Common Reasons Your Phone Won't Charge and How to Fix Them

Smartphones have evolved into indispensable tools for staying in touch, working, and getting enjoyment in the technologically advanced environment of today. Still, nothing irritates me more than putting in my phone and finding it won't charge. Whether your phone is a personal need or your lifeline for business, rapid resolution of charging problems is absolutely vital.

If your phone does not charge, various reasons could be blamed. This blog will look at the most typical causes of charging problems and how to resolve them so you won't have to cope with a dead battery for very long.

Faulty Charging Cable or Adapter

A faulty charging cable or adapter is among the most often occurring causes of charging issues. Over time, these parts bear a lot of wear and tear, which sometimes results in damage that can prevent your phone from charging.

How to Diagnose

Test with Another Device: To find out whether another device you have handy charges, plug it into the same charger. Should the other gadget charge fine, your phone most certainly has the problem.

Use Another Cable/Adapter: Try charging your phone with an other cord or adapter instead. Should it prove successful, the issue resides in your original charging accessories.

How to Fix

Replace the Cable/Adapter: Changing the defective cable or adapter is the easiest solution. To prevent more issues, one must buy original, premium replacements.

Check for Visible Damage: Look for frayed cables, bent plugs, or burn marks on the cable or adapter; these are evident markers of damage.

Dirty or Damaged Charging Port

Another often occurring cause of charging issues is a filthy or damaged charging connector. Easy accumulation of dust, dirt, lint, and other trash inside the port might cause a connection between your phone and the charger to be blocked.

How to Diagnose

Wiggle Test: Plug in the charging cord then gently wiggle it. Debris or damage could be the cause if the connection is erratic or if you must angle the wire to get it to charge.

Inspect the Port: Look for obvious trash or damage in the charging port using a torch.

How to Fix

Clean the Charging Port: Use a toothpick, tiny brush, or compressed air to clean the Charging Port should it be unclean. Use caution and steer clear of metal items since they could compromise the internal components.

Check for Physical Damage: Look for physical damage inside the charging port; you might need expert repairs should you find any bent pins or other damage. Though this should only be tried if you're experienced with basic repairs, bent pins can usually be precisely corrected using fine tools.

Software Glitches or Battery Calibration Issues

Sometimes hardware faults are not the cause of charging problems; rather, software bugs or battery calibration mistakes occur. The software on your phone controls power; so, any disturbance in the program might cause improper charging of your phone.

How to Diagnose

Restart the Phone: Restarting your phone will help to fix small software problems possibly affecting charge.

Battery Percentage Inaccuracy: Your phone may have a calibration problem if it shows irregular battery levels or dies rapidly following a charge.

How to Fix

Restart the Phone: Often, a basic restart will fix problems with software-related charging. Try charging once more after turning off and then back on your smartphone.

Calibrate the Battery: To calibrate your battery, thoroughly drain the battery of your phone until it switches off then charge it continuously to 100%. This can assist the battery monitoring program on your phone reset.

Update the Software: Make sure the software on your phone is current since new versions sometimes feature bug repairs meant to solve charging problems.

Charging Port or Cable Incompatibility

Not every charging cable and adaptor is made equal. Should you use a third-party charger, incompatibility could cause your phone to not charge. Some devices, particularly those that allow quick charging, are quite specific about the kind of charger they take.

How to Diagnose

Use the Original Charger: Try using the original charger that came with your phone if yours does not charge using a third-party charger. This will enable one to ascertain whether compatibility is the cause of the issue.

How to Fix

Use the Manufacturer's Charger: Always make sure you try to utilise the charger that came with your gadget. If you require a replacement, choose an original or authorised charger that fits your device's specs.

Check Charging Specifications: If your phone supports rapid charging, make sure the charger and the cable fit either USB Power Distribution (PD) or Quick Charge, respectively.

Battery Damage or Degradation

If your phone is a couple of years old, the battery could be degrading. Most cell phones run lithium-ion batteries, which naturally fade with time and cause lower capacity and charging problems. Sometimes swelling or overheating might physically harm the battery as well.

How to Diagnose

Short Battery Life: If your phone’s battery drains particularly quickly or takes a long time to charge, it may be an indication of battery degradation. 

Swelling: Physical indicators of battery damage are a swollen or bulging battery. Sometimes this results in the screen or back of the phone popping out.

How to Fix

Battery Replacement: The only fix if the battery is deteriorated or broken is to replace it. If you have the tools and knowledge required, you can either replace it yourself or visit a professional repair facility.

Stop Overcharging: Steer clear of leaving your phone plugged in once it has been fully charged to prevent battery degrading. Although modern cell phones are meant to cease charging once they reach 100%, unplugging them right away is still a smart habit.

Overheating Issues

If your phone is overheated, it could refuse to charge in response to safety precautions meant to guard internal components from damage. Environmental variables, extreme use, or a failing battery can all lead to overheating.

How to Diagnose

Feel the Temperature: Feel the temperature on your phone; if it feels too hot to the touch, overheating could be the problem.

Phone Stops Charging When Hot: This built-in function shields the battery should your phone stop charging or slows down charging in excessively hot conditions.

How to Fix

Cool Down the Phone: Move your phone to a cooler surrounding, deactivate resource-intensive programs, or momentarily switch it off to let it cool.

Avoid Using While Charging: Steer clear of using your phone for gaming, streaming, or other heavy tasks while charging as it might overheat. Try restricting phone usage during charging periods. 

Remove Phone Case: Sometimes, phone cases retain heat.  Eliminating the case while charging will help to distribute heat and stop overheating.

Charging Port Loose Connection

Your phone might not be charging from a loose connection in the charging port. Plugging and disconnecting your charger over time will cause the internal connectors to loosen, producing an erratic charge.

How to Diagnose

Wiggle the Charger: While the charging wire is hooked into the phone, gently move it. Should your charging status change, the port could be loose.

Inconsistent Charging: If the charging indicator come on and off while the phone is in use, a loose connection is indicated.

How to Fix

Professional Repair: Correcting a loose charging port usually calls for expert help. For local repairs, bring your phone to a nearby repair shop; else, get in touch with the manufacturer.

Avoid Forcing the Charger: Steer clear of forcing the charger until the port is fixed; otherwise, use little force when plugging in it. Gentle treatment helps to stop more injury.

Power Source Problems

Occasionally the problem might not be your phone or charger but the power source itself. Your phone could not charge as intended from a damaged wall socket, extension cord, or power bank.

How to Diagnose

Try a Different Power Source: Change the power source by plugging your charger into another wall socket or USB port. Should the phone begin charging, the original power source is the problem.

Test with a Power Bank: Test the power bank you use to charge your phone with another device to ensure it is operating as it should.

How to Fix

Switch Power Sources: Charge your phone using another wall outlet, extension cord, or power bank.

Check Voltage and Wattage: Certain power sources might not have enough to charge your phone. Make sure your equipment calls for the voltage and wattage.

Moisture or Water Damage

Modern smartphones are constructed with water resistance, but moisture can still leak into key regions, especially if the phone has been submerged or exposed to a humid environment for a lengthy period.  If moisture seeps into the charging port or internal components, your phone may refuse to charge as a safety precaution. 

How to Diagnose

Moisture Detection Alert: Many cell phones feature built-in moisture-detecting devices that notify you when moisture finds its way into the charging port. Typically, the screen shows a warning message.

Visible Water Damage: Look for any obvious indicators of water damage, such dampness or condensation around the charging port or on the device itself.

How to Fix

Dry the Charging Port: If moisture exist in the charging port, let your phone sit in a dry environment for several hours to let the moisture evaporate. Any extra moisture can also be eliminated from the port by gently blowing compressed air or a dry cotton swab.

Avoid Using Rice: Against common wisdom, submerging your phone in rice could not be the best way to dry up moisture and might add extra particles into the charging port.

Use Silica Gel Packets: Store your phone in a sealed container including silica gel packets to more effectively absorb the moisture.

Seek Professional Repair: If your phone was soaked in water and still did not charge after drying, it might have suffered internal water damage. Under these circumstances, consult an expert for repairs.

Charging IC or Motherboard Issues

The charge process is managed on your phone by its integrated circuit, or IC. Should this part or the motherboard itself be compromised, your phone may not charge. Physical impact, water damage, or protracted extreme temperature exposure can all cause this.

How to Diagnose

Check for Power Issues: The charging IC or motherboard may be broken if your phone displays no signs of life even when it is plugged into a functional charger.

Inconsistent Charging: Sometimes, the phone starts charging intermittently and exhibits indicators of an internal problem.

How to Fix

Seek Professional Repair: Correcting a damaged charging IC or motherboard calls for professional knowledge and is not a do-it-yourself project. See a respectable repair facility with your phone or get in touch with the manufacturer for servicing.

Avoid Further Damage: Steer clear of further damage if you believe internal component damage by avoiding too frequent phone use or do-it-yourself repairs that can aggravate the issue.

Conclusion

Your phone can not be charged for many different causes, from basic difficulties like a damaged cable or dirty charging port to more complicated ones like software faults or internal component failure. Using the advice above will help you troubleshoot many typical problems yourself before sprinting to a repair facility. Before tackling more difficult repairs, always begin with simple inspections like testing your charger and cleaning the port. If you need professional assistance to resolve the charging issues the Call us now at Just Repair.