Some of you may have suffered from this problem and rushed out to buy a new charger when the solution was at hand with only a tiny bit of effort and only a little bit more know how. This is one of the most frequently occurring topics we come across within the Android community, and many times users are just frustrated with the poor battery life on their chosen device, rather than it being a serious issue. Regardless, if you’re having battery problems with your device, here is our guide for how to fix a phone that won’t charge.
Most charging problems are
related to your USB cable or charger, or even the port itself. / © ANDROIDPIT
The problem
The problem occurs in various guises. Either your phone won't charge AT ALL when it is plugged in, or it only charges very slowly (sometimes barely faster than it is discharging). It’s a very common complaint, and one I’ve suffered from with devices myself, so here are a few solutions.DIY USB port fix
The quickest, easiest, and often most successful solution, is simply to do a little DIY repair on your actual hardware. The problem is quite often that the metallic surfaces inside the USB port and the microUSB charger are not making good contact, either through a manufacturing defect or because of the continual plugging and unplugging of the charging cable.All you need to do is shut down your device, remove the battery if possible and use something small, like a toothpick, to 'lever up' the little tab inside the USB port on your smartphone or tablet. Do so very carefully and gently, then reinsert your battery and plug it in again. Nine times out of ten this is all that is required.
Check the 'tab' inside your
device's USB port - the cable may not be making contact properly. / © Samsung,
AndroidPIT
Switch cables
The flimsiest part of a charger is of course the cable, not the adapter that plugs into the wall socket. If your device is having charging issues and the previous solution didn’t work, you might have a faulty cable. Before you rush out to buy a replacement adapter, just grab a spare USB cable from another device and try it instead. Quite often the cable will fray inside because it is constantly being curled up, stood on etc.If the cable doesn't seem to be the problem, check the wall plug adapter, that may be the issue instead. Also, ensure that the same charger/cable combination works on a different device as this will help you eliminate the possibility that it is your device, not the cable or charger. iPhone users have their work cut out for them with the incredibly flimsy Lightning Port charger.
You may only need to replace the
USB cable, not the whole charger. / © fnac.com
Clean up your act
Sometimes the reason a device is not charging correctly is because there is something lodged in the port, or there is just a lot of debris blocking the connection. Pocket lint, dirt and other minute rubbish can get into all sorts of nooks and crannies on a smartphone, so take a look to make sure there isn't something lodged inside the microUSB port (or in the charging cable either).Of course, also make sure to never charge your phone near water or in excessively hot or humid conditions. Also, do not overcharge your device, charging overnight when your battery only needs 2-3 hours is a bad idea that can lead to a battery exploding or damaging your phone. Your phone has a cut-off switch for your battery, but sometimes this doesn't work. I figure it's better to be safe than sorry. Or burnt to a crisp.
Dodgy manufacture, excessive
charging, debris and a bad environment can cause problems. / © Sammy Hub
Replace the battery
If your device is old, and the battery is struggling to hold a charge, it may be nearing the end of its life span. A new battery should last around two years before it needs to be replaced, although this depends on the number of charge and discharge cycles. If it seems necessary to replace it sooner than that, check your warranty, you may be eligible for a free replacement.If your device isn’t very old, you may just have a defective battery. Remove your handset’s battery cover and ensure the battery isn't bulging or otherwise deformed or leaking. If it is, remove it immediately and clean the area carefully to avoid corrosion. If your cover is non-removable, you can lay the phone on the table and try spinning it, if the battery is faulty it will spin (unless it has been specifically designed to be curved for a particular device/model).
If you decide the battery is damaged, replace it with a manufacturer original or a respected third-party unit. In our experience though, third-party batteries are often cheaper but more trouble than they are worth, and can even be damaging to your device, so use one at your own risk.
If you are going to replace your
battery, try to purchase an official one, even though you might be tempted by
the larger capacities offered by third-party batteries. / © ANDROIDPIT
Up against the wall
Charging from a wall socket is always going to charge faster than via PC or laptop. Likewise, the current is different, with a wall socket putting out potentially double the power of a laptop or computer. Of course, if you're using a different charger cable and adapter than the one the phone came with, it might also be the case that your charger is not sufficiently powerful for your device. For example, if you're using a charger that came with a Bluetooth headset, it may simply not have the guts to be able to charge your phone. There might also be a problem with your wall socket, but that is much less likely.
Your desktop or laptop can't
charge your Android as fast as a wall socket. / © ANDROIDPIT
Update or rollback
Software updates and new Android versions can play havoc with your battery life, especially when upgrading an old device to current software. Newer devices are often optimized to take advantage of the latest software, packing bigger batteries and pre-optimized hardware, whereas your two-year old device can struggle when it makes the jump from behind the pack.If this happens to you, consider rolling the device back to an earlier Android version (by searching for the appropriate APK file online), though be warned that this carries its own security risks. (The latest software versions are always recommended to keep your device protected, and while the risk of keeping your smartphone on an older version is often negligible, it’s worth noting all the same.)
Similarly, sometimes device battery life can be significantly improved thanks to an update, as recently seen with the Moto 360 smartwatch, so if you're way behind on your Android software version, head to the "about device" page in your settings and check for an update.
With Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and Mobile
network optimization, comes improved battery life. / © ANDROIDPIT
Switch it off
Using battery intensive apps/features while you are charging your device will affect how fast it gains battery life. If you are charging while Skyping somebody at full screen brightness, the device will naturally take longer to charge than if it is locked with Wi-Fi and 4G turned off. Better yet, switch the device onto airplane mode, or off completely, when you are charging if you want to see the fastest energy injection. Think of it as giving your device a power nap. Or a red bull. In the dark.Calibrate your battery
Sometimes what your device “thinks” your battery life is, versus what it is in reality, can differ. The effect of this is that your phone may function differently based on the estimated battery life, like turning off before it is actually out of juice or taking an hour to chew through the last 2%.We’ve already written an extensive guide on how to calibrate your smartphone battery on an Android device, so I won’t retype it all here, but this is a useful option to try before completely ditching your defunct power pack.
Battery calibration can be
another effective means of fixing charge problems. © ANDROIDPIT
If all else fails, just double check that you actually have the power point
switched on. That is the first thing they will ask you if you call your
manufacturer for help, which might need to be your next step if none of these
solutions have worked for you.My Phone died and now won't power on or charge. Here’s how to fix it.
If your cell phone is a smartphone then this is a reasonably common issue. It used to be a general practice to run older batteries to zero battery life before charging them back up to full again but try not to do that on the new smart phones, they use lithium-ion batteries which discharging 100% is a major concern and isn’t good for the health of the battery.
If your battery has drained to zero and now the phone won’t respond then try this
Pull the battery
Start out by pulling the battery out of the phone for a few minutes then put the battery back into the phone, put the phone all back together and then plug it into your ORIGINAL charger that came with the phone. Make sure that you use the original charger that came with the phone. If you don’t have the original charger then make sure that your charger is a manufacturer approved charger. An HTC charger might look exactly the same as a Samsung charger but some brands don’t get along with other brands. Check out Amazon.com for some good deals on a charger. Usually they are amazingly affordable. Just do a search for your specific phone and you shouldn’t have a problem finding a manufacturer approved charger and or data cable.If your battery is built into the phone and you cannot remove the battery from your smartphone then try to perform a simulated battery pull. Many phones have a method to restart the device, usually by holding down specific buttons or keys on the device. Much like the Motorola Atrix HD simulated battery pull or the Sony Experia simulated battery pull where you hold the volume down key and power key simultaneously while the phone is powered off.
Check the outlet
Sometimes we can be too close to an issue and can overlook something as simple as a wall outlet attached to a light switch that’s turned off. If the light switch is designed for turning off and on a light and the switch is off then there is no power coming from the outlet and obviously your device isn’t going to charge.Try a different outlet
This can go hand in hand with the above suggestion. Try a different outlet to make sure it’s not a power socket issue.Try using a computer or car charger
Using a computer or car charger instead of a wall charger can sometimes put a quick charge on your battery and get it to respond as well.Keep charging it
If you have tried these methods and your phone isn’t responsive due to its battery being drained 100% then it can be difficult to get your phone to charge again. Try charging it for at LEAST a couple hours on an outlet you know to be working, even all night if possible. Lithium ion batteries can take a while to get to charge again if drained all the way. So try charging it for a while, to see if you can get it to take a charge again.You might need a new battery
If you try these tips and suggestions or have tried all these things already and there is still no response, and your phone is completely dead and will not recognize a charger then you might need to try another battery.You can buy another battery online, again I recommend Amazon, but if you have had your phone for less than a year and the battery is not damaged in any way (check the gold leads that connect the battery to the phone and the liquid damage indicator, also check the battery for any bloating, warping, or corrosion or buildup). If your battery is in good shape and you have owned it less than a year then chances are you can get a brand new replacement battery for FREE under your manufacture warranty. So try that first because free is always in my price range.
