What To Do If Your Android Phone Won't Charge

© Antonioguillem/Getty Images Phone with charger

It doesn't matter if your Android phone has the largest battery and supports fast wired charging, but it can't charge. In recent years, Android devices have improved in terms of battery capacity and effective battery life. Credit goes to software updates that simplify the operating system and advancements in hardware engineering to fit a larger battery into the limited space inside a smartphone. But that doesn't mean that these devices are completely immune to charging-related software or hardware issues.

Whether it's the Galaxy S22 Ultra or the Pixel 6, all smartphones experience charging issues from time to time. Android phone can stop charging due to faulty power adapter, broken charging cable, crash, software bugs or bad battery condition. Although it is difficult to identify the cause of the problem, there are some things you can try at home to fix your phone. These methods include checking the charger, rebooting the phone, cleaning the charging port, and checking the battery health. We recommend that you try the fixes in the order listed in the article.

Check the plug, charger and charging cable.

© DAMRONG RATTANAPONG/Shutterstock Phone charger socket

Once you know that your Android phone is not charging, you should check the outlet first. Plug in something else and see if it has power. It can be a power bank, a Bluetooth speaker or any other Android phone. If there is no power to the device, the power plug is faulty. You need to plug your Android phone into a separate outlet with a case (via Google).

The next thing to check is the power cord. Over time, the electrical cable may stop working due to general wear and tear. Disconnect the cable from both ends and carefully check for signs of physical damage. If you tear, cut or bend the power cord, your Android phone will not charge. If so, try charging another phone with a cable before you run out and buy a new one.

Another device that plays an important role in charging the phone is the wall adapter. Check your adapter for cracks or scratches and try it with other charging cables to make sure it works properly. If the adapter does not work with other devices, you can check the problem by charging your Android phone with another charger. If the plug, charging cable, and adapter are intact and working properly, try other troubleshooting methods.

Restart your Android phone or boot into safe mode.

© Ton Photographer 4289/Shutterstock Power button on phone screen

If your phone is slow or doesn't have enough idle time to make calls, restarting is the solution to the most common errors. However, when your Android phone won't charge, a hard reset can fix it. When you reset your phone, it turns off all system resources and background processes and starts up with default settings. The way to reset your Android phone may depend on your model.

1. Open Notification Center on Android.
2. Press the power button in the lower right corner.
3. Select "Reset" from the menu that appears and leave the phone for a few minutes before rebooting (via Google).
4. Plug in the power cable and see if the phone starts charging again.

Another method is to charge the battery after turning off the phone. Turn off your phone by selecting "Power Off" from the menu above and plugging in the charging cable. It's good if the screen lights up and shows the charging icon. Although we don't want this to happen, if a third-party app infects your Android phone, try downloading it safely.

1. Turn off your Android phone.
2. Press and hold the power button to turn it back on.
3. When the animation starts press and hold the Volume down key until the phone enters safe mode.
4. Connect the charging cable to see if the phone charges safely.

Assuming none of these methods work, you may need to clean the charging port or try other troubleshooting methods to get your phone working properly.

Clean the charging port and check the charging status

©Peelings Media/Shutterstock Phone charging port and cable

The phone's charging port collects dirt and grime while in use. Such particles form a layer between the micro USB or Type-C port and the charging port of a mobile device, which interferes with the transfer of electricity. So check the charging port of your phone and clean it from dust. As we mentioned in our guide, you can use a cotton swab or thin plastic wrap wrapped in a microfiber cloth to clean the charging port.

Also, be sure to install a light source that can illuminate the inside of the charging port. Now gently insert a cotton swab or cotton swab into the charging port and clean it. Do not be too heavy and do not use metal tools; Be careful not to damage the inside of the port. Once the port is clear, plug in the charging cable and see if it has power. When used excessively, the charging port can lose control. If the port you are charging is too free before the phone stops charging then this could be the reason. In such a case, you need to bring the phone to a repair center.

No luck yet? Download an app called Ampere and check your phone's battery level. You will know that your phone battery is charging secretly through the Current Charging Status option in the app. Also, the app calculates the battery status of your Android phone. If your phone is not charging and the battery is low, it may need to be replaced.

A few things to check before going to the service center

© Milindari/Getty Images Phone low battery indicator

Smartphone batteries store charge well and supply it continuously. The higher the capacity, the longer the battery takes to discharge, which increases its lifespan. Did you know that once your Android phone is turned off or the next time it is turned on, it saves some data to save data? But if you don't charge the phone for a long time and drain the battery completely, it won't turn on immediately. Connect the charger and leave the phone for 20-30 minutes. Eventually, the phone will start charging normally.

A software update can also resolve charging issues caused by software bugs. While it's not the best idea to update your phone when you want to save as much battery life as possible, if there's enough power, check for software updates (Settings > Software update) and install -them if they are available. Finally, if your phone was seriously damaged and hasn't been charged since then chances are there is some kind of internal damage. In such a situation, the only way out is to take the phone to an authorized service center.

Read more: 12 things you didn't know your smartphone could do

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