What To Do If Your Android Phone Isn't Charging
If your device isn't charging, it could be for one of several reasons. Depending on the situation, the problem might be fixable without the need to go anywhere or buy anything. The most common reason for a device not charging is a faulty cable, charger, socket or adapter. Dirt or debris in the charging port can also cause problems with power transfer. Third-party apps interrupting the charging process can also interfere with your device's ability to charge. In some cases, a software update might be required before charging can be tested.
When your phone is not charging, the first step is to check the cable. If there are no other signs of damage, try a different cable and check again. Try another device's charger or power adapter, or use one of your own if there is nothing else you can do.
If your device drains quickly when charging – and this might happen if it has been dropped – consider doing a factory reset or updating the software before testing a new cable.
If you have tried different cables and chargers, and your device does not charge, continue reading to learn more about the various reasons for a device not charging.
1. Faulty cable/charger/adapter
When your device is connected to a power source but will not charge, the most common problems are caused by hardware. The cable or charger you're using might be faulty or damaged in some way, so check that they are working properly first. Your device might also be malfunctioning by itself, although this is rare. Check out the following sections for more details on how to check a cable, charger and adapter.
2. Dirt in the charging port
If your device charges only when it is placed in a good position and the connection between your phone and the charger is not loose or broken, it might be dust in the charging port causing problems. First, clean the charging port gently with a lint-free cloth. Also, check if there are any lint or small particles in the port. If necessary, you can use compressed air to remove any dirt. It might be necessary to use tweezers to remove debris if cleaning does not do the trick.
3. Third-party apps interrupting the charging process
If your device has a third-party charger and is connected but won't charge, an app could be interrupting the charging process. Apps often use the device to control charging, which might cause problems with charging. Sometimes you can force a third party app to stop using your device. To do this, go to Settings > Apps > App info. If it shows the name of a specific app, tap Edit and select Force stop. If there is no such app in this list, you can force the app to close and allow your device to charge normally.
4. Overheating
If your device's temperature is too hot and it stops charging, a software update might be required. Also try to force close any apps that are running on your device. To do this, go to Settings > Apps and swipe the screen left to see the Running apps list. Tap Force Stop for any app that looks suspicious.
5. Software update required
In some cases, after all of these options have been tried, a software update might still be required before your device will begin to charge again. If updating your software seems to fix this, be sure to update it.
If you're still not able to charge, it is possible that your battery has started failing. Replacing the battery is a good option for some devices. For others, you might need to replace your device. If your battery is removable and you can easily replace it yourself, consider doing so.
6. Cable
Go to Settings > Apps > App info and tap "More" in the top right corner under Running apps. From the pop-up menu, select Show system apps. Look for a charging management system or something similar and select it, then force close it. Then go back to settings and click on Default Apps. Choose the app that you used to manage charging and force close it. Now you should be able to charge your device.
7. Check if there is one of the following apps running on your device
Energy management protectors such as GmsCore/EnergySaver are designed to improve battery life by restricting background data connections, wake locks, screen wakelocks, and other processes that consume battery power. They can be particularly disruptive for those who have an app with a charging function enabled or who leave a charger connected all the time.
Guided Access can interfere with your device's ability to be woken up by incoming calls, messages and alarms. If you have Guided Access enabled, try disabling it. Go to Settings > Accessibility and click under Display or Slide-to-unlock at the bottom of the screen. Tap Options and you should see an option allowing you to turn off access for certain apps such as calling and messaging.
If Power Saver 4 is installed on your device, it can interfere with charging. Go to Settings > Power Save and turn it off.
If you find that your device's charging behavior is erratic, stop charging completely and allow the battery to completely discharge. Disconnect the phone from its charger for at least 10 minutes or for as long as possible. When you reconnect the phone to a charger, try charging it again immediately. If this does not solve the issue, restart your device to see if this resolves the problem. If you decide to replace the battery, be sure to keep the back cover in place and not flex or bend it.
Your device might have a problem with the charging pipeline inside it. For example, if your device does not charge when it is connected to a laptop USB port, but does charge from an AC charger and there are no problems with the power cord or AC adapter, check your cable with another known good cable. If you can still troubleshoot further by checking your dock, try another known good charger as well.
Check to see if the charging port on your device is clean. If there is any dirt in the port, it might be preventing the charger from connecting properly and/or might be interfering with the power being sent to your phone. Try gently blowing compressed air into the port to remove dirt, lint or small particles that could be clogging up your connection. Be careful not to push anything else into your phone while doing this.
