What to do if your phone is not charging
There are several reasons why your phone might not charge, and most can be fixed without any extra support. The most common reasons for a phone failing to charge are:
- A faulty cable, charger, socket or adapter
- Dirt or debris in the charging port
- Third party apps interrupting the charging process
- A software update is required
Find out what to do if your tablet is not charging.
If you have determined that your charging cable or plug is not working or needs replacing, you can buy a new one from our accessories page.
Check your charger
The first step is to check to see if the problem is related to your charger or charging cable.
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. Check to make sure that you are not using counterfeit accessories.
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.
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.
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.
Run a test using Samsung Members
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.
Please note: you will need to connect your charger in order to check cable charging
Clean the charging port
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:
Please note: do not insert any object into the charging port. This can result in damage to the charging port.
Check for water and moisture
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:
Please note: in older versions of Android "system apps" can be found from the options icon (three vertical dots).
Once you've cleared your cache and data, try charging your phone again to see if this has resolved your issue.
For further tips on how to remove water from your phone read our article on what to do if your phone gets wet or our FAQ on what to do if the water drop icon will not go away.
Reboot your device
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.
Please note: The key combinations may differ slightly depending on the model of your device.
Update your software
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:
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.'
Check for damage
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 book a repair to get your device fixed.
Try a wireless charger
If you think the problem is related to wired charging and you have a wireless charging compatible device, try charging your device using a wireless charger. Make sure to remove any cases or covers first and lay the back of your device onto the wireless charger, making sure to line up the charging coils to establish the strongest possible connection.
Try Wireless PowerShare
Wireless PowerShare lets you charge your device using another Qi enabled device without the need for a charger. To charge your device wirelessly you will need a wireless charging compatible device.
Read our FAQ "How to use Wireless PowerShare" for help if you are trying to charge your device using Wireless PowerShare.
Run your phone in safe mode
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.
To reboot your device in safe mode, take the following steps:
For further steps on how to enter and exit safe mode and how to test your device in safe mode read our article on how to start your galaxy device in safe mode.
If none of the suggestions above resolve your issue, you can book a repair or visit your closest Samsung Service Centre for further assistance.
If you're experiencing unusual behaviour on Samsung mobiles, tablets or wearables, you can send us an error report or ask us a question in the Samsung Members app.
This allows us to take a closer look at what is happening. The data is anonymised and only held for the duration of the investigation. Find out more about sending an error report through the Samsung Members app.
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