Android phone not charging or charging slowly: how to fix it

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An Android phone that won't charge is most often a cable, adapter or dirty port problem, and sometimes a software hang or a fully drained battery. Restart the phone, swap the cable and adapter, clean the port, then try the manual reset steps below. If none of that works, the port or battery may need repair.

Applies to:Android phonesPixel and other Android devicesSamsung GalaxyMenu names vary by model and One UI version
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What it means

When an Android phone doesn't charge, the cause is usually something small and outside the phone: a worn cable, a weak adapter, or lint packed into the charging port. Less often it's a software hang, a safety block (Samsung describes this for moisture and heat) or a real hardware fault.

The symptom shows up in several ways, so start with what you actually see. Work through the fixes in order, because the early ones are quick and harmless. Light patterns, button combinations and menu names differ between manufacturers, so if your phone behaves differently from what is described here, check your manufacturer's own documentation.

Symptoms and causes

You are likely dealing with this problem if:

  • No battery icon appears after you plug the phone in.
  • A solid red light (battery fully drained) or a flashing red light (not enough power to start).
  • The phone charges very slowly, stops early, or only works with certain cables or ports.
  • A "Check charging accessory" or moisture notification appears.
  • The phone is hot and charging pauses.

The usual causes, most common first:

Damaged, non-genuine or unsupported cable or adapter
This is the most common cause and can trigger a "Check charging accessory" message. A cable that isn't fully seated, or a bad outlet or port, has the same effect.
Dust or lint in the charging port
Debris stops the connector from sitting properly in the phone.
Moisture in the port
Samsung says its phones block charging on purpose until the port dries, even on water-resistant models.
Heat
Samsung says charging pauses or slows when the phone is too hot.
Charging settings
Fast charging may be off, battery protection may cap the charge level, or you may be charging from a PC or standard USB port, which limits speed.
Fully drained battery
A completely empty battery needs a longer wait before the phone responds.
Software hang
The phone is stuck and a restart or forced reboot clears it.
Unapproved wireless charger
Google recommends a wireless charger approved for your Pixel model.
Hardware fault
A damaged port, battery or screen needs repair.

How to fix it

Work through these in order. They start with the quickest, safest checks and move to deeper repairs; stop as soon as the problem is gone.

1.Restart the phone

Easy

A software hang can stop the phone from recognising the charger, and a restart clears it.

  1. Hold the power button for 5 to 7 seconds, then choose to restart the phone.
  2. Plug the charger in again once it has started.

2.Check the cable, adapter and outlet

Easy

Faulty accessories are the most common cause.

  1. Unplug the cable and plug it back in firmly at both ends.
  2. Try a different cable, a different adapter and a different outlet.
  3. Test your own cable and adapter on another device to see whether they are the problem.
  4. Use genuine or certified accessories. If you use a wireless charger on a Pixel, use one approved for your model.

3.Clean the charging port

EasyChanges settings

Dust or lint can keep the connector from making contact.

Before you start: Turn the phone off before you look into or clean the port.

  1. Turn the phone off.
  2. Look into the port with a flashlight to see whether there is dust or lint.
  3. Gently blow air into the port to clear it, then try charging again.

4.Deal with moisture or heat (Samsung guidance)

Easy

Samsung says its Galaxy phones can refuse to charge when the port is wet or the phone is too hot. These steps come from Samsung's support page, and Google's page does not cover them.

  1. If a moisture notification appears, disconnect the cable. Shake the phone gently and wipe it with a soft cloth.
  2. Leave the phone in a ventilated place with cool air and do not charge it until the port is fully dry.
  3. If the phone is hot, let it cool down, then charge it again.

5.Check charging settings (Samsung Galaxy)

Easy

Slow charging is sometimes just a setting or the wrong power source.

Before you start: Menu names can differ by model. From the Galaxy S23 series, Fast charging and Super fast charging are merged into one setting.

  1. Open Settings > Battery > Charging settings and turn on Fast charging and Fast wireless charging.
  2. Open Settings > Battery > Battery protection and change the option or turn it off if the charge level stops early.
  3. Charge from a wall adapter instead of a PC or a standard USB port.

6.Try the manual reset (Google method)

Moderate

This helps when the phone shows no sign of life or a drained battery needs time to recover.

  1. Plug in a working cable and charger on a working outlet and wait 1 minute.
  2. If a battery icon appears, the phone is off and charging. If you see a solid or flashing red light, charge it for at least 30 minutes.
  3. If there is no icon and no light, the problem may be the screen rather than charging. See the blank screen steps below.

7.Try the advanced reset (Google method)

Moderate

Use this if the manual reset did nothing.

Before you start: Button combinations vary by model, so check your manufacturer's documentation if these do not match.

  1. Option 1: connect the phone to a powered-on computer for 10 to 15 minutes. Unplug and replug the cable within 10 seconds. A battery icon should appear within a minute. Charge for at least 30 minutes, then hold the power button to restart.
  2. Option 2: while the phone is plugged in, hold Volume Down and Power together for at least 20 seconds.
  3. If you see a red light, charge for 30 minutes, hold the power button, then tap Restart.
  4. If you see the Android robot with "Start", press Volume Down to select Power off, charge for 30 minutes, then hold the power button to restart.

8.Check whether the screen is the real problem

Moderate

A phone can charge fine while its screen stays blank.

  1. Hold the power button for about 35 seconds to force a reboot, then wait about 2 minutes.
  2. Call the phone from another phone, or use Find Hub, to see whether it rings.
  3. If it rings but the screen stays blank, contact an authorized repair center.

9.Get the phone checked by an authorized service center

Easy

If charging still fails after all of the above, the port or battery may be faulty, and Samsung says persistent charging problems can point to a hardware fault.

  1. Contact your manufacturer or an authorized service center and describe what you have already tried.

Check that it worked

  • A charging indicator or battery icon appears within a minute of plugging in.
  • The battery percentage rises steadily and does not stop early.
  • The phone charges with your normal cable and adapter.

If it still fails

  • If the phone rings when called but the screen stays blank, treat it as a screen fault and go to an authorized repair center.
  • If you get no response after the reset steps and a long charge with known-good accessories, the port or battery likely needs repair.
  • If the phone only charges at an angle or with a particular cable, the port may be worn. Have it inspected rather than forcing the cable.

Sources

  1. Fix an Android device that won't charge or turn onOfficial · Google Android Help
  2. Why your Samsung Galaxy device may appear to be charging slowly or not charging at allOfficial · Samsung Ireland

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