Phone Won't Charge? 6 Free Fixes for iPhone and Android

Free to try. You only need a second cable or charger if you can borrow one.

1. Swap the cable, charger and outlet

All three makers put the cable and charger near the top of their checklists.

• Look at the cable and charger. Apple says not to use one with breaks or bent prongs.
• Plug straight into a wall outlet, and make sure each connection is firm. Try another outlet too. On a Pixel, Google suggests checking the outlet by plugging in something else, like a lamp.
• Try a different cable or charger. Google also suggests plugging another device into your charger and cable to test them. Samsung says to use compatible Samsung chargers and cables on a Galaxy, because incompatible or damaged ones can stop it charging.
• Take the case off. Google says a case can get in the way of the plug or a wireless charger.
• Seeing an alert about the accessory? On an iPhone, Apple says an alert that the accessory isn't supported or certified can come from a dirty or damaged port, a faulty cable or charger, or a USB charger that wasn't made to charge devices. Plug the cable straight into the charger with nothing in between, try another cable or charger, and update iOS. On a Pixel, Google says a charging-accessory notification means the cable or adapter might be damaged or might not work with your phone. Switch to a compatible one.

2. Clear lint from the port, gently

Our read: lint packed into the port can stop the plug from going all the way in.

• Turn the phone off and shine a flashlight into the port (Samsung's advice).
• Lift out any lint or dust carefully, with nothing metal and no liquid. That's Samsung's rule. Apple says to remove any debris and Google says to check that nothing is in the port, but neither says how.
• Wet port? Put nothing in it. Apple says not to push a cotton swab or paper towel into a wet connector, and Samsung says not to insert any object into a wet port. See step 4.

Our read: if the lint is packed in and won't lift out without force, let a repair shop from step 6's list do it.

3. Restart, or force restart

Then plug in and wait before you decide it's dead.

• iPhone 8 or later, and iPhone SE (2nd generation or later): press and quickly let go of volume up, then volume down, then hold the side button until the Apple logo shows. Apple says to charge for half an hour before this, and another half hour after.
• Pixel: if it's off, press and hold Power for 5 to 7 seconds to turn it on. If it's on but frozen, hold Power for about 35 seconds to reboot it. Google says a Pixel with a fully drained battery that has sat unused for a long time can show no charging icon, vibration or screen for up to 25 minutes after you plug it in.
• Samsung Galaxy: hold the Volume down and Side buttons together until the phone switches off and the Samsung logo appears.

4. Got a liquid or moisture alert? Let it dry

iPhones and water-resistant Galaxy phones turn off wired charging when they sense water in the port. Apple says that's to protect the phone and the accessory.

• iPhone XS, XS Max, XR and later: disconnect the cable at both ends. Hold the phone port-down and tap it lightly on your palm to shake out the water, then leave it somewhere dry with some airflow. Wait 30 minutes or more before you try the cable again. Apple says it can take a full day to dry completely.
• Samsung Galaxy (water-resistant models): an alarm sounds until you unplug the charger. Shake the phone gently, then wait. Samsung says water in the port usually evaporates in about 1 to 2 hours. If something other than fresh water got in, Samsung says to rinse the phone with fresh water, then dry it well with a soft, dry cloth.
• Don't use a hair dryer or other heat, compressed air or a bag of rice (Apple), and don't put anything in the port.
• Need power now? Apple and Samsung both say a wireless charger still works (if your phone supports it). Dry the phone first.

5. Too hot or too cold? Let it get back to room temperature

All three makers say a phone that's too hot may stop charging for a while. Apple says the same about an iPhone that's too cold.

• iPhone (iOS 16 and later): you'll see a "Charging On Hold" message. Move the phone somewhere cooler and out of direct sun, or somewhere warmer if it's cold, and lock the screen. Apple also says a warm iPhone may limit charging above 80% until it cools down.
• Pixel: charging starts again once the phone cools down.
• Samsung Galaxy: charging may stop for a while or slow down. Samsung says to let it cool before charging again.

Our read: don't use or game on the phone while it charges in a hot car or in direct sun.

6. Stuck at 80%? Check your battery settings

It may not be a fault. Each maker has a setting that can stop charging below 100% on purpose, to protect battery health.

• iPhone 15 and later: go to Settings > Battery > Charging and choose a limit between 80% and 100%, in 5% steps. At 100%, Optimized Battery Charging can be on there too.
• iPhone 14 and earlier: go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging and check Optimized Battery Charging. On any iPhone, when Optimized Battery Charging is holding the charge, a Lock Screen notification says when the phone will be full. Touch and hold it, then tap Charge Now.
• Pixel: go to Settings > Battery > Battery health > Charging optimization. Limit to 80% stops at 80%; turn it off when you need a full 100%. Adaptive Charging still charges to 100%, but finishes just before you usually unplug.
• Samsung Galaxy: go to Settings > Battery > Battery protection. Pick another option, or switch it off. Samsung notes that one option can pause charging at 80% while you sleep and finish charging just before your set wake-up time.