How to Fix a Phone That Won't Charge: Tips for Charging Your Phone

Is there anything more frustrating than trying to charge your phone, only to find that it stubbornly refuses to charge?

We rely heavily on our phones for communication, productivity, and entertainment. When they don’t charge, it can be a major inconvenience.

Even if you’re using one of the phones with the best battery life, there are several common reasons why it may not charge and, fortunately, many easy solutions to fix the problem.

Why is my phone not charging?

Before diving into potential solutions, it’s essential to understand why your phone isn’t charging in the first place. The fact is that even if you follow all the steps to properly charge a phone battery, obstacles can still arise.

Sometimes the problem is with the accessories rather than the phone itself. A damaged charging cable or adapter may prevent proper charging. On the other hand, dust and other particles can also build up in your phone’s charging port over time, clogging the connection between the charger and the device.

Sometimes software issues can also interfere with the charging process, causing your phone to refuse to charge or display an incorrect charging status. Ultimately, in some cases the battery itself may be faulty or underlying hardware issues may prevent the phone from charging properly.

These are just a few of the reasons, but they are the most common culprits.

Why is my phone not charging even though it says it is?

You might encounter a situation where your phone shows that it is charging, but the battery percentage remains stagnant or even decreases. This may seem confusing, but it is not uncommon.

Sometimes your phone may indicate that it is charging when it is not receiving any power. This could be due to a loose connection or a faulty charger, so be sure to check them.

Some apps or background processes may consume more power than your charger can provide, which also causes the battery to drain even if it’s plugged in.

If your phone’s battery has degraded significantly over time, it may also have trouble maintaining a charge, causing the battery percentage to drop even when connected to a charger.

How to Fix a Phone That Won’t Charge

Now that we’ve identified a few potential reasons why your phone isn’t charging properly, let’s look at how to fix the problem:

Check your cable

Often the cheapest part of your setup will be the cable. These can fail if bent too much, used too much, or simply poorly made.

If your phone isn’t charging, a good idea is to replace the cable you’re using with one that you know works. You can also stock up on some of the best USB-C and Thunderbolt cables we know of.

Gordon Mah Ung

Plug the working cable into your charger and then into the phone and see if that makes a difference. If it doesn’t, that means the cable is fine and the problem is elsewhere.

Check your charger

Along the same lines, also check that the charger is working properly. Again, try using an alternative that you know works, to see if it produces a different result.

If the charger turns out to be faulty, you can check out our article on the best phone chargers and order the one that suits you best. You can also opt for a wireless charger if your phone supports it.

Take off your case

If you recently purchased a new protective case for your phone, make sure your cable is still properly inserted into the phone’s charging port.

Larger cases can sometimes push the cable just enough to break the connection, preventing the phone from charging. It’s long, but it’s worth a look.

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

Clean the charging port

Over time, charging ports can become a haven for crumbs, dust and other particles. A buildup of dirt in your port can cause charging issues, so try blowing on it to clear any clutter.

If the dirt seems a little stubborn, you can always, very gently, use a vacuum cleaner or the end of a paperclip to try to remove the blockages. Just make sure to turn off the phone first and install the plastic nozzle on the vacuum cleaner to avoid any scratches.

Another alternative is a tissue folded to a sharp point that you can insert into the port and use to clean it. You can learn how to clean and disinfect your phone in our dedicated article.

Update your phone

It’s not common, but sometimes a new operating system update can cause charging issues or battery management errors. If you only recently updated your device’s operating system and noticed the problem appearing around the same time, they could be related.

This can be difficult to resolve because ideally you will want to revert to the previous version of the operating system, which is not always possible. Instead, the best solution is to check if newer updates are available. These usually fix issues caused by previous iterations.

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

To do this, Android phone users need to go to Settings > System > System update > Check for updates and see if an update is available. You can also check the step by step guide on how to update your Android phone.

Those with an iPhone should go to Settings > General > Software Update and see if a newer version is listed.

The latest system versions are Android 14 and iOS 17.

Android 15 was revealed at Google’s I/O developer conference. Apple also introduced iOS 18 on June 10 during WWDC 2024.

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

Change the battery

Over time, batteries lose their ability to hold a charge. This usually happens gradually, but sudden failure can occur.

With most modern phones, it’s not really possible to just swap out the batteries, as they are sealed in the case. But if you have a device with a removable battery, trading it in for a new one might be the solution.

However, if you cannot replace the battery yourself, the best thing to do is to visit an authorized service center who will replace it for you.

Buy a new phone

If you’ve exhausted all possibilities, there are only a few options left on the table. You can take the handset to a repair shop (remember, if it’s under warranty, you can return it to the retailer you purchased it from) or consider replacing it.

Obviously, the latter solution is more expensive, but if your device is old and starts to develop problems, it could become a waste of money affair if you have it repaired.

If you decide it’s time to upgrade, there are a wide range of excellent budget and mid-range phones available right now. If you can’t decide whether you’d rather buy an Android phone or an iPhone, we show you how to decide which is best for you in our dedicated article.

And if you decide to go all out for the latest flagships, don’t forget to check out our list of the best phones in 2024.