Phone Not Charging? How to Diagnose and Fix It Yourself

Is your phone plugged into a power source, but failing to charge? Fear not! While it’s frustrating to encounter a non-charging phone, this issue tends to be entirely solvable. In this article, we’ll help you diagnose the reason that your device isn’t taking power, and propose some do-it-yourself solutions for getting it working again. 

This includes swapping power cables, clearing your charging port of debris, updating your phone’s software, and checking on battery health. Read on as we detail how to fix a phone that’s not charging. 

Identifying the Charging Problem

Before we begin, you should firmly identify what kind of charging problem you’re encountering with your phone, as this will dictate how you go about fixing it. Here are the most common ones: 

1. Your phone’s battery doesn’t indicate that it’s charging when plugged in. This may coincide with a message like, “Liquid Detected in the Charging Port” (if you have an iPhone). 
2. Your phone seems to recognize the cable you’ve plugged in, yet the battery percentage isn’t increasing.
3. Your phone only charges when your power cable is plugged in at a certain angle. 

Possible Reasons Your Phone Isn’t Charging

If your phone isn’t taking a charge, it could indicate any of the following: 

1. You have a faulty charging cable. This happens to this author at least once a quarter—my power cable stops working. This is what happens when you buy cheap third-party charging accessories from Amazon. They last a few months, then invariably fail and require replacement. 
2. A dirty or otherwise clogged charging port. This is also something that happens to me frequently, the result of leaving my phone too close to the sink when I’m washing my face. Water can make its way into the charging port and stop it from taking a charge. 
3. Deteriorated Battery. Batteries—especially cell phone batteries—can degenerate over time. This can result in them failing to properly recharge. This can be an indication that it’s time to either replace your phone’s battery, or get a new device altogether.  
4. Faulty software or hardware. Occasionally, the source of your charging issues may be something more fundamental, like an internal hardware or software issue. For example, I experienced a software glitch on my Google Pixel phone a few years ago that prevented it from charging. This, of course, required assistance from a professional fix-it shop. 

Phone Not Charging: Step-By-Step Troubleshooting

1. Swap your Charging Cable

Before you go nuts trying to clean your charging port, chasing down possible software problems, or doing something like a hard reset of your phone, you should start by trying a different charging cable. If you don’t have a second one, try ordering a replacement overnight from Amazon (assuming you have enough power to last you until then). It could be that your current cable has simply gone bad and a new one will fix your problem. 

2. Clean your charging port

It could be that your charging port itself is cluttered with debris that’s preventing it from taking a charge. You may or may not get a message indicating as such on your phone. If you’re certain a dirty charging port is the reason for your woes, you can go about cleaning it with a toothpick or air compressor. 

3. Try a different power source, including wireless charging 

Sometimes the problem isn’t with your phone, but with the outlet you’re using to power it. It may sound silly, but trying a different power outlet may ameliorate your problems.

Alternatively, if you have a clogged charging port, using wireless charging can be a way around your problems (it’s saved me multiple times). In fact, we recommend purchasing a wireless charging accessory for just such occasions. 

4. Restart your phone 

A minor software glitch can prevent your phone from recognizing the charger. Sometimes this is solved by simply restarting your device. Simply hold down the power button and select “Restart” when the prompt comes up on your screen. Now, plug your phone back in and see if charging functionality has returned. 

5. Update your software

Some charging issues can be related to bugs that are fixed in software updates. We recommend checking for software updates on your phone and effectuating them as needed. Simply go to Settings > Software Update (or a similar path depending on your device), and, if an update is available, install it. 

6. Check on your battery’s health

As mentioned, cell phone batteries can and do go bad. Fortunately, many phones allow you to check your battery’s health in settings. Here’s how to do it on an iPhone: 

1. Go to Settings
2. Tap “Battery”
3. Tap “Battery Health & Charging”

Here, you’ll see a field that reads “Maximum Capacity.” If your capacity is super low, it’s probably time to get a new battery. 

The Bottom Line

Our phones are our lifeline—so it can be disconcerting when they stop taking a charge. Fortunately, all of the solutions we discussed are things you can do yourself. However, sometimes the issue is more fundamental, and not something you can solve at home. In these cases, taking your phone to a professional fix-it shop is the way to go.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my phone not charging even though it's plugged in?

If your phone isn’t charging despite being plugged in, it may suggest either that your charger is broken, the outlet is faulty, or your phone is experiencing some kind of technical glitch. 

What do I do if my iPhone charger is plugged in but my phone is not charging?

If your iPhone charger is plugged in but your phone isn’t charging, the first thing to do is reboot your phone to see if that solves the issue. To do this, press and release the Volume Up button quickly. Do the same with the Volume Down button. Then, press the Side button and hold it until you see the Apple logo.

How can I fix my phone if it won't charge?

If your phone won't charge, try these steps:Check the charging cable and adapter for damage; replace them if necessary.Clean the charging port to remove any debris or lint.Restart your phone to reset any software issues.Try a different outlet or charger to rule out power supply problems.If it still won’t charge, consider a battery replacement or contact customer support for further assistance.