Your smartphone’s built-in battery lasts a few hours before needing to be recharged. But when the battery level doesn’t increase, there’s an issue. So how to enjoy chatting with friends, playing at the Casino National, and completing your work tasks with no problem? Keep reading to find out how to fix your phone.
Why Your Phone Won’t Charge
If your phone isn’t charging, there’s a malfunction somewhere. What should you do first? Check all the components:
Charger
Start by inspecting the charger. Cracks or loose parts should raise concerns—this could be the problem. If everything looks intact, use your nose. Does it smell burnt? If so, the charger needs to be discarded. Without proper skills and tools, attempting to repair it yourself could do more harm than good.
Shake and listen to it. The charger isn’t supposed to rattle — if something is loose inside, that’s a sign something has broken.
Try connecting another device, like another phone, power bank, or wireless earbud case. If they charge, your charger is working fine.
Cable
If you have pets, there’s a high chance they might have caused the issue. Standard cables for most smartphones are fragile and often don’t survive even one “attack” by a pet.
Cables also get bent often, leading to the insulation around the USB connector breaking down after a few months.
Make sure there’s no burnt smell from the cable either.
Smartphone
If the charger is in good shape, it’s time to check the phone’s charging port. Examine the board inside — if it’s loose or has fallen out, the port needs to be replaced. In some cases, you might need a new phone.
In older phones with removable batteries, check the battery and its contacts.
A common problem is dust clogging the charging port, preventing proper connection with the cable.
Battery
The curse of all batteries is gradual degradation. The more often you charge your phone, the worse the battery becomes over time.
Add to that quick discharges (due to games or demanding apps) and fast charging. The nominal battery capacity decreases, and in the worst-case scenario, it stops charging altogether.
A swollen battery is another serious issue. There’s no room for doubt — it must be removed and disposed of immediately. Otherwise, you risk not only losing your phone but also starting a fire.
Sometimes your smartphone can deceive you — showing that it’s charging when, in fact, it’s not. This isn’t the device’s fault — it’s just displaying the information it gets from the battery controller.
You can test the battery with wireless charging (if your phone supports it). Place it on the charging pad and watch. If it charges smoothly, the battery might not be the problem.
Power Outlet
This may not be the most obvious cause, but it’s worth considering. The outlet or power strip might have failed silently. It’s easy to check —mjust plug other electronic devices into the same outlet.
How to Fix It
Replace the Cable or Charger
If the issue lies in the cable or charger, they need to be replaced. It’s best to choose original components since knockoffs often have inferior quality.
Clean the Charging Port
Dust can accumulate in the phone’s charging port, causing connection issues. Clean it carefully using a wooden toothpick or a small brush. Avoid using metal objects, as they might short the contacts.
What to Do if Your Phone is Plugged In but Still Not Charging
But what if the phone won’t charge due to a malfunction inside the device? The first thought might be to buy a new one. However, that’s not always financially feasible. Plus, you might lose personal data from your old phone.
Restart Your Phone
If your phone doesn’t respond to charging, restart it. This refreshes the device and closes unnecessary background processes. If the issue was caused by a glitch, restarting might resolve it automatically.
Seek Professional Help
If you can’t fix the problem yourself, take your phone to a service center. This is usually the easiest and safest option, although it may not be the cheapest.
Roll Back the Firmware
Check your phone’s firmware, especially if you’ve recently updated it or installed a custom ROM. The software might be buggy or incompatible with your phone. You can solve this by rolling back the system.
On Android, this can be done using standard software tools. Be sure to make a backup in advance so you can restore it later.
Here’s a simple process:
- Open your phone settings.
- Select “Software Update.” On some phones, you’ll need to go to “About Phone.”
- Tap the three dots in the top-right corner.
- Choose “Select Firmware File,” then specify where the phone should download the correct version of the software.
Install Antivirus Software
Viruses can be picked up from shady websites or apps from unofficial sources. Some malware sabotages charging, making the phone unresponsive to the charger. A virus might also cause the phone to drain much faster, even when the screen is locked.
Just install antivirus software. You can download apps from trusted providers in Google Play or the App Store. Free versions usually offer enough functionality to rid your phone of malware.
Cool Down the Device
Sometimes, the phone refuses to charge because it’s overheated. For example, after playing a game with high graphics or using demanding apps like photo and video editors. In this case, unplug the charging cable and remove the phone case — especially if it doesn’t have ventilation holes, as it can trap heat.
After that, close all apps, including background ones, and turn off the phone. Once it has cooled down, try charging it again.
