Work through these fixes in order. They’re all safe, and most take less than a minute.
1. Try a different cable and charger
Cables fail far more often than phones. Test your cable and charger on another device, then charge your phone with a cable and power adapter you know work. Apple and Google both list this as the first step.
2. Plug into a wall outlet
Laptop USB ports, car chargers and power strips can deliver too little power to charge a phone, especially a fully drained one. Use a wall outlet you know works.
3. Clean the charging port carefully
Lint builds up over months and stops the cable from seating fully. If the plug feels loose or won’t click in, this is the likely cause.
- Turn the phone off first
- Look into the port with a flashlight
- Gently lift debris out with a wooden toothpick
- Never use metal, and don’t blow into the port
4. Take the case off
Thick cases can stop the cable from going all the way in, and they block wireless charging. Remove the case and any magnetic accessories or grips, then try again.
5. Leave it on the charger for 30 minutes
A completely drained battery can take several minutes before the phone shows any sign of life. Apple and Google both recommend charging for about half an hour before deciding it isn’t working.
6. Force restart the phone
A frozen phone can look like a dead one.
| Phone | How to force restart |
|---|---|
| iPhone 8 or newer | Press and release volume up, press and release volume down, then hold the side button until the Apple logo appears |
| Google Pixel | Hold the power button for several seconds until it restarts |
| Most other Android phones | Hold power and volume down together until it restarts |
7. Let it cool down
Phones limit or pause charging when they’re hot. Unplug it, move it somewhere cool and out of the sun, and try again in a few minutes.
8. Check for liquid
If your phone warns that liquid was detected, unplug it, dry the outside, and leave it somewhere dry for at least 30 minutes before charging again. Don’t put it in rice or use a hair dryer.
9. Update the software
Once it has some charge, install any available system update. Updates sometimes fix charging bugs and battery reporting errors.
When it’s time for a repair
Otherwise, if nothing above worked, the charging port or battery is the likely problem. Both are usually among the cheaper repairs. Check typical prices for your model with our free repair cost estimator before you visit a shop.
