HOW TO FIX A PHONE THAT WON'T CHARGE
PROPERLY(1)
If your battery isn't charging properly,
don't immediately assume your phone charger or your battery is broken. Based on
personal experience, the problem – and solution – may be much simpler than you think.
If your phone or tablet isn't charging properly or at all, take a look at these
12 ways to fix a phone that won't charge.
Why
a phone doesn't charge
The problem occurs in various degrees.
Either your phone won't charge at all when it is plugged in, or it will only
charge very slowly (sometimes barely faster than it is discharging). It’s a
very common complaint, so here are a few solutions.
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Most charging problems are related to your
USB cable or charger, or even the port itself.
1.
Do-It-Yourself USB port fix
The quickest, easiest, and often most
successful solution, is to do a little DIY repair on your actual hardware. The
problem is often that the metallic surfaces inside the USB port and the
microUSB charger are not making good contact, either through a manufacturing
defect or because of the continual plugging and unplugging of the charging
cable.
All you need to do is shut down your
device, remove the battery if possible and use something small, such as a
toothpick, to 'lever up' the little tab inside the USB port on your smartphone
or tablet. Do so very carefully and gently, then reinsert your battery and plug
it in again. Nine times out of 10 this is all that is required.
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Check the 'tab' inside your device's USB
port – the cable may not be making contact properly.
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2. Remove lint, candy and dust
Do you keep your phone in the pocket of
your jeans? If so, lint could be the culprit: we've lost track of the number of
times the reason for unreliable USB charging turned out to be lint from the pocket
of our Levis.
We've seen phones with charging ports
choked with chocolate after they were chucked in a handbag alongside a packet
of sweets. A can of compressed air can blow out the offending irritants and get
your USB connection back to normal.
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Clear any gunk that might be clogging your
phone's ports.
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3.
Switch cables
The flimsiest part of a charger is the
cable, not the adapter that plugs into the wall socket. Apple users are
particularly vulnerable here because Apple's proprietary (and expensive)
Lightning cables appear to have a life expectancy of around 15 minutes. But all
cables have a tough life, and endless flexing and curling can take its toll.
Substituting a random USB cable for the one that came with your phone is
another shortcut to an unenjoyable charging experience.
The easiest way to diagnose a faulty cable
is to try a different one and see if that works properly with your device. If
it does, you know the original cable was at fault. If it doesn't, that's
another potential villain we've ruled out.
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Cables are easily damaged. Apple Lightning
ones especially so.
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4.
Diagnose a dodgy adapter
If the cable doesn't seem to be the
problem, check the wall plug adapter – especially if it's one where the
charging cable can be removed. We've encountered issues in multiple chargers
where the USB port becomes a little loose after endlessly plugging in and
unplugging the cable.
Also check whether the same charger/cable
combination works on a different device because this will help you eliminate
the possibility that it is your device at fault, rather than the cable or
charger. You should also make sure there isn't a problem with your wall socket.
5.
Remember – safety first
Don't charge your phone near water or in
excessively hot or humid conditions. Also, if you're replacing a charger or
cable, be wary: the internet is stuffed with reports of cheap third-party
chargers that went bang in the middle of the night or turned smartphones into
toast. As with any electrical equipment, make sure that anything you buy
complies with all the relevant safety standards.
Charging a battery does generate heat and,
if a smartphone is in a tight space – like under a pillow or inside a case –
there is a chance it could become too hot. Essentially, if you're going to
charge your phone overnight, just make sure it's out in a safe place.
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If you are going to replace your battery,
try to purchase an official one.
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6.
Replace the battery
Batteries don't last forever, and after a
couple of years they start to struggle to hold a charge. The more often you
discharge and recharge them, the sooner they'll need replacing. If your
battery's busted after just six months, it's probably faulty and you should
make a warranty claim for a free replacement, but if the battery's older than
two years, it's probably approaching the end of its lifespan.
Some defective batteries are easy to spot
because they start to bulge or leak fluid. If nothing like that is obvious from
the outside, remove your device's cover and inspect the battery (if you can;
some devices have sealed battery compartments).
If the cover doesn't come off, you could
try laying the device on its back and spinning it. A bulging battery will
deform the case – you might not be able to see this bulge, but it might be
enough to allow your phone to spin. If you suspect your battery might be swollen
or leaking, get your phone to a repair shop and buy a reputable replacement.
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