# Faster to charge cell phone while off? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 22, 2008, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faster-to-charge-cell-phone-while-off/464689 "2008-09-22T15:51:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2008, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faster-to-charge-cell-phone-while-off/464689/1 "2008-09-22T15:51:54Z")
A friend of mine constantly turns off her cell phone when she wants to charge it. This, predictably, leads to many missed calls. I asked her why she turns it off and she said, “It charges faster when off.” My sense is that is wrong. I would think when plugged in the cell phone is powered by the wall outlet and not its own battery. But then I do not know…maybe it always runs off the battery even while plugged in. Even so I would think the minimal power usage when in stand-by is more than overwhelmed by the wall power. If it does in fact take longer to charge while on I would think it’d be measured in mere seconds longer…certainly nothing substantial enough to notice a longer charge time. But in the end I don’t know hence the question. ---
**Author:** ![mks57](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9bd4f/32.png) [@mks57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mks57)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2008, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faster-to-charge-cell-phone-while-off/464689/2 "2008-09-22T16:01:34Z")
It depends on the design of the phone and the charging circuits. It shouldn’t make much of a difference. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2008, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faster-to-charge-cell-phone-while-off/464689/3 "2008-09-22T16:02:19Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > A friend of mine constantly turns off her cell phone when she wants to charge it. This, predictably, leads to many missed calls. I asked her why she turns it off and she said, “It charges faster when off.” > > My sense is that is wrong. I would think when plugged in the cell phone is powered by the wall outlet and not its own battery. But then I do not know…maybe it always runs off the battery even while plugged in. Even so I would think the minimal power usage when in stand-by is more than overwhelmed by the wall power. If it does in fact take longer to charge while on I would think it’d be measured in mere seconds longer…certainly nothing substantial enough to notice a longer charge time. > > But in the end I don’t know hence the question. We’ve done this before, and yes, it’s faster. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2008, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faster-to-charge-cell-phone-while-off/464689/4 "2008-09-22T16:47:46Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > We’ve done this before, and yes, it’s faster. Did a search, Board being really slow. Not seeing these former discussions though (not doubting you…more I am searching wrong). And how much faster is faster? ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2008, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faster-to-charge-cell-phone-while-off/464689/5 "2008-09-22T16:51:50Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > Did a search, Board being really slow. Not seeing these former discussions though (not doubting you…more I am searching wrong). > > And how much faster is faster? It depends. My iPhone charges maybe twice as fast. I would think a less power-hungry device would have ON/OFF charge rates that were closer. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2008, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faster-to-charge-cell-phone-while-off/464689/6 "2008-09-22T16:54:06Z")
I have a moto 9M, and to be honest I dont think there is a way to turn it off other than removing the battery and making it go dead … My options in a meeting are to turn it to vibrate or silent. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2008, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faster-to-charge-cell-phone-while-off/464689/7 "2008-09-22T17:00:53Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > I have a moto 9M, and to be honest I dont think there is a way to turn it off other than removing the battery and making it go dead … Press and hold the Power/End key (red icon to the right of the center direction pad) for 3 seconds to power off. Press it again to turn it on.