You probably don’t think much regarding your phone’s charging process, do you? In short, just plug in the cable and let the power charge the device. But what happens when the phone is not charging?
Fortunately, you don’t have to immediately rush to a service center when this happens. This is said because the problem may have a simple solution. Most of the time, the mystery of why your phone isn’t charging when it’s plugged in can be solved at home.
So, before you panic, try these tips below if your Android phone is not charging.
6 tips on what to do if your Android is not charging
Below, check out 6 tips on what to do if your Android is not charging:
1. Restart your phone
Before you start googling “why my phone won’t charge”, try turning your phone off and on once more. All in all, sometimes the reason why your phone is not charging is a simple connection issue.
And therefore, often restarting the smartphone already solves this problem. All in all, restarting your phone will close all background services, and it might solve your mobile charging issue.
A reset also refreshes your phone’s core components in case one of them has failed while performing a task. To perform a reset, hold the power button and tap on Restart option.
If your phone starts charging normally once more following a reset then your issue is resolved.
2. Try to put your phone in safe mode
If the phone fails to charge following a reset then try booting the phone in safe mode. In general, safe mode is a sandbox environment that restricts your phone to just the software it shipped with. This means that all third-party apps that you have downloaded will not run in safe mode.
If you are able to charge your phone in safe mode then you know for sure that the culprit is a third party service. Once you’ve confirmed that this is the problem, consider all the apps you’ve recently downloaded. One of them might be the cause of your charging issues.
Try uninstalling recent apps and any you don’t trust or haven’t used in a while. Then restart your phone normally and see if it loads. To enter safe mode on most new Android devices, press and hold the power button.
At the prompt that appears, tap and hold the Power off button. After accepting the prompt, your phone will restart in safe mode. To exit safe mode, just restart your phone.
3. Change charger cable/source
Take a look at your cable. Your charging cable may have a loose wire, the adapter may have malfunctioned, or even the charger source it is connected to may be having problems transmitting electrical current.
To rule out a faulty cable, try charging your phone via a different cable, adapter, or power supply. The easiest way to check if the cable is to blame for your problems is to connect your phone to a computer via USB.
If you can charge your phone via your computer, you can narrow your troubleshooting down to the adapter and power supply. If an alternative cable has charged, invest in a new USB cable, and if possible, an original product.
4. Make sure it’s not a software bug
If your phone is not charging even though it says it is, or your phone is charging but there is no charging icon present, then this might be a software bug. In this case, you can install the application Ampere(Android) which will tell you if the device is receiving any power.
Ampere is a simple app that lets you view how much current your phone is discharging or charging at any given time. In addition, the app has other features that you might find useful. It tells you if your phone’s battery is in good condition, the voltage available and the current temperature, for example.
To use the app, you need:
- Connect the cell phone to a power source;
- Then launch the Ampere app, and see if the phone is charging:
- If it is loading but there is no loading icon, this is a common software bug. In this case, you have to wait for an operating system update, or try a hard reset to fix it;
- If your phone is not charging but it says it is then that might also be a software glitch. In this case, try to update your operating system or perform a factory reset.
Finally, if you don’t want to install the Ampere app, another way to test this issue is to turn your phone off and insert the charging cable. If your phone is receiving power, the screen will flash with the charging icon.
5. Clean the charging port
If the Ampere application that the cell phone is not charging, the problem might be a dirt in the charging port. In short, dust particles can quickly accumulate in the charging port, and make it difficult to connect your phone to a power source.
Inspect your phone’s charging port and if you notice a buildup of dirt, wipe it off. You can easily do this by gently rubbing the area with a dry cotton swab. Keep the touch light.
To get a better view of what’s going on inside your door, use a flashlight to thoroughly inspect the area. If you notice any foreign debris trapped inside, you can give it a more thorough cleaning using a SIM ejector tool or a toothpick. After cleaning your port, try charging your phone once more.
6. Did it fall into the water? dip in rice
Water and electricity don’t mix, and even water-resistant phones need special care to keep them waterproof. If your phone got wet, and now you’re wondering why it won’t charge, then water is highly likely to blame.
You should not charge your phone if there is a possibility of water damage. First, you have to make sure that the inside of your phone is completely dry.
There are several methods to save a dropped phone in water. You can blow hot air with a hair dryer, pour it into a bowl of rice, for example. However, you will have to wait at least a day before trying to connect your phone once more. After 24 hours of drying, try plugging in your phone and see what happens.
None of the above options worked, now what?
If none of these tips above solved your problem, the main recommendation is to look for a company that specializes in fixing and repairing Android smartphones.