"Why won't my cell phone charge?" See, I've been there. I know how it feels to plug in your phone only to find out, after several hours, that it's not charging. It’s a pain in the ass, especially if you need to leave home as soon as possible.
An Android phone that won't charge is problematic because you can't use it again once the battery runs down. However, you don't need to panic. We'll reveal some reasons why your phone isn't charging in this article, and also help you find solutions to them. Let’s get rolling!
Why Won’t My Cell Phone Charge
Many people have asked the same question, and its answer is usually similar nine out of ten times. Several reasons may hinder your phone from charging, but here are the most prominent.
- Faulty charging brick and cable.
- Defective power source.
- Weak/damaged battery.
- Dirty/faulty charging port.
- Software issues
- Hardware issues like faulty motherboard, water damage, etc.
Now that we’ve shed light on “Why won’t my cell phone charge,” it’s time to fix the notorious problem!
How to Fix When the Phone Won’t Charge
Try the tips below one after the other to fix your phone’s charging problem. If one didn’t do the trick, try the next.
1. Confirm the Power Source Is Working
Before swaying here and there trying to fix your phone's charging issue, we recommend you confirm your power source is working. Your phone won't charge if the charger can't tap power from the power source.
To make things easier, plugin another electrical appliance to the power socket to check if it’s working. If the gadget still doesn't work, then the socket is faulty. Take your charger to other power sources in your house.
2. Check Your Charger and USB Cable.
Besides the power source, your charging brick and USB cable are the next most prominent culprits to why you have to charge issues on your phone. And while charging bricks lasts longer in most cases, it's not the same for charging cables since they usually go through a lot of bending, twisting, and many unrealistic conditions.
- To fix the charging problem, swap to a new USB cord.
- If it's still not charging, try using another compatible charging brick while swapping between the old and new charging cables.
- If they're still not working accordingly, try using the complete charger to charge other Android devices. You can also try charging your phone from other USB ports like your computer or power bank. Doing so will help you know if the charging issues are from your phone or the charger.
Your charger and USB cable can get damaged at times. If you confirm them as the cause of your charging problem, get a replacement from a reputable brand. We recommend going for a charger specified for your phone to avoid charging issues. You'll likely find them at your brand's official stores, like Carlcare stores, if you use a TECNO, Infinix, or itel device.
3. Restart Your Phone
Causes of phone battery charging issues are not limited to hardware problems; they’re sometimes software anomalies and occasional hiccups. To rule out any of these "occasional hiccups," try restarting your phone to refresh its system.
Rebooting has helped fix many smartphone issues, and it might just help in this case.
- Press and hold the power button to show the power menu.
- Tap Restart from there to reboot your phone.
On most Android phones, you can also try pressing the power button for about 10 seconds to perform a force reboot. Charge your phone once again after rebooting it to see if it works.
4. Clean Your Phone Charging Port
A dirty/cluttered charging port is another reason your phone won’t charge. If there is dirt, lint, water, moisture, or any other foreign particle inside your phone’s charging port, it won’t be able to tap power from your charging cable appropriately, hence leading to your phone not charging.
Fixing it is not that hard, though. All you need is to clean the USB port, and hopefully, it'll sort out the problem. You can do that with a can of compressed air or a non-metallic object like a toothpick.
We've covered an extensive guide on how to remove debris from your phone's charging port. Kindly check out the comprehensive guide to avoid damaging your phone’s charging port while cleaning it.
5. Update Your Phone Software
Besides all, software bugs can also be a reason for your phone not to charge. As said earlier, it’s not all about hardware issues. To rule out the battery charging problem being a software issue, install the latest software updates for your device:
- Open the Settings app
- Scroll to the bottom and tap System
- Select System Update (or Software Update)
- Check for updates, then download and install them if available.
While inquiring about "why won't my cell phone charge," keep in mind that it's not always about a hardware issue. Always update your phone to avoid unexpected issues.
Why Is My Phone Not Charging When It’s Plugged In?
If you plug in your phone and it indicates it's charging, but the battery percentage is not increasing, that could result from issues ranging from a faulty USB cable to a dirty charging port, a weak battery, and others.
- To fix the issue, start by using another charger (charging brick and USB cable)
- If it's still not charging properly, clean your phone’s charging port.
- If that didn’t help, too, we recommend taking a deeper look at the phone battery.
If you have a removable battery remove and access it for physical damages or replace the battery to check if it fixes the issue. If your phone has an inbuilt battery, visit a technician to diagnose and resolve the issues altogether.
Circumstances like the battery not charging, the phone getting hot, the phone swelling, the battery draining fast, and the rest are signs of damage to the battery. If your phone is still not charging after trying all the fixes above, chances are you can't fix it by yourself anymore. Consider seeking professional help.
Android Help When the Phone Won’t Charge Or Turn On
If your phone won’t charge or turn on, it’s probably beyond what you can fix at home. It could’ve resulted from a damaged battery, faulty motherboard, faulty charging port, and other related problems that require technical fixes.
If your phone won’t charge or turn on, try charging it with another recommended charger for several hours. But if still doesn't respond to charging, it's time to visit the nearest phone repair shop.
How to Locate the Nearest Phone Repair Shop
There are a countless number of phone repair shops across the streets. But since you can't decipher which is reliable or not, it's better to find an official service center near you. That's where you get the peace of mind that you're not leaving your phone in the wrong hands.
Fortunately, if your TECNO, Infinix, or itel device isn’t charging appropriately, Carlcare, their official after-sales service provider is always near you. Here’s how to locate the nearest phone repair shop for your TECNO, Infinix, and itel devices:
- Open the Carlcare app on your phone or get it from the Play Store
- Sign in to your account or sign up for a new one.
- Tap Location in the bottom tabs of the homepage.
- Tap Allow when the app seeks permission to get your device’s location.
- That’s it! You’ll see a list of all Carlcare service centers near you.
Alternatively, you can also find a phone repair shop near you without using the Carlcare app.
How to Book a Phone Repair Service
Repairing a smartphone is stressful when you don’t book an appointment. To skip over the long queues, save time and energy, and get your phone repaired without hassle, Carlcare's Online Reservation service is the way to go.
It allows you to book a repair appointment with us, hence reducing all sorts of friction you may have. Besides saving time at the repair center, you can also drop off your phone for fixing and get it when we’re done. It’s that easy.
Here’s how to book a phone repair appointment with Carlcare:
- Visit our Online Repair Reservation
- Fill out the reservation form.
- Tap Submit when you’re done and take a screenshot of the ticket for reference.
- Visit the select service center at the appointed time to repair your phone without hazel.
Final Thoughts
“Why won’t my cell phone charge” has been a major issue smartphone users face for ages. But thankfully, it's usually not a death sentence to the phone. By following all the tips and tricks mentioned above, you sure should've found a fix to this problem.
