Phone not charging

Charging issues can stop your phone from charging, cause it to charge intermittently, or make it charge much more slowly than usual.

This issue can often be ruled out by external factors, such as the power source or charger. Alternatively, it may indicate issues with the charging port or an internal battery fault.  

Check the power source

Try charging your phone from a different wall socket, USB port, or power bank. If charging starts normally, then the original power source was likely the problem.

Rule out charger problems

Faulty charging cables or power adapters are a common cause of charging issues.

Try:

•  A different charging cable

•  A different power adapter

•  An official or manufacturer-approved charger

If charging works with a different charger, replace the original faulty charger.

Inspect the charging port

Check the charging port for:

• Signs of moisture

•  Bent or damaged connectors

•  Debris 

If you find signs of moisture, place your device in a dry space with the port facing down for a few hours.

If the port appears damaged or loose, it needs repair.

If you find debris, carefully remove it by taking the following steps:

1. Turn off your device

2. Wrap a small piece of cotton around the tip of a toothpick

3. Lightly blow compressed air into the charging port with a straw; ensure not to blow for longer than 2 seconds at a time

4. Gently insert the cotton-lined toothpick into the charging port and slowly drag it along the inner walls of the port 

5. Lightly blow compressed air into the charging port with a straw to remove the loosened debris, still ensuring not to blow for longer than 2 seconds at a time

If your phone still won’t charge after following the above steps, the issue may involve the charging port, battery, or internal charging components. Please seek further guidance from a professional.

Texts or calls won't go through

If you're unable to send or receive messages or make calls, the problem can be ruled out by an issue on a specific recipient’s end. Otherwise, the fault could be caused by network connectivity or SIM issues.

Rule out recipient issues

Try to send messages to several different contacts. If you’re able to send and receive messages with other contacts, the issue is likely with the original recipient.

For calls, try calling other contacts. If calls to these contacts go through correctly, the issue is likely on the original recipient’s side.

Check your connection

Many messaging and call features rely on a stable mobile network connection.

If your texts or calls aren’t working, check your:

• Network signal strength

•  Mobile data status

• Airplane mode status

If you have little or no signal:

• Move to an area with better coverage

•  Restart your phone

•  Check for network outages

Check your SIM or eSIM

Check whether:

• Your SIM is detected

• Your mobile plan is active

• Your SIM is still in the process of activating

If your SIM isn't recognised:

• Carefully follow manufacturer guidance to remove and reinsert the SIM

• Review eSIM activation settings

• Contact your network provider if activation appears incomplete 

Check your settings

Your settings may be impacting your texts and calls. 

Check for: 

•  Do Not Disturb

•  Wi-Fi Calling

• Call Forwarding

Follow your manufacturer's guidance to tailor the relevant settings to your needs.

If your texts and calls still aren’t working after completing the above steps, try resetting your network settings. If the issue persists, your device may have a more serious underlying fault; speak to a professional for a proper diagnosis and repair.

Battery problems

Battery issues can cause your battery percentage to drop rapidly, your phone to shut down unexpectedly, or make your phone require frequent charging.

Whilst phone batteries gradually degrade over time, a battery issue could be caused by software settings or damage to the battery itself.

Check battery health

Most modern smartphones provide battery health information in their settings. Samsung phones offer battery information with clear guidance, whilst Apple shows a percentage of the maximum battery capacity. Apple recommends replacing batteries with a maximum capacity below 80%.

If the battery issues continue after taking the above steps, or your device regularly shuts down unexpectedly, a battery replacement from a trusted professional may be required.

Connection issues

Phone connectivity issues can take many forms. Perhaps your Wi-Fi, mobile data, or Bluetooth won’t connect, or maybe your connectivity regularly drops regardless of connection type.

In some cases, connectivity issues may be caused by the external network or device, rather than your phone itself. Alternatively, it may be caused by your network settings or a hardware fault.

Identify the impacted connection

Determine whether the problem involves:

• Wi-Fi

• Mobile data

• Bluetooth

• Multiple connection types

Problems affecting multiple connection types may indicate a more serious underlying issue. 

Test another network or device 

This helps determine whether the problem is with your phone or the network itself.

Try to:

• Connect to a different Wi-Fi network

• Pair a different Bluetooth device 

If the connection works on a different network or device, it suggests the issue was likely with the original network or device, not your phone.

Restart the connection

Try turning the impacted service off and back on.

For example:

• Disconnect and reconnect the Wi-Fi

• Disable and re-enable mobile data

• Restart Bluetooth

If the issue was a temporary glitch, this should resolve it.

Review network settings

Your phone’s network settings may be interfering with your ability to connect.

Check the following:

• Mobile data status

• VPN settings

• Preferred network type

• Saved network credentials

Follow the relevant troubleshooting guidance for your specific device, or reset to the default network settings.

If connectivity problems impact all networks and devices you test, even after following all the relevant troubleshooting steps, a hardware fault might be responsible. In this case, seek a trusted professional for diagnosis and repair.

Poor performance

If your phone is slow, glitching, or overheating, there may be an underlying performance issue. This can be attributed to software settings or potential internal damage.

Check storage

Head to your storage settings and check for:

• Large apps or files

• Photos

• Unused apps

If your storage is nearly full, freeing up space may resolve the issue, as low storage can affect your phone’s overall performance.

Check for software issues

Check your settings and complete any available software updates, as this can help resolve underlying software issues.

Consider problem apps

Whilst using your phone, be mindful of any apps that could be causing the issue.

Pay attention to:

• Apps that frequently crash

• Apps that trigger overheating

• Apps consuming excessive battery

If a specific app appears responsible, update it and see if the situation improves. Uninstall the app if it continues to cause performance issues.

If you’re still experiencing performance problems after freeing up storage, removing problematic apps, and fully updating your software, your device may have internal damage. In this case, seek a trusted professional for a diagnosis and repair.

Display issues

Display issues can include flickering, unusual colours, lack of touch responsiveness, or a black screen. In some cases, these issues can be ruled out by reviewing your display settings. Otherwise, screen faults are often caused by physical impact, liquid damage, or hardware failure.

If you continue to experience display issues after following the guidance above, back up your data as soon as possible and seek professional repair.

Final thoughts

Phone problems can be frustrating, but they don't always indicate a major fault. With a little time and the right information, you can reconnect with confidence, as many issues can be easily resolved with a few simple checks or troubleshooting steps. Whatever happens, there’s always the peace of mind that you can seek professional repairs if there’s a serious underlying fault.

Whether you’re troubleshooting your phone yourself or getting a professional repair, you’re helping reduce electronic waste by prolonging your device’s lifespan, saving on the costs of a new device and making a meaningful difference to the environment.