How to stop an android device from being charged programmatically?

Question

Is there an Android API for stop charging even though physically the charging is on?

Answer 1

This is unfortunately not possible. Android only have read APIs for battery data.

Battery charging control is internal to the Android kernel and battery IC modules. Manufacturers do change it from time to time, like HTC is having small cycles from 95-100% (a bad idea IMO), Samsung does stop charges as soon as it reaches 100%, but I've never seen a device able to stop charging before 100% to reduce battery aging :(.

At best if we're lucky, a sysfs interface might help do that, but it requires root and will differ from device to device.

Answer 2

Contrary to some answers indicating it's not possible, it is, indeed possible with ROOT. You can find some apps on the Play Store that will allow you to do this (with root permission, of course).

The best app that works on every phone I've tried it on is Battery Charge Limit. You can download it from the Play Store or the XDA discussion thread. The app is under active development so, if you find that your phone isn't supported, just submit an issue on its GitHub page.

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NB: I am not the developer of this application.

Answer 3

I dont think there would be such an api. If it does exist it needs to be supported by the device manufacture as its not a pure OS lever feature. The same reason would make it a bad idea to use it as not all devices will support it.

That being said it would be a bad idea to use/implement it , mobile devices are not built to directly run from the power supply and a user will not plug in the cable if he/she did not want to actually charge the device.

Answer 4

Reading previous answers, it looks like there's no way to do this exclusively in software. However, it should be relatively easy to do it with a little hardware help - i.e. by using any Bluetooth- or WiFi-enabled smart electrical switch with open API. The phone could then switch the charger on or off programmatically whenever it feels like it.

Answer 5

You guys are all missing the point - the purpose of limiting charging is to increase battery lifespan by keeping it away from fully charged conditions (and near empty but that's a different issue). If you anticipate needing a full charge then tell it to charge to 100.

If you can't set a charge limit then the battery would rarely be idle and ideally charged when on the charger. It probably requires device level support though.

Answer 6

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=es.guille.stopcharge uses echo "0" > /sys/class/power_supply/battery/device/charge. It works for me on a nexus 4 (rooted), as long as the device isn't fully charged (in a charging state).

Also relevant: https://android.stackexchange.com/questions/15001/how-can-i-avoid-the-battery-charging-when-connected-via-usb