You plug in your phone, and nothing happens. No charging icon. No battery percentage going up. Maybe it flickers for a second and stops. It’s one of the most frustrating things a phone can do — and it’s one of the most common problems we see at our repair shop in Pacific Beach, San Diego.
Before you assume your phone is broken, there are several fixes you can try at home. As a phone repair technician and Air Force veteran who’s fixed thousands of devices since 2014, I’m going to walk you through the most common reasons your phone won’t charge and what you can do about each one.
1. Check your charging cable
This is the number one culprit, and it’s the one people overlook most often. Charging cables wear out — especially near the ends where they bend repeatedly. Look for fraying, exposed wires, or a loose-feeling connector. Try a different cable entirely, preferably one you know works with another device.
If your phone charges with a different cable, you’ve found your problem. Replace the cable and you’re done.
2. Clean your charging port
Over time, pocket lint, dust, and debris build up inside your phone’s charging port. This prevents the cable from making a solid connection. You might feel the cable “click in” but it’s not actually making contact with the pins.
Here’s how to clean it safely: power off your phone, then use a wooden toothpick (never metal) to gently scrape out any lint or debris. A can of compressed air also works well. Be gentle — the pins inside the port are delicate.
We clean charging ports every single day at Indiana Phones. About 30% of the time when someone comes in thinking their phone won’t charge, a thorough port cleaning fixes it completely — often for free or a minimal service fee.
3. Try a different power source
Not all USB ports and wall adapters deliver the same power. A laptop USB port provides less power than a wall adapter. A cheap gas station charger might not provide enough amperage to charge your phone.
Try plugging into a wall outlet using the original adapter that came with your phone (or a high-quality equivalent). If you’ve been charging from a power strip, try plugging directly into the wall. If you’ve been using a car charger, try a wall outlet instead.
4. Restart your phone
Sometimes a software glitch prevents your phone from recognizing the charger. A simple restart clears temporary bugs and resets the charging process.
For iPhones: hold the side button and volume button together, then slide to power off. Wait 30 seconds, then turn it back on and try charging again.
For Samsung/Android: hold the power button, tap restart, wait for it to reboot, then try charging.
This fix works more often than you’d expect — especially if your phone was charging fine yesterday and suddenly stopped.
5. Check for water or moisture damage
If your phone got wet recently — even from humidity, rain, or a sweaty pocket — moisture in the charging port can prevent charging. Most modern iPhones and Samsung phones will actually display a “liquid detected” warning and refuse to charge as a safety feature.
If you see this warning, do not try to override it. Do not put your phone in rice (this is a myth that doesn’t work and can push starch into your port). Instead, let the phone air dry in a well-ventilated area for several hours. If the warning persists after 24 hours, the port may need professional cleaning or repair.
6. Try wireless charging (if your phone supports it)
If your phone supports Qi wireless charging (most iPhones from the 8 and newer, and most Samsung Galaxy phones from the S6 and newer), try placing it on a wireless charger. If it charges wirelessly but not with a cable, you’ve confirmed the issue is with the charging port itself — not the battery or software.
This is useful diagnostic information. If wireless charging works, the battery is fine and the phone just needs a charging port repair, which is one of our most common same-day fixes.
7. Check your battery health
On iPhones, go to Settings, then Battery, then Battery Health. If your Maximum Capacity is below 80%, your battery has significantly degraded and may struggle to hold or accept a charge. Apple even displays a message recommending service when the battery is sufficiently degraded.
On Samsung phones, go to Settings, then Battery and device care, then Battery, then check the battery status.
If your battery health is low, the issue isn’t really about charging — it’s about the battery itself not being able to hold a charge anymore. A battery replacement is typically much cheaper than a new phone and can extend your device’s life by another 1-2 years.
When you’ve tried everything and it still won’t charge
If none of these fixes work, the problem is likely hardware — a damaged charging port, a failing battery, or in rare cases, a logic board issue. These require professional repair.
At Indiana Phones in Pacific Beach, San Diego, we diagnose charging issues for free. Most charging port repairs and battery replacements are done same-day, usually in under an hour. We’ve been fixing phones since 2014, with a 4.9-star rating from over 669 customers.
Founded by Air Force veteran Nicholas, who served as a Medical Laboratory Technician, our shop brings the same precision and attention to detail that the military demands to every repair we do.
If your phone isn’t charging and you’re in the San Diego area, walk in to 1630 Grand Ave in Pacific Beach or call us at (619) 577-3065. We’ll figure out the problem and give you an honest assessment of what it’ll take to fix it.
Frequently asked questions about phone charging problems
Why is my phone not charging even though it’s plugged in?
The most common causes are a dirty charging port, a damaged cable, or a faulty wall adapter. Try cleaning the port with a toothpick, swapping the cable, and using a different outlet. If none of that works, the charging port hardware may need repair.
How do I know if my charging port is broken?
Signs of a broken charging port include: the cable feels loose or falls out easily, you have to hold the cable at an angle for it to charge, charging cuts in and out, or the phone doesn’t recognize any cable. If wireless charging works but wired doesn’t, the port is almost certainly the issue.
Is it worth fixing a phone that won’t charge?
In most cases, yes. A charging port repair or battery replacement typically costs a fraction of what a new phone would cost. At Indiana Phones, most charging-related repairs are done same-day for a reasonable price, and we include a 90-day warranty on parts and labor.
Can a software update fix charging problems?
Sometimes. Software bugs can occasionally interfere with charging. Make sure your phone is updated to the latest iOS or Android version. If the charging issue started right after an update, a restart or factory reset (as a last resort, with data backed up first) may resolve it.
Should I put my phone in rice if it got wet and won’t charge?
No. This is a common myth. Rice does not effectively dry out phones and can actually push starch particles into the charging port, making the problem worse. Instead, let the phone air dry in a well-ventilated area. If it still won’t charge after 24 hours, bring it to a repair professional.
By Nicholas, Air Force Veteran and Founder of Indiana Phones in Pacific Beach, San Diego. Have a phone that won’t charge? Walk in to 1630 Grand Ave or call (619) 577-3065 for a free diagnostic.
Related reading
- Phone screen flickering? Causes and fixes
- Ghost touch on iPhone: why it happens and the real fix
- Phone screen unresponsive to touch: 8 fixes
