What To Do If The Power Bank Is Not Charging The Battery Of Your Smartphone Or Tablet
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Every smartphone or other portable device owner is familiar with the power bank charger. It is very convenient to use it because the phone can be recharged. However, many face a problem when the power bank is not charging the phone for some reason, even if the instruction for its use is strictly observed. It may also happen that the device works very slowly. Do not rush to contact the repair service: it may be possible to eliminate the cause yourself.
What Could Be Wrong?
Before you begin to deal directly with the power bank, you should understand whether this is the core of the problem. It may be the phone, not the device for charging it, that is not working properly. First of all, connect the phone to another charger and see what happens.
The USB cable you are using may also be why the power bank does not charge the phone: for example, the cable is damaged or kinked too much. Therefore, you need to carefully inspect it for any external damage. If they can be found, it remains only to replace the old cable with a new one. Or immediately buy a USB device of higher quality.
Why And What To Do If The Power Bank Does Not Charge
The external battery can not support charging for many reasons. These include malfunctions in the operation of the device, poor quality current in the home outlet, and problems with the cord.
The Power Bank Does Not Charge, And One Indicator Light Is On
If the power bank does not support charging, and at the same time on its front panel, only one indicator is lit, the reason is usually a complete discharge of the device. The built-in battery controller cannot recognize a battery giving out 0 V and thinks that it simply does not exist. Accordingly, there is no replenishment of the power.
Users encounter such a problem in two cases:
- When buying a new power bank with a fully discharged battery.
- When trying to charge an external battery that has been lying unused for a long time.
If the power bank is new, there is a chance of successful recovery of its performance. It is necessary to keep the device on charge for a longer time – it is possible that eventually, it will begin to replenish the capacity. The full recovery cycle may take about 12 hours.
Another method suggests disassembling the power bank, removing the batteries themselves, and putting the “plus” and “minus” wires connected to an ordinary thumbtack battery for about half an hour. If the capacity is replenished at least by 0.01%, the controller will be able to “see” the external battery and start its recovery.
Warning! If the old power bank is completely discharged, you will most likely be unable to reanimate it even by direct connection to power.
The Power Bank Is Not Charging, And The Indicator Light Is Blinking
In some cases, the external power bank is still not charging, but the diode is not just lit up and flashing. The cause may also be an empty battery.
The list of likely faults also includes problems with the mains adapter or the cord. Both items should be checked on other devices to make sure they work. If necessary, the adapter or cord should be replaced. If the power bank does not charge, you can also fix it by connecting it to charge at another outlet. The method often works if the voltage in the apartment is not very stable.
The problem may be a software failure in the firmware. If the power bank supports driver updates, you need to download utilities from the manufacturer’s website for the device and install them again.
The Power Bank Heats Up And Stops Charging
Almost any external battery heats up while charging. This is a natural process since the conversion of electrical current is with heat release. But if the external battery stops charging against the fact that the case is too hot, we are talking about a malfunction.
The problem is often a low-quality assembly of the device or a sudden spike in voltage in the network. There is a short circuit in the unit, which interrupts the charging process, and in the worst case, it completely puts the power bank out of operation. You can determine the breakdown by disassembling the case of the external battery and visually inspecting the contacts – they should have darkening and melted places.
Such a power bank should be replaced with a new one or try to repair the circuit manually by soldering.
Another possible cause of the malfunction is triggered protection against overheating. Such a function is equipped with expensive battery models. The power bank will shut down if the temperature rises too much until it cools down. In this case, it is usually not necessary to repair it. When the case cools down, the charging process resumes automatically.
The Power Bank Can Not Be Charged Close To Heaters And In Bright Sunlight
Warning. Frequent actuation of the overheat protection indicates that the power bank is working at full capacity and must be replaced.
A Brand New Power Bank Can Not Be Charged
The new power bank may not charge due to a factory defect. Suppose the controller does not even turn on and does not charge the battery, and the storage device, in turn, does not give back electricity. In that case, the attempt to independently eliminate the cause of the malfunction will lead to the loss of warranty on the device.
In some cases, the contacts of the power bank can be covered with a protective film. It will not be difficult to see it. In addition, the instruction to the device must necessarily be information on how to connect to the charger for the first time.
If the power bank does not charge, then the reason for this may be the faults described in this article. In most cases, the recovery of the external battery can be carried out with your own hands.
Why Does The Power Bank Not Charge The Phone Battery?
Every owner of a smartphone or any other portable device is familiar with the charger power bank (“power,” power bank – so it is called common parlance). It is very convenient to use it because the phone can be recharged. However, many face a problem when the power bank does not charge the phone for some reason, even if the instruction for its use is strictly observed. It may also happen that the device works very slowly. Do not rush to go to the service for repair: maybe you can eliminate the cause yourself.
Before you begin to deal directly with the power bank, it should be clear whether this is the core of the problem. It is possible that it is the phone and not the device for charging it. That is bad. First of all, connect the phone to another charger and see what happens.
The USB cable can also be why the power bank does not charge the phone: for example, the cable is damaged or kinked too much. Therefore, you need to carefully inspect it for any external damage. If they can be found, it remains only to replace the old cable with a new one. Or immediately buy a USB device of higher quality.
When The Problem Is In The Device
If the power bank was purchased recently or has not been used for a long time, you can try to recharge it for 8 hours. The fact is that while the device was in storage and was not used, the chemical processes inside it could slow down a lot, which is typical for lithium-ion batteries even when they are not working. It is possible that the power bank does not charge the phone. When it “powers up,” the substances that slow down the battery will break down, and the device will deliver the necessary energy.
At first, the charging process goes on, and then it begins to interrupt. Since all power bank chargers are made in China, it is not surprising that the capacity indicated on the charger does not correspond to its actual level. Of course, a power bank with a real capacity of 2000 mAh with a small amount will not be able to fully charge a smartphone, the battery of which has a capacity of 3000 mAh. To the question of what to do next, there is an extremely simple answer: buy a charger with at least twice the phone’s capacity.
Low charging speed may have the following reasons:
- The controller has failed, or it is internally defective.
- The initial current capacity is insufficient (the power bank has an output current of 1A, while the phone has 1.5A).
- The cable is thin and of poor quality – it reduces the voltage value.
- Several devices are connected to the phone with a small battery capacity.
First of all, it is necessary to do the following: check the current output indicators on the connectors of the charger and the phone. If the amperage is different, the device should be changed. The thin cable should be changed for the one with better quality and conductivity – you can buy it in specialized stores or order it online.
To know the basis for assumptions as to why the power bank does not charge the phone, it is desirable to know exactly the capacity of both the device and the charger without relying only on the inscriptions of Chinese manufacturers.
Why The Power Bank Does Not Charge Fully
The power bank does not charge fully in some cases – the process stops at 90%, 80%, or even 50%. There are several reasons for the problem:
- Inappropriate adapter or power cord – the cells must maintain the level of current required by the external bank, on average up to 4A.
- Capacity reduction – this happens with old batteries or batteries after improper use.
- Malfunction of the controller – the fuse cuts off the current supply early.
If a malfunction occurs, you first need to put the power bank to charge with a different cord and adapter. If this does not help, the device should be given to service or replaced.
Tip! When you buy a new external battery, you should discharge and charge it fully 3-4 times in a row and then set it to recharge as needed.
How Long To Charge An External Battery
In most devices, the charge level is indicated by indicator LEDs or on the micro screen. In such cases, you simply need to fill the level to all of the LEDs or the “100%” mark on the screen.
If The Power Bank Does Not Have A Capacity Indicator
When buying such a device, you can find brief instructions on how to use an external battery in the package. In most cases, it is assumed that the charging will be done from a laptop or TV but not from the mains adapter 220 v.
Therefore, the manual charging time is often calculated from the amperage of the USB output. It is assumed that the USB version 2.0 gives out – 500 mA, and USB version 3.0 (jack blue) – 900 mA. Modern 220 volt charging adapters have 0.5 to 3 amps charging current.
As already mentioned in the topic of gel battery charging, the charging time is equal to the battery capacity divided by the charger’s current. The resulting figure will be the approximate number of hours to charge.
It is better and faster to charge with an AC adapter.
How Many Hours To Charge An External Battery
For example, let’s take an external battery with 10 000 mAh (10Ah) capacity.
The data will be given under the assumption that the power bank will be discharged to zero, which is highly undesirable for the lithium-ion battery inside.
When charging with USB (normal USB with 500mA or 0.5A output), the charging time will take 10Ah/0.5A ~ 20 hours.
With USB 3.0 (900mA) the charging time is 10A/0.9A ~ 11 hours.
And when charging the same power bank from a 2A AC adapter, the charging time will be significantly reduced, 10Ah/2A ~ 5 hours.
The above time refers to a 10000 mAh power bank. If you have a different capacity, divide the capacity by the charging current. The maximum charging current is shown on the AC adapter.
In any case, the question of how long to charge an external battery, you can answer – the longer, the better. When the batteries in the power bank are charged to the maximum, the protection board will cut off the excessive current.
Why Does The Power Bank Take A Long Time To Charge?
The problem is associated with the fact that the power bank takes a long time to charge – the most common. To get rid of it, you should perform a few simple actions.
Ensure that you insert the more powerful equipment not in the socket for phones (1A) but the socket 2A or 2.4A.
After buying an external battery, don’t be lazy to charge it fully and then fully discharge it with connected gadgets. This will activate it properly. As for lithium-ion models, 100% charging is the only condition for proper operation.
A good rate is developed only after 3-4 cycles of charging-discharging (to monitor the process is easier in the power bank with a percentage indication, led devices do not always give the right “finish”).
The power bank is often charged for a long time when it is cold outside – the loss of energy is even more intense, significantly exceeding the 20 percent indicator.
Why Doesn’t The Power Bank Hold A Charge?
As a rule, the power bank does not hold a charge because of power adapters. Even buying a cool adapter in a brand-name shop, you often get not 1A but 0.5A at the output. This is not all (in this case, the device’s charging will only stretch a little in time). There is a more terrible consequence when the adapter gives a much higher current or does not smooth out voltage spikes. That’s how gadgets die!
And even the power bank does not hold the charge for some reasons related to its improper use – “emergency” insertion of the plug, the use of a non-original cord.
Finally, due to the natural wear and tear of the connector.
Sometimes the progress of recharge is displayed on the gadget’s screen, but during its use, it becomes obvious that the power bank does not hold the charge well – the indicator is on, then off (the percentage also jumps). This observation will tell you that the product has been lying in the warehouse for a long time. The fact is that over time, the lithium-ion filling is increasingly exposed to substances that inhibit chemical reactions. Just hold the charger in the socket for 12 hours) – from the hated inhibitors will not remain a trace.
The power bank isn’t charging the phone. The cable may be defective. Try another one.
The most common reason the power bank doesn’t charge the smartphone is that it does not work with its charger. It is a minicomputer that runs its operating system. She determines who can connect and who cannot. It makes sense to go to a service shop.
Although the power bank doesn’t charge your iPhone, its panel displays energy movement.

Samsung Galaxy is the most common example. Some models only require one current, 2A. The power bank matrix can be re-solder by professionals. The iPhone will now charge.
It is not uncommon for the power bank to charge your flashlight, tablet, camera, or other devices in nature. How do you handle this situation? There is also a lack of power. Consider how much power each unit requires. A charged ROM should exceed this power. A weak unit will “steal” power if you have enough money.
Conclusion
The power bank does not charge or recover power not completely, usually due to natural wear and tear, software failures, or problems with the cord and power adapter. The cable and adapter can be replaced at home. But for serious repairs, the external bank should be taken to a service center.
External battery packs have become quite a fixture in many people’s lives. There is a huge variety in the market, as branded power banks with an honest capacity and Chinese copies with a capacity of 2-3 times lower than indicated on the case. We have already told you about the original and fake batteries here. Given that the power bank does not always contain the original (brand) lithium-ion batteries, we can also mention that not all power banks have the specified capacity. This factor should be taken into account when calculating the charging time.