Phone not charging or charging slowly

The cable fails most often, then the adapter, then lint in the port. The phone itself is the last suspect.

What you seeNo lightning symbol when plugged in / Charging slowly / Moisture has been detected / This accessory may not be supported

1. Swap one thing at a time

1. Another wall socket. Skip extension boards and car chargers for the test.
2. Another cable. Cables break inside near the plug without showing it. A cable that charges only when held at an angle is finished.
3. Another adapter. Try the one that came with the phone, or one of at least the same wattage.
4. Another device on the same charger. If that charges, the charger is fine.

Charging from a laptop's USB port or an old 5 W adapter is slow by nature.

2. Restart the phone

A software hiccup can stop the phone recognising the charger. Restart, or force restart if the screen is frozen. See restart and force restart.

3. Clean the charging port

Pocket lint packs into the port until the plug no longer seats fully. Signs: the cable feels loose or does not click in.

1. Switch the phone off.
2. Shine a torch into the port.
3. Loosen the lint gently with a wooden or plastic toothpick, working along the walls and base, and tip it out. A soft dry brush or a hand blower helps.

Do not use a metal pin or needle (it can short or scratch the contacts), do not blow with your mouth (moisture), and do not pour or spray anything in.

4. "Moisture detected" or "Liquid detected"

The phone has sensed dampness in the port and blocked charging to prevent corrosion.

• Unplug the cable. Stand the phone with the port facing down and tap it gently against your palm.
• Leave it in a dry, airy place for a few hours. A fan helps.
• Do not use a hair dryer, an oven, or a bag of rice, and do not push tissue or cotton into the port.
• If you must charge urgently, a wireless charger works when the port is blocked, provided the back of the phone is dry.
• If the warning will not clear after a day in the dry, the port is corroded or the sensor faulty: service centre.

See water damage if the phone got properly wet.

5. Charging slowly

• Use a fast charger and a cable that supports it. Fast charging needs the adapter, the cable and the phone to agree. A thin old cable limits a new adapter.
• Turn fast charging on where it is a setting. Samsung: Settings › Battery › Charging settings.
• Stop heavy use while charging. Games, video and hotspot can use power as fast as a weak charger supplies it.
• Let it cool. A hot phone slows or pauses charging. See phone overheating.
• Charging stops at 80 per cent? That is usually a battery-protection setting, not a fault: Android Settings › Battery › Adaptive charging / Protect battery; iPhone Settings › Battery › Charging (80% Limit or Optimised Battery Charging). The phone also holds at 80 per cent when warm.
• Wireless charging is slower than a cable, and stops if the phone is off-centre or the case is thick or holds a card or metal plate.

6. A completely flat phone

A phone run down to nothing may show a black screen for several minutes after being plugged in. Leave it on a known-good charger for 30 minutes before pressing any buttons, then try a force restart. See phone will not turn on.

7. iPhone accessory messages

"This accessory may not be supported" appears with damaged, dirty or uncertified cables. Clean the port, try an Apple or MFi-certified cable, restart, and update iOS.

8. When it needs a repair

• The plug wobbles in the port or charges only at one angle, even with new cables.
• The port is bent, burnt or green with corrosion.
• The phone charges only when switched off.
• The battery percentage drops while on a good charger.
• The battery is swollen.

A charging port is a common, inexpensive repair. Use the authorised service centre while the phone is in warranty.

Charger safety

Buy chargers and cables from known brands with the proper safety markings. Very cheap adapters skip the protection circuits and are a real fire and shock risk. Do not use a cable with exposed wires, and unplug chargers that run hot.

For Android phones and iPhones. Written in November 2026 for Android 13 to 15 and iOS 17 and 18. Phone makers rename menus; use the search box in Settings if a name differs. Back up before any reset. This is an independent guide, not connected with Google, Apple, Samsung or any phone maker or operator.