How to fix a charger cord that wont charge android

If the battery loses charge quickly, takes a long time to charge, or doesn't charge at all, it might be time for a new battery. If you have a Samsung Galaxy S5 or older phone, your device has a removable battery so you can purchase a new one and replace it yourself. 

If you have a Samsung Galaxy S6 or newer mobile phone, your device has a sealed battery compartment. This means that ordering a new battery is classed as a repair and you may be charged a service fee. This price is dependent on your specific phone and its physical condition.

To request a repair or to check the price for a battery replacement go to Samsung Repair.

For further assistance, find out what to do if your device is charging slowly, not switching on or keeps restarting.

You've plugged your iPhone or Android phone into its charger and... nothing's happened. From broken or rusted charging ports to damaged power cables, there are plenty of reasons your phone might not charge and not all of them can be easily fixed at home. A common reason for faulty charging is simply that your charging port, whether that's Lightning on the iPhone 13 or USB-C on phones like the Google Pixel 6 Pro is clogged with months' worth of pocket fluff and the cable can't quite fit in anymore. 

Thankfully, this is one of the simplest and cheapest solutions to a charging problem. Here's how to fix it. 

Why is my charging port blocked? 

There are no covers on your phone's charging port, meaning they're exposed to every bit of dust, dirt and debris they encounter. Every time you slide your phone into your pocket your phone will be susceptible to pocket fluff and if, like me, you've got pockets filled with detritus from accidentally washing your jeans with old receipts in the pockets then that's asking for trouble. And that's to say nothing of the biscuit crumbs I have in there. Do not ask me why I have biscuit crumbs in my pockets. 

Day by day, this won't be a problem but those tiny bits of dust and fluff will build up over the months or years you have your phone, compacting together each time you plug in your charging cable until it forms a solid barrier that stops your charger from going all the way in and allowing it to connect and charge. 

A wooden cocktail stick is a great tool for the job as the wood won't damage the internal parts. 

Andrew Hoyle/CNET

If you've had your phone for more than six months and you're gradually finding the charger becoming less and less stable (particularly if you have to wiggle it around to get it to begin charging) then it's highly likely that dirt in your port is the culprit. 

How to clean out your phone's charging port 

It's a simple task to unclog your phone's port. You'll need a cocktail stick, toothpick or other thin item that you can poke in to the port to scrape out the grime. Wood or plastic is better as it's less likely to scrape against anything inside and potentially cause harm. I've done this using a metal SIM removal tool and while it worked well, it's not the safest option for your phone. 

Insert your tool of choice into the charging port until it won't go further and gently start scraping away. With an iPhone's Lightning port you can scrape back and forth, but with USB-C you'll need to scrape around the charging connector, which sits in the middle of the port. 

Get it in there.

Andrew Hoyle/CNET

Eventually you'll start to work the compacted debris loose and you'll be able to encourage the dislodged material out of the port. It's a satisfying process and you might be surprised at how much stuff actually comes out. Gently work on the sides of the port too, but be mindful not to scrape hard against any of the metal charging connectors. 

Eventually you'll have pretty much all of it out. It's difficult to check for sure if you've gotten rid of it all as it's tricky to see inside the port, even if you have a good light to hand. But once you've got a good amount of nonsense out, you can try your charging cable again. 

The satisfying removal of nonsense from your phone's charging port.

Andrew Hoyle/CNET

Hopefully it'll plug in more securely now and begin charging. If not, carry on trying to extract more dirt and then test the charger again. If that still doesn't solve the issue it's time to consider other solutions like a new cable or charger. 

First published on Jan. 14, 2022 at 4:19 a.m. PT.

Use the steps on this page to fix the following problems on your phone:

• Won’t turn on
• Has a black or blank screen
• Turns on but immediately turns off

First, try holding down your phone's power button for 5-7 seconds. This usually restarts a phone.

Troubleshoot your cable, charger, outlet & case

1. Check that your charger and cable work.
   • Try them with another device.
   • Check that the cable is securely connected to the charger and to your phone.
   • Check that there's nothing in the port of your phone, like dust or lint.
2. Check that your outlet works.
   • Plug the charger into a wall outlet.
   • Plug in something else, like a lamp.
3. Check that no accessories, like cases or battery packs, cover the sensors on your phone or press its buttons.

Troubleshoot your battery charge

Plug in your phone with a working cable, charger, and outlet, then wait one minute.

• If you see a battery icon, your phone is powered off and is charging. You can restart right away.
• If you see a red light, your battery is fully discharged. If the red light is flashing, there isn't enough power to turn on. Charge your phone for at least 30 minutes before restarting.
• If you don't see a battery icon or red light after you plug in your phone, the issue could be with your screen.

Tip: Battery icons and lights can vary by phone. For your phone's details, contact your device manufacturer.

Troubleshoot your screen

1. Press the power button for about 30 seconds.
2. Wait about 2 minutes.
3. Make your phone ring. You can call it from another phone or use Find My Device. Learn how. 
4. If your phone rings, learn how to troubleshoot your screen. If it doesn’t, go to the advanced steps (below).

Troubleshoot with advanced steps

Option 1: Troubleshoot by connecting to a computer

1. Check that your computer is on and connected to a power source.
2. Connect your phone to your computer's USB or USB-C port with a cable that works.
3. Wait about 10–15 minutes.
4. Disconnect the cable from your phone, then reconnect it within 10 seconds.
5. If you see a battery icon within one minute, your phone is powered off and charging.
6. Charge your phone for at least 30 minutes.
7. Press and hold the Power button until your phone restarts. You might need to tap Restart .

Tip: Battery icons and lights can vary by phone. For your phone's details, contact your device manufacturer.

Option 2: Troubleshoot using your phone's buttons

With your phone plugged in, press and hold both the volume-down button and the power button at the same time for at least 20 seconds.

If you see a red light, your battery is fully discharged.

1. Charge your phone for at least 30 minutes.
2. Press and hold the power button for a few seconds.
3. On your screen, tap Restart .

If you see an Android robot and the word "Start" with an arrow around it:

1. Press the volume-down button until you see the option to "Power off." Press the power button to pick "Power off."
2. Charge your phone for at least 30 minutes. 
3. Press and hold the power button for a few seconds.
4. On your screen, tap Restart , or press and hold the power button for about 30 seconds, until your phone restarts.

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