Why Is My Phone Not Charging? How to Find the Cause and Fix It

If your phone is not charging, the cause is almost always one of four cheap things. A worn cable, a weak or broken adapter, a dead outlet, or a charging port packed with pocket lint. You can test all four in about five minutes with parts you already own.

Only after those check out should you worry about the battery or the phone itself. And if your phone charges fine but stops at 80 percent, it is probably not broken at all.

The Short Answer

Swap one part at a time. Cable first, then adapter, then outlet.
Check the port. Lint is the most overlooked cause, and it is easy to clear.
Give it time. A fully drained phone can sit on the charger for a while before it shows any sign of life.
Force restart. A frozen phone can look like it is not charging.
Know the normal stops. An 80 percent limit or a warm phone pausing is a feature, not a fault.
Respect the water warning. Dry it in open air, and skip the rice.

Find the Cause in Five Minutes

Do these in order. Change only one thing at a time, so you know what fixed it.

Test the Cable

Look along the whole cable, especially near both plugs. Bends, frays and loose ends are common. Apple says not to use a damaged cable or adapter at all. Then try a cable that you know works with another phone.

Test the Adapter and Outlet

Plug the adapter straight into a wall outlet, not a power strip, a laptop or a car port. Apple suggests a wall outlet and firm connections between the cable, adapter and outlet. Google suggests plugging a lamp into the outlet to prove it has power. Then test your adapter and cable on another device. If they fail there too, you found the problem.

Power matters as well. Google says a Pixel charges best on a Google 30 watt USB-C adapter or another PPS adapter rated 30 watts or more. Other USB PD adapters should be at least 15 watts. An old 5 watt cube from a drawer may barely keep up.

Check the Charging Port

This is the fix most people never try. Lint and dust get packed into the bottom of the port every time you push a plug in. After a while the plug cannot go in all the way.

Turn the phone off.
Shine a flashlight into the port. Look for gray fuzz at the back.
Gently loosen it with a wooden or plastic toothpick and tip the phone so it falls out.
Never use a pin, a paper clip or anything metal. Do not scrape the contacts.

A good sign you had lint is that the plug now clicks in deeper than before. Both Apple and Google list cleaning debris from the port as a standard step.

Take the Case Off

Some thick cases keep a plug from seating fully, and almost any case can upset a wireless charger. Google says to remove the case and any battery pack, ring holder or magnetic accessory, then center the phone on the pad.

If the Phone Looks Completely Dead

A phone with a fully drained battery can stay dark for a while after you plug it in. That is normal.

iPhone. Apple says to let it charge for half an hour. If it still will not turn on, force restart it. On iPhone 8 or later, press and release volume up, press and release volume down, then press and hold the side button until the Apple logo appears. Let it charge for another half hour.
Pixel. Google says a drained Pixel that has not been used in a long time may show no response for up to 25 minutes on the charger. Plug it in with a cable and adapter you know work. If no battery icon shows, hold the power button for about 35 seconds to restart it.
The ring test. Google suggests calling the phone from another phone. If it rings but the screen stays black, the phone has power and the problem is the screen, not the charging.

If the phone still shows nothing after all that, it needs a repair check. Apple says a device that still will not power on or charge may need service, and Google says the same if there is no response after 25 minutes.

Charging Stops at 80 Percent

This is the most common "not charging" complaint that is not really a fault.

On iPhone, Apple's Optimized Battery Charging learns your routine and may wait to charge past 80 percent until just before you usually unplug. It only kicks in when your iPhone expects to sit on the charger for a long time, like overnight.

On iPhone 15 and later, there may also be a Charge Limit. Open Settings, then Battery, then Charging. Apple lets you pick a limit from 80 to 100 percent in 5 percent steps. Even with a limit set, Apple says the phone will sometimes charge to 100 percent to keep its battery estimate accurate.

On iPhone 14 and earlier, the switch is under Settings, then Battery, then Battery Health and Charging.

On Pixel, Adaptive Charging works the same way. Google says slow charging above 80 percent is expected when it is on.

When it is hot, Apple says software might limit charging above 80 percent if the phone gets too warm. Move the phone and charger somewhere cooler, out of the sun and off the bed, and it will start again once it cools.

Liquid Detected or Moisture Detected

If your phone shows a liquid or moisture warning, it has found water in the port or on the cable. It blocks charging to protect the pins from corrosion. Do not fight it.

Apple's steps for an iPhone are simple.

Unplug the cable from the phone and from the adapter.
Tap the phone gently against your hand with the port facing down.
Leave it in a dry spot with some airflow.
Wait at least 30 minutes, then try again. Apple says drying can take up to 24 hours.

Apple also says what not to do. Do not use a heat source or compressed air. Do not push a cotton swab or paper towel into the port. And do not put the phone in a bag of rice, because grains can get stuck in the port.

In a true emergency, Apple says you can override the warning and charge anyway. If the back of the iPhone is dry, a Qi certified wireless charger also works.

Samsung Galaxy phones have a similar moisture warning. SamMobile says to dry the port with a soft cloth, wait until the phone is fully dry, and never use a hair dryer. If the warning keeps coming back on a phone that is bone dry, the port may be damaged.

When It Is the Battery or the Port

If every cable, adapter and outlet works on another phone, and the port is clean, the problem is inside your phone.

A worn battery still charges, but drains fast and may shut off early. Apple says iPhone 15 models are designed to keep 80 percent of their original capacity at 1,000 full charge cycles, and iPhone 14 and earlier at 500 cycles. You can see your battery's health in Settings, under Battery.
A loose or damaged port makes the plug wiggle, or charging works only at one angle. That needs a repair.
An accessory warning on iPhone that says the cable is not supported can mean a dirty or damaged port, a bad cable, or a charger not made for phones. Apple says to plug in directly without adapters, clean the port, restart and try a different cable.
A Check charging accessory alert on a Pixel means the cable or adapter may be damaged or not supported, Google says.

A battery or port repair often costs far less than a new phone. If your phone is several years old and has other problems too, our guide on when to replace your phone helps you weigh it up. Before any repair, make sure your photos are safe with our simple backup plan.

How to Keep Your Phone Charging Well

Use the cable and adapter that came with the phone, or a certified one from a brand you know.
Do not use a cable that is frayed or bent near the plug.
Clean the port every few months if you carry your phone in a pocket.
Keep the phone out of hot cars and direct sun while it charges.
Leave battery saving settings like Optimized Battery Charging on.

The Bottom Line

Most phones that will not charge need a new cable, a better adapter, or a clean port, not a repair. Swap one part at a time, clear out the lint, and give a dead phone 30 minutes before you force restart it. If it stops at 80 percent, check your charging settings. If you see a water warning, air dry it and skip the rice. If none of that works, the battery or port needs a professional.

Keep Reading

Phone makers keep changing how fast and how smart charging works. Follow the latest in our devices news, see why your phone might say SOS, or browse more plain tech advice.

Questions Readers Ask

Why is my phone not charging when plugged in?

The most common causes are a damaged cable, an adapter that is too weak or broken, a dead outlet, or lint in the charging port. Test each part by swapping it for one you know works. If all of them check out, it can be a software glitch, a worn battery or a damaged port.

Why is my iPhone not charging past 80 percent?

It is usually on purpose. Optimized Battery Charging can hold the charge at 80 percent until you need the phone. On iPhone 15 and later you may also have a Charge Limit set. Check Settings, then Battery, then Charging. A warm iPhone may also pause above 80 percent until it cools.

How do I clean my phone's charging port?

Turn the phone off and look inside with a flashlight. Gently loosen lint with a wooden or plastic toothpick and tip it out. Never use metal, and never push hard on the pins at the bottom of the port.

Why does my phone say liquid detected or moisture detected?

The phone found water in the port or on the cable and is blocking charging to stop corrosion. Unplug it, tap it gently with the port facing down, and leave it somewhere dry with airflow. Apple says to wait at least 30 minutes and that drying can take up to 24 hours.

Should I put my phone in rice?

No. Apple says not to put an iPhone in a bag of rice, because small grains can get stuck in the port. Air drying works better.

Why does my phone charge so slowly?

A low power adapter, a worn cable, a hot phone or a case blocking a wireless charger can all slow charging. Google says a Pixel charges best on a 30 watt PPS USB-C adapter. Charging also slows down near full by design.

Is my battery dead if my phone will not charge?

Not usually. A battery that has worn down still charges, it just does not last as long. Apple says iPhone 15 models are built to keep 80 percent of their capacity at 1,000 full charge cycles, and iPhone 14 and earlier at 500. A phone that takes no charge at all on a good cable needs a repair check.