You plug in your phone and nothing happens, it charges very slowly, or it stops at 80%. Most of the time it's the cable, the charger, lint in the port, or the phone protecting its battery. Try these steps in order, and test after each one.
⚡ The short version
- Try a different outlet, then a different cable and charger.
- Look in the charging port with a light. Remove lint gently, with nothing metal.
- Take the case off and let a hot phone cool down.
- Leave it plugged in for half an hour, then force restart it.
- Stops at 80%? That's usually a battery-saving feature, not a fault.
iPhone
Check the power source and cable
Plug into a wall outlet, a computer or another power accessory. Check the cable and USB adapter for damage, like breaks or bent prongs, and don't use damaged ones. Make sure every connection is firm, or try a different outlet.
Clean the port and charge for half an hour
Remove any debris from the charging port on the bottom, firmly plug the cable in, and let it charge for 30 minutes.
Force restart it
If it still won't turn on, or only shows a battery icon, force restart it (see how to force restart an iPhone), then let it charge for another half hour.
“Accessory not supported” alert?
Plug the cable straight into the charger with no adapters in between, clean the port, restart the iPhone, try a different cable or charger, and update iOS.
Stops at 80%? Apple says Optimized Battery Charging may wait to finish past 80% until you need the phone, and a warm iPhone may limit charging above 80% until it cools. Move it somewhere cooler. On iPhone 15 and later you may also have a charge limit set; you can change it.
Android (Pixel)
Check the case, cable, charger and outlet
Take off the case. Try the charger and cable on another device, check the cable is firmly in, look for dust or lint in the port, and try a different cable or charger. Plug a lamp into the outlet to make sure it works.
Give a dead battery time
Google says a Pixel with a completely drained battery may show nothing at all (no charging icon, no vibration) for up to 25 minutes after you plug it in. Leave it plugged in with a working charger, then press and hold the Power button for 5–7 seconds.
“Check charging accessory” message?
Your cable or power adapter may be damaged or not supported. Use one that's compatible with your phone.
Samsung Galaxy
Let it cool, then check the charger
Samsung says a hot phone may stop charging or charge slowly; wait for it to cool down. Use a compatible Samsung charger and cable, unplug and firmly reconnect it, and try another one if you have it.
Clean the port safely
Turn the phone off and look in the port with a flashlight. If you see dust or lint, remove it carefully without metal objects or liquids.
Check the charging settings
Open Settings → Battery. Under Charging settings, make sure Fast charging is on. If Battery protection is on, charging may stop early by design; choose a different option or turn it off.
If you see a liquid or moisture warning
- iPhone: unplug the cable. Tap the phone gently against your hand with the port facing down, then leave it somewhere dry with some airflow. Try again after at least 30 minutes. Apple says it can take up to 24 hours to dry fully. Don't use rice, cotton swabs, heat or compressed air. A wireless charger still works if the back of the phone is dry.
- Samsung: shake the phone gently to remove moisture from the port, wipe it with a soft cloth, and let it dry in a well-ventilated spot with cool air. Samsung says even water-resistant phones need a completely dry port before charging.
Still won't charge?
If none of this works, the phone, battery or port may need repair. Contact Apple, Google or Samsung, or your phone's maker. For tips on making each charge last, see Make your phone battery last longer. Laptop not charging? See Laptop won't charge.