Android Phone Not Charging? 10 Fixes That Work
Quick Fix
Clean your charging port with a toothpick. Turn off your phone, shine a flashlight into the charging port, and gently remove any lint or debris with a wooden toothpick. Pocket lint is the #1 reason Android phones stop charging.
You plug in your Android phone, and nothing happens. No charging animation, no LED light, nothing. Or maybe it shows it’s charging but the battery percentage won’t go up. Either way, you’ve got a phone that won’t charge and that’s a big problem.
Before you panic and start shopping for a new phone, let’s troubleshoot this. In most cases, it’s something simple and fixable.
Why Your Android Phone Won’t Charge
There are several reasons your phone might refuse to charge:
- Dirty charging port – Lint, dust, and debris blocking the connection (most common)
- Damaged cable – Cables wear out, especially near the connectors
- Faulty power adapter – The wall plug might be dead
- Software glitches – Android bugs can interfere with charging
- Battery calibration issues – The battery meter might be wrong
- Damaged charging port – Physical damage to the phone’s port
- Bad battery – Batteries degrade over time
- Moisture in the port – Water or humidity preventing connection
How to Fix Android Phone Not Charging
1. Clean the Charging Port
This fixes the problem more often than anything else. Your phone lives in your pocket, collecting lint every day.
- Turn off your phone completely
- Shine a flashlight into the charging port and look for debris
- Use a wooden toothpick or plastic dental pick (never metal!)
- Gently scrape along the inside walls of the port
- Work the toothpick under the connector pin inside the port
- Blow out loosened debris (or use compressed air at an angle)
- Repeat until the port looks clean
- Try charging again
You might be surprised how much lint comes out. I’ve seen phones that hadn’t charged in weeks start working perfectly after a good cleaning.
2. Try a Different Cable
USB cables are the weak point in the charging system. They bend, fray, and stop working.
- Borrow a cable from someone else, or use one from another device
- Check your cable for:
- Fraying near the connectors
- Bent or damaged connector pins
- Kinks or visible damage along the cable
- Try both ends of the cable – sometimes one USB-A end goes bad
- Make sure you’re using the correct cable type (USB-C, Micro USB)
Cheap cables often die after a few months. Investing in quality cables (Anker, Belkin, or OEM) saves headaches.
3. Try a Different Power Adapter
Wall adapters can fail too, especially cheap ones.
- Try a different USB wall adapter
- Test by plugging your cable directly into a computer USB port
- Try a different wall outlet (some outlets have loose connections)
- If using a power strip, plug directly into the wall instead
If your phone charges from a computer but not the wall adapter, you’ve found the problem.
4. Restart Your Phone
A simple restart can fix software glitches that prevent charging.
- Hold the Power button for 10 seconds to force restart
- If that doesn’t work, try Power + Volume Down for 10-15 seconds
- Wait for the phone to boot completely
- Try charging again
For Samsung phones, the combo is usually Power + Volume Down held for 10 seconds.
5. Boot Into Safe Mode
Third-party apps can sometimes interfere with charging. Safe Mode disables all downloaded apps.
To enter Safe Mode:
- Press and hold the Power button
- When you see the power menu, tap and hold “Power off”
- Tap “OK” or “Safe Mode” when prompted
- Your phone will restart with “Safe Mode” in the corner
- Try charging in Safe Mode
If it charges in Safe Mode, a third-party app is causing the problem. Uninstall recently added apps or do a factory reset.
6. Check for Moisture
If your phone got wet or you’ve been in a humid environment, moisture might be preventing charging.
- Check if your phone shows a moisture warning (Samsung and other phones have this)
- Let the phone sit in a dry environment for several hours
- Don’t use a hair dryer – the heat can damage components
- Place the phone near (not on) a warm surface, charging port facing down
- A fan blowing across the port can help evaporate moisture faster
Never try to charge a phone that’s showing a moisture warning – you can short-circuit the port.
7. Try Wireless Charging (If Available)
If your phone supports wireless charging, this can tell you whether the problem is with the port or something else.
- Place your phone on a wireless charger
- If it charges wirelessly but not via cable, the charging port is likely damaged
- If it doesn’t charge wirelessly either, the problem might be the battery or software
8. Check Battery Health and Calibrate
Sometimes your battery is actually charging, but the meter is wrong.
To calibrate your battery:
- Let your phone drain to 0% and shut off
- Leave it off for an hour
- Charge to 100% while powered off (if possible) or powered on
- Leave it plugged in for an extra hour after hitting 100%
- Restart your phone
Check battery health:
- Samsung: Settings > Battery > Battery Status
- Other Android: Install AccuBattery app from Play Store
- If battery health is below 80%, it might need replacement
9. Clear Cache Partition (Samsung)
Corrupted system cache can cause all sorts of weird issues, including charging problems.
- Turn off your phone
- Hold Volume Up + Power until you see the Samsung logo
- Use volume buttons to navigate to “Wipe cache partition”
- Press Power to select
- Confirm and wait for it to complete
- Select “Reboot system now”
This doesn’t delete your data – just temporary system files.
10. Factory Reset (Last Resort)
If nothing else works and you suspect software issues, a factory reset can help. Back up your data first!
- Go to Settings > System > Reset options
- Tap “Erase all data (factory reset)”
- Follow the prompts to reset
- Set up your phone fresh and test charging before restoring data
Hardware Problems
If none of the software fixes work, you might have a hardware issue:
- Damaged charging port – Can often be replaced relatively cheaply ($30-80 at a repair shop)
- Failed battery – Batteries typically last 2-3 years before degrading significantly
- Motherboard issues – Rare, but possible with water damage or drops
At this point, get a professional diagnosis. Many phone repair shops offer free diagnostics.
FAQ
Why does my phone say it’s charging but the battery doesn’t increase?
This usually means you’re using a low-power charger while the phone is consuming more power than it’s receiving. Use a higher wattage charger, or charge with the screen off. Could also be a dying battery that can’t hold a charge.
Is it bad to use my phone while charging?
It generates more heat, which isn’t great for battery longevity, but it won’t damage your phone immediately. If your phone gets very hot while charging and using, give it a break.
Can I use any USB-C charger for my phone?
Yes, USB-C is standardized. However, to get fast charging speeds, you need a charger that supports your phone’s fast charging protocol (like Samsung’s Super Fast Charging, OnePlus Warp, etc.).
My phone only charges when I hold the cable a certain way – what’s wrong?
This usually means the charging port is worn out or damaged. The connector inside isn’t making solid contact anymore. A repair shop can replace the port, or you can switch to wireless charging if your phone supports it.
Wrapping Up
Nine times out of ten, an Android phone that won’t charge just needs its port cleaned or a new cable. Those two fixes solve most charging problems. Take five minutes to clean the port thoroughly – you’ll probably be surprised how much debris comes out.
If cleaning and cable swapping don’t work, work through the software fixes. Factory reset is a pain but often solves mysterious issues. And if nothing works, don’t throw the phone away – charging port repairs are usually affordable and quick.
