Cell phone won't charge: what could it be and what to do

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Is your cell phone not charging? You probably don't think much about your phone's charging process; Just plug in the cable and walk away – that is, until one day your phone won't charge and you're left scratching your head thinking, "Wait a second, why won't my phone charge?"

Fortunately, you don't need to immediately rush to a service center when this happens because the problem could have one of many simple explanations. Most of the time, the mystery of why your cell phone won't charge when plugged in can be solved at home.

Here are some fixes to try if your phone isn't charging.

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PHOTO: Karolina Grabowska on Pexels

1. Restart the device if the cell phone does not charge

Before you start frantically Googling “why won’t my phone charge,” try turning your phone off and on again. Many times, the reason why your phone is not charging when plugged in is that there has been a simple bug in the connection. To rule out a temporary failure as the cause, a reboot should always be the first thing you do.

Restarting your phone will put all services in the background and may resolve your mobile charging issue. A restart also refreshes your phone's key components if one of them has crashed while performing a task. To perform a quick reset, simply press and hold the power button and tap the Restart option.

If your phone starts charging normally again after a restart, your problem will be resolved.

2. Try putting your phone in safe mode if the phone won't charge

If your phone doesn't charge after a restart, try booting your phone in safe mode. Essentially, Safe Mode is a sandbox environment that restricts your phone to only the software it was originally built with. This means that any third-party apps you have downloaded will not run in safe mode.

If you can charge your phone in safe mode, you know for sure that a third-party service is to blame. Once you've confirmed that this is the problem, consider any apps you've recently downloaded. One of them could be the cause of your charging issues.

Try uninstalling recent apps and any that you don't trust or haven't used in a while. Then restart your phone normally and see if it charges.

To enter Safe Mode on most new Android devices, press and hold the power button. At the resulting prompt, tap and hold the Power off button. After accepting the prompt, your phone will soon reboot into safe mode. To exit safe mode, simply restart your phone.

Since not all Android settings work the same way, the process may be different on your phone. If the steps outlined here don't work, try visiting your device's support site or searching Google for the button combination for Safe Mode.

3. Change to a different cable/socket/adapter if your cell phone won't charge

If you're still tearing your hair out and wondering “why isn't my phone charging?!”, then it's time to take a look at your cable. Your charging cable may have a loose wire, the adapter may have malfunctioned, or even the socket it is plugged into may not be transmitting current correctly.

To rule out a faulty cable, try charging your phone via a different cable, adapter, or power source. 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 your phone can charge via a PC, you can restrict your troubleshooting to the adapter and socket. If an alternative cable did the trick, invest in a new one. We recommend purchasing original and primary accessories or from trusted third party names.

4. Make sure it's not a software bug

If your phone is not charging even though it says it is, or if your phone is charging but there is no charging icon present, this could be a software bug. Installing an app called Ampere will tell you once and for all if any power is reaching your phone.

Ampere is a simple app that lets you view how much current your phone is discharging or charging at any given time. Ampere also comes with some other features that you might find useful. It tells you if your phone's battery is in good condition, the available voltage and the current temperature.

With the Ampere app installed, connect your phone to a power source, then turn on the app and see if it says your phone is charging. If your phone is charging but not displaying a charging icon, this is a common software bug, you can wait for an OS update or try a hard reset to fix it.

If your phone isn't charging but says it is, this could also be a software glitch. Try updating your operating system or performing a factory reset.

If you don't want to install the Ampere app, another way to test this issue is to turn off your phone 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 your cell phone doesn't charge

If the Ampere app shows no charge reaching your phone, the culprit could be debris in your charging port. 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 or other grime, clean it. You can do this easily by gently rubbing the area with a dry cotton swab.

To get a better look at what's going on inside your door, use a flashlight to fully inspect the area. If you notice any foreign debris stuck inside, you can do a more thorough cleaning using an ejector tool or a toothpick. After cleaning your port thoroughly, try charging your phone again.

6. Your phone may have water damage

Water and electricity don't mix, and even water-resistant phones need special care to keep them watertight. If your phone has gotten wet and you are now wondering why it won't charge, then it is highly likely that water is to blame.

You should not charge your phone if there is a possibility of water damage. First, you have to make sure that your phone's internals are completely dry.

There are several methods to save a phone dropped in water. You can blow hot air on it with a hairdryer, pour it into a bowl of rice, or try other methods. You will, however, have to wait at least a day before connecting your phone again.

After 24 hours of drying, try connecting your phone and see what happens. When the connections are dry, they begin charging again.

7. Visit a Service Center

If all else fails, you can always go to a service center and ask a professional why your cell phone won't charge. They may be able to find a fault you missed or diagnose a hardware failure.

I hope your phone is still in guarantee so you don't have to pay anything for the repair. Otherwise, you may have to pay to replace any broken components.

The cell phone doesn't charge? Now you can solve the problem yourself

Few components are responsible for carrying the your phone's batterySo charging issues have become more common, especially as phones get even thinner and we start to see foldable phones, which need extra care and maintenance.

I hope these tips help you figure out why your phone isn't charging and also give you the tools you need to fix the problem.

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