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

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. Check to make sure that you are not using counterfeit accessories

Find out more about the different types of USB cables.

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
Samsung Members app icon
2 Tap Support
Support selected in Samsung Members app
3 Tap View tests
View tests selected in support section of members app
4 Tap 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

Cable charging and Battery status selected in tests section of Members app

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

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

4 If the charging port is still clogged, take it to a professional to be cleaned

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:

1 Open Settings
Open settings
2 Tap Apps
Apps selected in Settings menu
3 Tap the filter icon

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

Filter icon selected in Apps section of settings menu
4 Tap the switch to show system apps then tap OK
Switch and OK selected in settings menu popup
5 Scroll down, then tap USBSettings
USBSettings selected in apps menu
6 Tap Storage
Storage selected in USBSettings menu
7 Tap Clear data and Clear cache
Clear data and Clear cache selected in Storage menu of USBSettings

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.

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.

Power and volume down keys selected

Please note: The key combinations may differ slightly depending on the model of your device.

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: 

1 Open Settings
Open settings app
2 Tap Software update
Software update selected in Settings menu
3 Tap Download and install
Download and install selected in Software update menu

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 book a repair to get your device fixed.

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.

Smartphone and Smartwatch charging on wireless charger

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.

How to share power on your phone How to share power on your 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.

To reboot your device in safe mode, take the following steps:

1 Press and hold the power button or button combination you use to turn off your device until the power off screen appears
2 Tap and hold the Power off icon until the option for Safe mode appears
Power off selected in Power off menu
3 Tap Safe mode
Safe mode selected in Power off menu
4 The device will switch on in Safe mode. "Safe mode" will be displayed on the bottom left of the screen

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.

Troubleshoot your issue and book a repair

Troubleshoot your issue and book a repair

Need help with your product? Try our online troubleshooter to resolve the problem. If it hasn’t solved the issue you’re experiencing, you can book a repair online too.

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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