Reverse wireless charging, also known as Wireless PowerShare, is a feature available on certain Samsung phones and devices that allows you to charge other devices wirelessly by simply placing them on the back of your Samsung phone. With reverse wireless charging, your Samsung device essentially acts as a wireless charging pad to power up other phones or accessories.
In this beginner’s guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about using reverse wireless charging on your compatible Samsung phone. We’ll explain what models support this feature, how to activate it, what devices you can charge, tips for optimal use, and answer some frequently asked questions.
What is reverse wireless charging?
Reverse wireless charging allows you to charge Qi-compatible devices directly through your Samsung phone. Qi is an open interface standard that enables inductive electrical power transfer over distances of up to 4 cm. Most modern smartphones support Qi wireless charging, including recent iPhones and Samsung Galaxy models.
With Wireless PowerShare, your Samsung device becomes the charging pad, and the device you want to charge becomes the receiver. The back of your Samsung phone contains a wireless charging coil that creates an inductive electrical field. When you place another phone or earbuds with a compatible wireless charging coil onto the back of your Samsung, it receives power from the electromagnetic field and begins charging.
What Samsung models support reverse wireless charging?
Here are the Samsung phones and devices that support Wireless PowerShare:
- Galaxy S10 lineup (S10e, S10, S10+)
- Galaxy S20 lineup (S20, S20+, S20 Ultra)
- Galaxy Note 10 lineup (Note 10, Note 10+)
- Galaxy Note 20 lineup (Note 20, Note 20 Ultra)
- Galaxy Z Flip
- Galaxy Fold
In general, Wireless PowerShare is available on higher-end and newer Samsung flagships from the S10 onwards. Budget and mid-range Galaxy A series phones do not support reverse wireless charging.
How to activate Wireless PowerShare
Activating reverse wireless charging is simple on supported Samsung models:
- Make sure the phone you want to charge wirelessly is Qi-certified.
- Turn on Wireless PowerShare by swiping down from the top of your phone’s screen to open the Quick Settings panel. Long press the Wireless PowerShare icon. It will turn blue when activated.
- With the phone displays facing down, place the device you want to charge onto the center back of your Samsung phone.
- A charging animation and notification will display on the receiving device when charging begins.
- To deactivate, swipe down again and tap the blue Wireless PowerShare icon.
Wireless PowerShare is enabled through the battery settings menu if you don’t have a quick settings tile. You can also create a home screen shortcut to easily toggle it on and off.
What devices can you charge with reverse wireless charging?
You can charge any Qi-compatible devices with Wireless PowerShare, including:
- Samsung Galaxy phones (S6 and newer)
- Recent iPhone models (iPhone 8 and newer)
- AirPods Pro and AirPods with Wireless Charging Case
- Galaxy Buds/Galaxy Buds+
- Smartwatches (Apple Watch, Galaxy Watch, etc)
- Wireless charging cases
- Other Qi-enabled phones, earbuds, and accessories
Devices must be placed directly on the center rear of your Samsung phone to charge. Cases under 5mm thick are also supported. Anything preventing direct contact with the wireless charging coil will prevent charging.
Your Samsung phone must have at least 30% battery itself in order to charge other devices. You’ll also need to reactivate Wireless PowerShare each time you want to use it.
Wireless PowerShare tips and best practices
Follow these tips to get the most efficient and optimal reverse wireless charging experience:
- Align devices properly: Make sure the device you’re charging aligns with the wireless charging coil on your phone’s back. Centered placement right on the coil is key.
- Use with adequate charge: Don’t use Wireless PowerShare when your Samsung phone’s battery is low, under 30%. Have your phone sufficiently charged first.
- Disable when not in use: Turn off Wireless PowerShare when you’re done to avoid excess battery drain.
- Use sparingly: Reverse wireless charging is not optimized for all-day charging. Use it for quick top-ups as needed.
- Remove thick cases: Very thick phone cases can inhibit charging, so remove them before using Wireless PowerShare.
- Check notifications: Charging notifications and battery percentage on the receiving device will let you know charging status.
- Restart if needed: If charging stops prematurely, simply restart the process.
Following these tips will provide the most efficient Wireless PowerShare experience without draining your Samsung phone’s battery quickly.
Wireless PowerShare frequently asked questions
Here are answers to some of the most common questions about Samsung’s reverse wireless charging feature:
Is Wireless PowerShare safe for my phone?
Yes, using Wireless PowerShare will not damage your Samsung device. It is designed and engineered to support reverse wireless charging safely. However, it’s best not to use it when your phone’s battery is low.
How fast does Wireless PowerShare charge devices?
Charging speed depends on the wattage supported by the device being charged. Most devices will charge at 5W or slower, which is generally quite slow. Newer Samsung phones and earbuds may charge slightly faster at 7.5W or 9W.
Does reverse wireless charging drain my phone’s battery a lot?
Yes, using Wireless PowerShare will drain your phone’s battery faster than normal since it is sharing power. However, most devices charge slowly at 5W or less, so the battery drain is gradual as long as you monitor it.
Can I charge my Samsung phone and another device at the same time?
Unfortunately no, you cannot charge your Samsung phone wirelessly while also using it to charge another device. Your phone must be unplugged in order to activate Wireless PowerShare.
Why is my device not charging using Wireless PowerShare?
If your device isn’t charging, make sure it is certified for Qi wireless charging and is placed directly aligned with the charging coil on your Samsung phone’s back. Remove thick cases, restart the process, and check that Wireless PowerShare is activated in your settings if needed.
Do I need a special cable or adapter to use Wireless PowerShare?
No cables, adapters, or additional accessories are needed. Wireless PowerShare works wirelessly using electromagnetic induction to transmit power between your Samsung device and the device being charged.
What drains Wireless PowerShare battery life?
Several factors can drain your Samsung phone’s battery faster while using reverse wireless charging:
- Misalignment with the charging coil
- Thick phone cases blocking contact
- Extreme hot or cold ambient temperatures
- Magnetic interference from other devices
- Using Wireless PowerShare with low phone battery
- Allowing excessive heat to build up during charging
Mitigate these issues by only using PowerShare moderately and in short bursts. Allow devices and phone to cool off if they get too hot during charging.
Does Fast Charging work with Wireless PowerShare?
Unfortunately Samsung’s Fast Charging capabilities do not apply to reverse wireless charging. Even if your Samsung phone supports 25W, 45W, or faster wired charging,Wireless PowerShare is limited to slower wireless charging speeds.
The receiving device capabilities also factor in – an iPhone is limited to 7.5W wireless charging. So Fast Charging is currently not possible with PowerShare.
Charging phone batteries with Wireless PowerShare
You can use Wireless PowerShare to charge up external battery packs and power banks. This helps provide backup power when travelling or away from a wall charger.
Look for battery packs and power banks that support Qi standard wireless charging. Align the wireless charging coil on the battery pack to the coil area on your phone’s rear.
Portable chargers will fill up slowly due to speed limitations. But PowerShare can still provide enough charge to top up your phone or other devices in a pinch.
Comparing reverse wireless charging terms
Reverse wireless charging goes by several different industry terms:
- Wireless PowerShare – Samsung’s branding
- Bilateral wireless charging – Charging in both directions
- Two-way wireless charging – Send and receive power
- Reverse wireless charging – Using the phone as the charger
- Backwards wireless charging – Charging from rear of devices
Whatever the terminology, this technology allows compatible Samsung devices to charge other products directly. Expect the marketing names for reverse wireless charging to evolve over time.
Reverse wireless charging remains a novelty, but Samsung’s implementation makes it surprisingly handy for real world use. Wireless PowerShare enables quick charge boosts in a pinch and eliminates the need to pack extra charging cables.
As the technology matures, bidirectional wireless charging could become a staple flagship feature. For now, be sure to try out Wireless PowerShare if you own a compatible Samsung Galaxy phone. Have you found creative ways to utilize reverse wireless charging in your daily routine?
