Samsung Phone Not Charging? 10 Quick Fixes

Quick Fix

Clean the charging port with a wooden toothpick to remove lint and debris – this is the most common cause. Then try a different cable and charger. If wireless charging works but wired doesn’t, the port needs cleaning or repair.

Understanding Samsung Charging Problems

When your Samsung Galaxy phone won’t charge, you might see no response when plugged in, very slow charging, or “Moisture detected” errors. This affects all Samsung models from budget A-series to flagship S and Z series.

Common causes include dirty charging ports, damaged cables, software glitches, or battery issues. The USB-C ports on newer Samsung phones can collect pocket lint easily.

Most charging issues are fixable without repair, especially if the phone worked fine before.

Method 1: Clean the Charging Port

Power off your phone
Use a flashlight to look inside the port
Use a wooden or plastic toothpick
Gently scrape debris from the port
Don’t use metal objects
Use compressed air to blow out dust
Try charging again

Method 2: Try Different Cable and Charger

Cables are often the problem
Try your cable with another device
Try a different cable with your phone
Use Samsung original or certified chargers
Cheap cables can damage phones
Try plugging into a wall outlet, not computer

Method 3: Restart Your Phone

Press and hold Power + Volume Down
Tap Restart
Wait for phone to fully boot
Try charging after restart
Software glitches can prevent charging

Method 4: Boot to Safe Mode

Press and hold Power button
Touch and hold Power off on screen
Tap Safe mode
Phone restarts with third-party apps disabled
Try charging in Safe Mode
If it works, an app is interfering
Restart normally and uninstall recent apps

Method 5: Clear USB Settings Cache

Go to Settings > Apps
Tap three dots > Show system apps
Find USBSettings
Tap Storage > Clear cache and Clear data
Restart phone
Try charging again

Method 6: Disable Moisture Detection (If Error Shows)

If you see “Moisture detected” but port is dry
Ensure port is completely dry
Restart phone
If error persists, try wireless charging
Clear cache from Recovery Mode
Sensor may need professional reset

Method 7: Try Wireless Charging

If your Samsung supports wireless charging
Place on a Qi wireless charger
If wireless works but wired doesn’t, port is the issue
Use wireless as backup while troubleshooting
Wireless charges slower but avoids port problems

Method 8: Wipe Cache Partition

Power off the phone
Hold Volume Up + Power until logo appears
Release Power but keep holding Volume Up
In Recovery menu, use volume to select “Wipe cache partition”
Press Power to confirm
Select “Reboot system now”
Try charging after reboot

Preventing Charging Issues

Use Samsung original or certified chargers
Keep charging port clean
Don’t charge in extreme temperatures
Avoid cheap third-party cables
Don’t force the cable in if it doesn’t fit easily

FAQ

Why does my Samsung charge slowly?

Using a low-wattage charger, bad cable, background apps, or charging while using the phone. Use Samsung’s fast charger (25W+) and close apps while charging.

Why does my phone say “Moisture detected”?

The USB port has moisture sensors. Dry the port thoroughly with compressed air. Don’t blow into it – breath adds moisture. Wait a few hours if it was wet.

Can I use any USB-C charger for Samsung?

Yes, but for fastest charging use Samsung or compatible fast chargers (PD or QC). Generic chargers work but charge slower.

Why does my Samsung only charge when off?

Software or power management issue. Boot to Safe Mode, clear USB cache, or perform factory reset as last resort.

How do I know if my Samsung battery is bad?

Check Settings > Battery for battery health. If battery drains very fast, swells the phone, or won’t hold charge, it needs replacement.

Does fast charging damage the battery?

Modern Samsung phones manage fast charging safely. The phone slows charging when hot or near full. It doesn’t significantly reduce battery lifespan.