What to do if your phone stops charging from the charger - the main reasons

The situation when the phone does not charge can occur with both a new and an old device. It is not necessary to immediately send it in for repair or replace the battery. First you need to investigate why this happened, consider the various possible reasons. And also try to solve the problem of restoring the function yourself.

Charger

To start

We recommend that you first rule out the reasons why charging is not happening, the smartphone does not see the charger, or the lightning indicator is not on:

Damage or clogging of the connector

A clear sign is that the process starts with a slight “movement” or bending of the cable.

The cord comes off (plays, wobbles).

or the plug does not match the socket (for example, micro-USB will not fit Type-C and Lightning).

Software glitches

Android or iOS (including viruses).

Conductor fracture in cable

or “fraying” of the wire.

Using dubious Chinese “crafts” for 20 rubles

The copper strands in the cheap versions are very thin and break with little impact.

Wire too long

the shorter the length (30 cm is ideal), the less current loss. But here again it all depends on the quality.

Battery fault

swollen, overheated, wear and tear from old age, there was a blow

Burnt out power controller

or incompatibility of hardware protocols

Heavy CPU and graphics load

for example, heavy gaming or watching 4K movies.

Failure to comply with temperature conditions

The process of replenishing energy does not occur at sub-zero temperatures, more details.

Forgot to peel off the protective polymer sticker from the contacts

after purchasing a new gadget.

If the phone charges normally, but quickly discharges, the battery is temporarily worn out. The standard battery life is from 3 to 5 years (equivalent to 300-500 charge-discharge cycles), after which it begins to discharge a couple of hours after charging, or does not accept it at all.

There is another factor, if it does not charge, it means that it has become infected with a virus that causes problems in the power supply system.

Sometimes it shows that the charge level is increasing. But in reality, the battery does not take or does not respond to the supply of energy, and after disconnecting the cable, the voltage drops sharply to zero and the device turns off.

We recommend reading the article on how to properly charge modern equipment. If you have questions, write in the comments at the bottom of the article, the author will be happy to answer your questions.

How to determine the cause of the problem

Properly functioning charging is important for all devices that operate offline. You can find out why your mobile phone stopped charging by diagnosing the hardware and software.

First of all, you need to exclude an accident associated with a malfunction of the socket. The presence of current should be checked. To do this, connect another phone or household appliance to it.

It is necessary to examine the charger for functionality. Inspect the cable and adapter for damage: kinks, cracks. Replace these parts one by one (for example, taking them from another phone), and try to resume the process.

The serviceability of the cord can be checked by connecting it to a laptop USB.

Typically, a phone charges slower from a computer, but it is especially recommended to use this method when the battery is completely discharged and refuses to charge.

You can charge your mobile phone from your laptop

Often the cable connector is dirty. This problem manifests itself if the device is charged only in a specific position, the process goes wrong. To identify this cause, you will need to examine it in bright light. Mechanical damage to the port is possible. If it wobbles with slight swinging, contact with the cable during charging will be incomplete, which will affect the stability of the process.

The smartphone is not charging, what are the reasons? Other solutions:

• Sometimes the problem is a faulty battery. You need to turn off the device, open the cover and inspect the battery. It should not be deformed or have smudges.
• Malfunction in the circuits and contacts of the phone. You need to remember whether the device has been subjected to shocks, falls, or liquids getting inside.
• Failures in the OS are detected by reinstalling it and returning to factory settings. This may improve the situation.
• The presence of a virus is detected by antivirus programs.

Slow charging due to battery draining apps. Special programs can find them. In the smartphone menu there is a section “Battery Information”, where power wasters are also displayed.

Smartphone refuses to charge

Question answer

% stands still does not add

Does not charge, or the process only occurs when it is turned off:

1. There is not enough charger current. For example, the charger produces 250 mAh with the required 1000 mAh.
2. The USB cord is of extremely low quality and does not allow voltage to pass more than 4.5 volts, such a drawdown is already critical.

Cannot charge from computer/laptop via USB

• Most likely there is not enough current, for example due to artificial restrictions by the controller on the computer’s motherboard. Or the limits are triggered at the software level, you will have to look for new drivers for the USB hub of your laptop or PC.
• This can happen if the cord is old or “works every now and then.” There is a short circuit somewhere in it. This is especially true for “shaggy” iPhone cables. In general, buy a new one.
• Another trivial reason that is relevant for different variations of Type-C is protocol incompatibility. Each Type-C cord contains a small chip responsible for data and energy transfer. At the same time, there are a bunch of standards, for example, some cables can “refuel” a full-fledged laptop battery, while others can only exchange data.
• It happens that the USB connector in laptops is longer than the standard connector from a smartphone, and the hardware simply does not touch.

From the cigarette lighter

If car charging from the cigarette lighter does not work, a similar diagnosis is carried out (see previous sections), because The principle of supplying energy to the battery is the same everywhere.

From the radio

The problem is identical with a computer/laptop.

From power bank

Not charging from the power bank - a standard situation; most often the PowerBank does not have enough output current. Or it's time to buy a new power bank. In the case of Type-c, perhaps the board limits non-standard currents and does not allow charging the battery.

From wireless charging

Not all models support the wireless power transfer function. First, make sure that the manufacturer has included this functionality in your gadget.

If you are sure that wireless transmission is provided at the hardware level, but the charge is not flowing, check:

• Whether the station is not connected to the network.
• Does the device move/shift from the center of the site?
• Not wearing a thick case or magnetic dock.
• The cable is not inserted or data is not being transferred to the computer.

If this doesn’t help, check the station itself on another device; if everything works as it should on it, take your device to a workshop. Very similar to the problem with the wireless microcontroller.

Writes moisture detected

There are two options here:

1. The device fell into water or another liquid (beer, wine, juice, tea, toilet). What to do is written here.
2. There was a strong temperature difference, for example, we came from a cold place to a warm room and condensation formed on the board. Wait a couple of hours and everything will be back to normal.

How to choose a charger for a smartphone

To choose the right charger for your phone, you need to know the technical specifications:

1. Connector type: Type-C (expensive, modern models), Micro-USB (inexpensive or Chinese devices), Lightning (for iPhone and iPad),
2. Battery capacity in milliamps, usually this value is from 2000 to 4000 mAh,
3. Is there support for fast charging (Quick Charge). In this case, you can buy powerful 18 Watt (3.6 A) adapters, which allow you to fill a standard battery by 50% in about 30-40 minutes,
4. Is wireless charging possible? You can buy a special induction “platform”. The energy transfer speed will be slightly lower than that of the wired version, but it is much more convenient to use in everyday life.

Typically, a standard complete charger produces 5-10 Watts (1-2 Amperes), which is quite enough for daily use. If you don’t want to bother, just take a regular adapter, costing 300-400 rubles.

If you have any questions, watch the video instructions:

Low or high battery temperature

Sometimes a notification “Low or high temperature...” pops up on the display, this requires an explanation.

The operating temperature of modern batteries is from +3 to 45 degrees Celsius. If these values ​​are exceeded, the controller limits the flow of energy to the batteries. It is necessary to cool/heat the phone.

There was a strong blow or fall

Lithium-ion “products” do not like strong mechanical impact (vibration, shaking), and can fail due to strong shocks and falls. All you have to do is replace the module with a new one.

After a long period of non-use

To revive the equipment after a long period of non-use, during a deep discharge, use a “frog” to “push” and try to revive the battery.

Strange smelly liquid under the battery

Traces of leaks (evaporation) or the presence of a clear liquid with a pungent odor under the battery indicate leaking electrolyte. This can happen with an “almost new” power supply, even without signs of swelling and without significant drawdown of the capacity. To temporarily extend the life of the battery, removing and sealing the foil case of the lithium-ion drive with a small amount of epoxy glue will help.

Why you shouldn't puncture a swollen battery

We strongly do not recommend piercing the swollen foil case of a lithium-ion battery with a sharp object such as a needle, as this may result in:

1. Gas poisoning
2. If the outer shell is damaged and a short circuit occurs. Lithium metallization will occur in air, with rapid heating, followed by fire and explosion. There will be great fireworks.
3. Doesn't help solve the problem.

How to charge without standard charger

1. On the street outside the house (in the city) - go to any large shopping center and find a rack with a set of laces with different types of connectors (there are free and paid services).
2. Universal “Frog” - but you will have to disassemble the case of most modern devices and fold out the power cable in order to connect directly to the contacts. In any cell phone store you can find a universal charger suitable for both smartphones and iPhones. The battery can also be any.

   
   In another way it is called a “frog”, and using such a charger is very easy: We disassemble the case, take out the battery,

3. We insert the battery into the spring retainer, observing the polarity - “plus” and “minus” must match.
4. We insert the “frog” into the outlet and leave it to charge for several hours, since the current supplied will be a small 0.3-0.5 Ampere.

Non-standard methods for tourists and other extreme sports enthusiasts (do it at your own peril and risk! We do NOT recommend repeating this, it can have dire consequences):

• Lemon - insert copper contacts into the flesh of the fruit, solder wires to the ends and connect to the battery,
• Heat the battery case to 50-60 degrees with a hot knife, this will slightly “revive” the electrons inside the lithium-ion “filling”.
• Hitting a hard surface with the flat part of the battery is not an option. 50/50 it will help, or it will completely kill the battery.

More ideas:

Can I charge through headphones?

Sometimes you can come across advice like “how to charge your phone using a 2.5 or 3.5 mm headphone jack,” but this should be taken with skepticism. There are approximately 2% of devices with such an option; modern Android and iOs sold in regular stores are not capable of this.

But there are “military versions”, devices produced in limited editions to order and other variations. If the customer wishes, the factory will implement a charging function via AUX or a standard headphone jack.

On a regular “consumer mobile phone”, don’t even think about filling the battery through the wires inserted into the 2.5 or 3.5 mm headphone jack.

Ways to restore your phone's functionality

The user must maintain the charger in good working order, monitor the condition of the battery and ensure that the OS functions without failures. To fix a phone that can't charge on your own, you need to thoroughly investigate each reason. And also try to fix it.

• First, choose a properly functioning outlet.
• The cable and charger adapter are tested separately, replacing these parts with ones that are functional for the process.
• If the connector is dirty, you need to carefully clean it, after inspecting it using a backlight or a magnifying glass. The garbage must be carefully removed by turning off the device. You should also remove the battery during cleaning. Then the charging quality is checked again. The charging icon should show a stable situation.
• If there is mechanical damage to the port, it is loose, or the contacts are loose, you need to change this element by contacting a workshop. The same violation leads to damage to the controller. The failure of the board can only be diagnosed by specialists.
• If there are signs of battery failure, replace it. This is swelling of the battery, deformation, smudges. It is possible that the element functioned for more than 3 - 5 years. The smartphone could be discharged and remain without charging for a long time. Then you should connect it to the network for half an hour. After that, press and hold the power button. The device may begin to charge. It is also recommended to try restarting the system.
• If there is a malfunction of the device, circuits or contacts, contact the service center.
• Failures in the OS are corrected as follows. First you need to reboot by holding the power button for two minutes. Another method is to perform a Hard Reset, returning to factory settings. Downloaded programs and applications will be lost, but you can install them again.
• A virus has entered the system. It is recommended to install CCleaner, which removes suspicious files. And also remove unverified software that was downloaded recently.
• Charging may be slow if the OS has an application running in the background and draining battery power. There are programs that can find energy-consuming downloads and help you remove them. It is also advisable to set the “sleep mode” during charging.

When replacing the cable or power supply of the charger, you need to make sure that the technical parameters of the new elements of the original equipment correspond.

Fully charging your smartphone

Recommendations

To extend the life of your iPhone or Android phone, here are some tips you should follow:

• Do not let the gadget fall.
• Do not discharge the battery too often (no more than once every 2 months) completely to 100 percent. It is ideal to keep the level from 20% to 80%.
• Do not abuse the use of a low-power universal charger, even a new one.
• Install anti-virus protection on your phone.
• Do not leave the device in the cold or heat (operating temperature from +3 to 45 degrees).

Fast charging options

What not to do

When cleaning the connector from dirt, you should absolutely not do the following:

• Disassemble the device. And also remove the non-removable battery.
• Carry out cleaning with the mobile phone turned on.
• Use tweezers and needles, especially to a working smartphone. Contacts can burn out unnoticed.
• Push cotton wool or pour alcohol inside.
• Loosen the charging socket.

The last action (loosening) is the most common mistake. And also, when cleaning, some users check the charge level and turn on the device. After turning on your mobile phone to charge, you need to wait about 15 minutes. It is possible that the process will not start right away.

You should also not bend the cord. And if you find that the connector socket is already loose, you must take the device to a service center. You will need to solder the contacts.

You need to take the original memory

A little theory

According to science, the process of filling modern lithium-ion energy storage devices occurs in two stages:

1. The power controller chip passes direct current until the terminal voltage is between 4.2 and 4.33 volts.
2. When the calculated charge reaches approximately 85% of the full capacity, the current gradually decreases to 15-30 milliamps (at 97-100%), while the voltage is maintained at 4.2V.

What does the process look like in general?

The smartphone “understands” that it’s time to start charging when the output voltage reaches the critical limit of 3.5V-3.6V. This value corresponds to 0% on the indicator, in the usual “coordinates” in Android or iOS.

It must be remembered that the % in the upper right corner is a relative value calculated mathematically by the driver from the current output voltage value and the hypothetical capacity of the power supply. Over time, due to the aging of the element, the occurrence of irreversible chemical processes and, in general, degradation of the material, the thresholds shift downward, so calibration is required. Without this, the battery may begin to discharge abruptly (jerks), for example, work for a long time at 50-60%, and then instantly go to zero.

Main consumers in mobile technology

Now food for thought. A cell phone consists of many modules, but the main consumers in modern mobile phones are:

1. Camera - up to 600 mA,
2. Wi-Fi in network scanning mode and active data transfer - 100-300 mA,
3. Processor under active load (in our example, the CPU is used to draw maps) - 100-300 milliamps,
4. Display with maximum backlight level - 100-300 mAh,
5. GPS chip in satellite search mode - 200-300 mA,
6. Camera LED flash - 150-200 milliamps.

Taken together, this results in high energy consumption when actively using technology, for example, as a power-hungry navigator or video recorder in a car.

Total:

• if you turn on the backlit camera on your mobile phone,
• resource-intensive application with high traffic consumption,
• turn up the display brightness (especially amoled) to maximum,

Peak consumption will be 1.7 amperes per hour

If you use a 1 amp charger or a heavily damaged USB cable, the battery will be discharged rather than charged.

Is yours working properly?

If your phone stops charging, you should first visually inspect the power cord. You may find obvious signs of damage to the outer insulation of the cable. Deformation in the form of kinks and stretching should also not hide from your view. If everything is fine with the wire, and the plug has not oxidized, ask your neighbors, friends or co-worker for help, maybe one of them has exactly the same charge. Positive result - go to the store and buy a new charger, no - we move on.

Problems with the smartphone connector and its replacement

A common cause of charging problems is the gadget's USB connector. To solve them, you need to clean the contacts. If this procedure does not help, all that remains is to change the connector.

How to clean the connector

A toothpick is best for cleaning. It is made of soft wood, so the risk of damaging the connector is minimal.

Important! When cleaning, do not use force to avoid damaging the contacts.

After finishing work, use a flashlight to check if there is any dirt or small pieces left inside.

Clean the charging port

Since it is always susceptible to contamination, the charging port is one of the most vulnerable parts of your phone. Dust particles can quickly accumulate and prevent your phone from connecting to a power source.

Check your phone's charging port and if you notice a build-up of dirt or other contaminants, clean it. You can do this easily by cleaning it with a dry cotton swab. Since it is a bit delicate, you should approach it with a gentle hand.

For a better look, use a flashlight to completely inspect the charging port area. If you notice any foreign objects stuck inside, you can do more heavy-duty cleaning with a SIM eject tool or a toothpick. After thoroughly cleaning your port, try charging your phone again.

Natural ending

Falling your phone and hitting it on a hard surface, even when it is shockproof “from birth,” does not lead to anything good. As they say, luck is temporary. As a result of this kind of mechanical damage, the owner of a mobile device may encounter the following problem: the phone does not charge - it is charging. Often, due to a strong impact, a mobile phone battery fails. The visually observable indication is actually just software graphics, which, in fact, work in vain. Since the battery tanks are not refilled. There are two options: either repair the power controller of the cellular device or replace the battery. In the first case, you simply cannot do without craftsmen.

The cable or network adapter is not working

The USB cable wears out with regular use. Sometimes the conductive wire inside the cable breaks. More often, a break or tear at the soldering site occurs with cheap Chinese wires. Therefore, change the cable to one that definitely works with other devices. It is worth noting that sometimes defective cables are included in the kit.

Chargers also sometimes fail. Cheap Chinese adapters that do not have basic protection circuits often break down. An additional reason to change the network adapter is a burning smell or deformation on the case.

It is important to note that some models do not support chargers and cables other than those produced by their own manufacturer. For example, fast charging does not work on OnePlus phones without the original cable. Therefore, it is worth checking the phone’s charging via its original cable or charger.

Some phones require a cable or charger from their own manufacturer.

Accumulator battery

If the battery's energy reserve is completely depleted, it is likely that the autonomous battery has lost its starting impulse. In such a situation, you simply cannot do without a universal memory.

• Place the battery in the clamp and, observing the polarity, apply electricity to the plus and minus contacts.
• In just 5-10 minutes the battery can be inserted into the phone.

If everything is to no avail and a miracle does not happen, then the next stage of the “what to do if the phone does not charge” project will be a trip to the nearest workshop or service center.