What to do if your Galaxy phone is not charging

Last Update date : 2023-10-20

When your phone refuses to charge, there could be various underlying reasons, and the good news is that many of these issues can be resolved without seeking additional support. The most frequent culprits for charging problems include a malfunctioning cable, charger, power socket, or adapter, the presence of dirt or debris within the charging port, interruptions caused by third-party apps, or a software update requirement. In this guide, we will explore these common issues and how to address them to ensure your phone charges smoothly.

Mobile charging

Note: Before you try the recommendations below, be sure to check if your device's software and related apps are updated to the latest version. 

The first step is to check to see if the problem is related to your charger or charging cable. 

1 Are you using an official charger?

Although most phone chargers and charging cables look similar, there can be a huge difference between their quality and charging speed. It is always recommended to use an official Samsung charging cable as these have been specially made for your device and are designed to maximise battery life. 

Using an unofficial charger can cause damage to your phone. Official have the correct voltage for your device, whereas alternative chargers may operate to a different voltage.

2 Check for damage

If you're using an official charger, check to ensure that there isn't any damage to the cable or plug. If you notice any damage, stop using the charger immediately.

3 Try a different cable and plug.

Even if there is no obvious physical damage to the cable or the plug, try using a combination of different cables and plugs to eliminate these as a potential problem. To make sure that your cable / plug works, you can also try using it to charge a different device.

4 Try a different power source.

Once you are sure that your cable / plug works, try plugging them in to a different power source. For example, connect the charger to a power socket rather than a laptop or PC.

You can use Samsung Members to run a test on your battery and charging port. This will check for any issues. Watch the video and follow the steps below to find out how to run a test.

1 Open the Samsung Members app and then Tap Get Help.
Samsung member ap Samsung member ap

Step 1.Open the Samsung Members app

Tap Get Help Tap Get Help

Step 2.Tap Get Help.

View test View test

Step 3.TapView tests.

Battery Battery

Step 4Tap on Battery status and then Cable charging to check your hardware

Please note: you will need to connect your charger in order to check cable charging

One of the most common causes of charging problems is dirt, dust, or debris building up in the charging port. This can prevent the cable from engaging properly with the charging contacts in the port, causing charging problems.

Follow the steps below to clean your charging port:

1 Power off your device.
2 Shine a torch into the charging port and look inside. If you can see dust or dirt, especially if it is covering the metal charging contacts, the charging port needs cleaning
3 Try gently blowing into the charging port to remove dust and debris
4 If the charging port is still clogged, take it to a professional to be cleaned

Please note: Do not insert any object into the charging port. This can result in damage to the charging port.

Your device will not charge if it detects water or moisture in the USB port. This is a security measure to protect the device from damage and corrosion. If your device has detected water in the charging port, it will sometimes display a waterdrop icon on the screen above the charging port. If you see the waterdrop icon, make sure that your device is turned off while it dries.

Please note: It is not always obvious when water has entered your phone. Just exposing your phone to a humid environment can cause water to enter the phone, even if there is no visible sign.

Most moisture will evaporate by itself within a few hours, but you can also try blowing gently on the port or exposing it to cool dry air. If the waterdrop icon has still not disappeared but you are sure the charging port is dry, try turning your device off and on again. 

If the icon remains after this and your device still has power, clear the cache for USB:

filter filter

Step 1.Open Settings, Tap Tap Apps, then Tap the filter icon

System app System app

Step 2.Tap the switch to show system apps then tap OK.

Tap Storage Tap Storage

Step 3.Scroll down, then tap USBSettings, and then Tap Storage

Tap Clear data and Clear cache Tap Clear data and Clear cache

Step 4.Tap Clear data and Clear cache

Once you've cleared your cache and data, try charging your phone again to see if this has resolved your issue.

Please note: in older versions of Android "system apps" can be found from the options icon (three vertical dots).

If your phone still has power remaining, try a soft reboot. This will allow the device to reset its temporary memory and will help you determine if the problem is software related. To perform the reboot press and hold the Power and Volume Down keys until the device restarts.

Software updates are regularly released by Samsung and can solve a range of device software problems. If your phone still has power follow the steps below: 

  • Open Settings.
  • Tap Software update.
  • Tap Download and install.

 

Your device will check for available updates. If there is an update for your device, you will be asked to download and install it. If there are no updates available your device will display that 'Your software is up to date.'

Physical damage such as a cracked screen or case may affect the performance of your device. You should also check your charging port for any signs of damage.

Insert a charging cable into the charging port of your phone. The charging cable should fit snugly into the port and should not feel loose. Using a torch, look inside the charging port to check for any damage.

If your charging port is damaged, you can visit the nearest Samsung authorized service centers to get your device fixed

If you suspect that the issue is related to wired charging, and you have a device that is compatible with wireless charging, consider trying to charge your device wirelessly. Before doing so, be sure to remove any cases or covers from your device. Place the back of your device on the wireless charger, ensuring that the charging coils align for the most robust connection.

Wireless PowerShare enables you to charge your device using another Qi-enabled device, eliminating the need for a traditional charger. To utilize wireless charging, you must have a device that supports wireless charging.

For assistance with charging your device via Wireless PowerShare, please refer to our FAQ titled How to use PowerShare on your Galaxy phone

Safe mode allows you to use your phone on its original interface without third-party applications. This means that any apps or downloads that may be affecting your phone can be isolated and prevented from causing issues, allowing you to identify problems easier. To find out more about how safe mode works read our article on how to start your galaxy device in safe mode.

Note: If you have any questions after verifying the above-mentioned solutions, please call our contact center to get help with your inquiry. Our helpful agents will be there to help you.

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