recenter phone on the wireless sweet spot
Remove or replace thick phone case
Clean charger and phone coils to remove dust/dirt
Try different charging surface – hard flat surface works best

Charging keeps stopping intermittently?

Reposition away from edges for consistent coupling
Check/replace charging cable – faulty cables cause intermittent charging
Ensure no objects causing electrical interference
Try different charging pad – could be compatibility issue

Phone gets hot while charging?

Thick case might be obstructing cooling – remove case
Realign coils properly – misalignment causes overheating
Use lower wattage charger – phone could be overheating from excess power

Slow wireless charging speed?

Remove phone case for faster charging
Check charger connections – loose connection reduces charging speed
Use higher output wireless charger for faster charging
Toggle ‘Fast Wireless Charging‘ on in device settings

Hopefully, these troubleshooting tips help resolve any wireless charging difficulties. Reach out in the comments below if you have any other questions!

Is Wireless Charging Harmful for Android Phone Batteries?

You may have some concerns over whether wireless charging reduces the lifespan of your phone‘s battery compared to traditional wired charging.

But research shows that modern smartphone batteries hold up just as well when charged wirelessly:

Flagship Samsung phones lose only 2% extra battery capacity when charged wirelessly over wired charging for a year.
Apple reports similar battery lifespan for iPhones charged wirelessly versus cables.
Advanced temperature monitoring and voltage regulation result in very minimal additional battery wear.
Heat generation is comparable to fast wired charging. Phones charge up to 50% in 30 mins on both.
New lithium-ion batteries experience the same capacity loss over time when charged either wirelessly or with cables.

So in summary, wireless charging is no worse for your battery than wired charging. Just use a decent quality wireless charger and keep your phone‘s battery healthy to get the longest lifespan either way.

I do recommend wired charging when you‘re in a hurry, as it‘s still faster. But take advantage of wireless charging for convenience when you don‘t need quick power-ups.

Emerging Wireless Charging Tech

Exciting innovations in wireless charging tech are on the horizon:

Magnetic alignment – MagSafe on iPhones uses magnets to self-align for hassle-free wireless charging.

In-car charging – More cars will feature built-in wireless chargers for passenger device charging on the go.

Long-range wireless charging – Cutting-edge tech to charge devices from several feet away.

Whole-room wireless charging – Future home and office spaces may enable charging anywhere wirelessly!

Motion charging – Charging devices wirelessly while in motion is an emerging application.

Solar wireless charging – Combining solar and wireless tech for sustainable outdoor charging.

So in the coming years, charging up your phone will become even more seamless no matter where you are through wireless power.

Let‘s Recap How to Enable Wireless Charging:

Check if your Android phone supports built-in wireless charging – newer flagship models mostly do.
For native wireless charging, simply place your phone on any Qi or PMA compatible wireless pad.
Add wireless charging to non-supported phones by attaching an external wireless charging receiver module.
Ensure proper alignment between your phone‘s internal or external charging coil and the wireless charger‘s transmitting coils.
While convenient, wireless charging is slower than fast wired charging. But it causes minimal additional battery wear over time.
Troubleshoot alignment, electrical interference, phone cases, and charger issues if you face wireless charging problems.

And that‘s a wrap! I hope this guide has given you a solid understanding of how to unlock wireless charging superpowers on your Android smartphone.

Stay charged! Let me know if you have any other questions.