Unfortunately, like any electronic, power banks have been known to have some issues. The most common issue to encounter when using a power bank is the unit not charging. This can be due to a variety of problems, some internal, some caused by user error.
This detailed guide will walk you through many of the common causes for a power bank not charging and also some troubleshooting methods that could help your resolve your issue.
Popular Power Bank Models That Will Not Charge
The list below details many of the popular power bank models that people frequently report charging issues with. Most of these issues can be resolved using the methods in this guide.
- Jackery Bolt
- Anker
- Onn
- Inu
- Mophie
- Pny
- RavPower
- Cygnett
- Samsung
If you find that you are experiencing charging issues with any of the power bank models above, this guide can help you pinpoint your issue and troubleshoot your issue.
Power Bank Blinking But Not Charger
The red light blinking on your power bank usually indicates that it is currently charging. This is simply to notify the user that the power bank is working as intended when hooked up to an outlet for charging.
If the power bank is blinking but it’s not charging, this indicates that there’s an issue with the charging system. When it’s blinking, it means that the power bank is charging but if it’s blinking and not charging, then you need to inspect the power bank’s data port.
If you currently have your power bank plugged in but no red light is visible, you could be having some of the issues detailed in this guide.
How Do I Know If My Power Bank Is Not Charging?
Most power banks will have a LED lighting system that indicates the different levels of charging. Consult the manual for the specifics of your device and then check for the light indicator that signifies charging. If the proper lighting notification is not displayed, then it will be safe to assume that your power bank is not charging properly.
Why Isn’t My Power Bank Charging?
1. Power Banks Data Port Is Dirt Or Damaged
Your power bank has ports that help to facilitate the charge between your device and a power outlet. This port is in addition to the one that transfers charge from your power bank to your phone, tablet, or laptop.
Over time, these ports can accumulate dirt or grime, which can keep them from functioning correctly. There is also the possibility that damage could have been incurred from improperly removing the charging cable, or from general wear and tear.
You will find that all charging ports across all your devices are prone to wear out over time, leading to connectivity problems when trying to charge your devices. This is sometimes the case with power banks.
Since the power bank is used so much, it is subject to being plugged and unplugged much more frequently than other devices. This can cause the ports on your device to wear much quicker than you would normally expect.
One way to avoid this is to keep your charging ports clean, while also trying to remove the charger carefully to avoid any damage. While no charging port lasts forever, you might find that if you avoid plugging and unplugging your device unnecessarily, it will last longer.
2. Cable Problem
By the same token, your charging cable could be the reason that your power bank is not able to draw any power. Charging cables are one of the most heavily used utilities in the whole world. As with any item that is frequently used, it is subject to significant wear and tears over time.
Generally, a charging cable is very durable, often lasting a while before needing to be replaced. A charging cable is much easier to replace than a faulty charging port, so cable issues are the preferable issue to encounter.
As a charging port, a cable can only be used so many times before the connector tip is worn down and will no longer efficiently charge your device. The lifespan of a charger will depend on the type and how it is treated when in use.
A charging cable is prone to damage, so it is important to be careful when removing and connecting to a device. Since your charger is likely to see frequent use, you can expect to have to replace it at least once in your device’s lifetime.
To lower your chances of having charger issues, consider annual replacements to avoid any loss of functionality when you need it. Being careful when handling your charging during plugging and unplugging can also help further the longevity of your charging cable.
3. Software Issues
More modern and technologically advanced power banks might use additional software to help give the user access to additional features. If your power bank utilizes Wi-fi or has some sort of feature that supports something other than basic charging, then you will most likely have to keep up with regular software updates like you would any device.
Software issues are a common problem with any modern technology, including power banks. Most devices depend on periodic updates to their software to patch out bugs and glitches and optimize features for the user.
If you have let your device fall behind on updates, this can cause connectivity issues when trying to charge, among other problems that will cause your power bank not to function correctly.
The best way to avoid this is to determine whether or not your device supports updates. If you find that it does, be sure to check back now and then and see if you have one available to install.
4. Battery Problems
All batteries have a finite lifespan. Your power bank is essentially just a portable rechargeable battery. Once the battery starts to near the end of its lifespan, you will start to encounter more problems till it eventually stops working entirely.
The lifespan of your power bank battery will depend largely on the brand and how often you used it. The lifespan of a power bank battery is typically quite long, though excessive use can lead to the battery’s lifespan being depleted faster.
Damage incurred to your power bank can also affect the battery. If your power bank has gotten wet or dropped, it could have damaged the battery to the point where it can no longer efficiently be charged. If you start having battery issues after dropping your device or getting it wet, you have most likely damaged the battery.
There is no way to fully avoid your power bank battery eventually breaking down, but with proper care, you can ensure that your device has a long life. Preventative measures include proper storage and handling and charging habits.
5. Socket Issue
The problem with your power bank not charging could be stemming from a faulty outlet socket in your home that you are currently plugged into. Your electrical outlets can become faulty due to wiring issues or issues with the connection ports.
You can test your power bank by using another outlet and seeing if it can charge properly. If it does, then you were likely plugged into a faulty outlet. Faulty outlets can be dangerous and should be addressed as soon as possible.
Only a licensed electrician can fix a faulty outlet in your home. It is not recommended that you attempt electrical repairs yourself. Doing so could be dangerous. You should also avoid plugging into faulty outlets, else your risk damaging your devices.
6. You Are Using An Extension Cord
Extension cords are a great way to temporarily stretch the range of a power outlet. They are typically not recommended for long-term use. The use of an extension cord with your power bank should not cause any problem, but long-term use could cause issues.
Extension cords are prone to damage, both external and internal. As most extension cords that you would typically plug your power bank into are relatively cheap, they can often incur damage that causes issues when transferring power.
If you are using an extension cord with your power bank, consider plugging directly into the power outlet if possible. You will likely find that your extension cord is simply defective and needs to be replaced.
Extension cords, like charging cables, are prone to wear after long-term use which could cause them to not function properly. Consider using only direct links to your power outlets for the most efficient charging.
7. You Are Not Charging It Long Enough
For your power bank to charge your devices optimally, it is recommended that you allow it to charge to full power before trying to use it. This will also lower the number of times that you must charge it since it will have full power available after every charge.
If you unplug your power bank before it has time to charge properly, it might not have enough battery power stored up to properly charge your device. The minimum that you should allow your power bank battery to charge before attempting to charge a device is halfway. Anything below that and your risk your device not being charged properly.
Any device that contains an internal battery that holds a charge will last longer if you let them charge to full and die before charging. This is sometimes not ideal, but the idea is that the less frequently you have to plug your device in, the longer the internal battery and charging ports will remain functional.
8. You Are Charging It With A Laptop
Most power banks can charge via USB. This makes charging simple and easy, with most providing an adapter that you can use when utilizing USB charging. This adapter, usually a small brick adapter, helps to facilitate the proper charge from a wall outlet to your power bank.
If you try to hook your power bank up into a laptop, you will likely find that it is unable to efficiently draw power. While your laptop might be able to deliver some charge to your device, it is likely not powerful enough to charge your power bank optimally.
If you get your power bank to register a charge from your laptop at all, it will likely take several times longer than normal to fully charge. Any power that your laptop is drawing will first be utilized by the laptop itself. The power is then passed to your power bank, where it will not be as effective as if the power bank were plugged in independently.
The best way to utilize USB charging on your power bank is to use the power adapter that is appropriate for your model.
9. You Are Trying To Charge A Device At The Same Time
Typically, a power bank will not support charging at the same time as a connected device. The power bank needs time to store the power up to efficiently charge any connected devices. If you have a device connected while you are trying to charge your power bank, you will find that neither will charge efficiently.
You could risk damaging your devices when using them in this manner. The safest way to charge your devices is to wait for the power bank to accumulate enough charge to transfer the power properly.
Consider just charging one of the other if you are in a position where you have to choose. Often in this type of situation, you could just simply charge the device you were trying to charge with the power bank.
Power Bank Not Charging? Try These Fixes
Now that you are aware of some of the common causes for your power bank to not charge, you can examine some troubleshooting options that might help you solve your problem.
There are many different solutions that you can consider. Use the guide above to help you determine which of the troubleshooting methods is best for your particular situation.
1. Inspect The Charging Process
Understanding how your particular power bank’s charging process works is vital to troubleshooting any potential issues that you might encounter. This includes any relevant charging state indicators and methods for proper charging that might be unique to your device.
When you attempt to charge your device, take note of exactly what your device is doing. If you notice that no indicator lights are blinking when they should, or if they are the wrong color, this could help you determine what the source of your issue is and how to approach it.
2. Clean The Charging Port
As previously mentioned, the charging port is one of the most important aspects of your power bank. If you find that your charging port has substantial dirt and grime build-up, then simply cleaning it out could help resolve any connection issues that might have been caused by the dirt.
Air duster is one of the best ways to clean out a dirty charging port on any device. This will also help keep your charging port pins from being damaged during the cleaning process. You should avoid sticking things into your power bank’s charging port during cleaning, as this could cause further issues with the connection.
A dirty charging port is one of the most common causes of charging issues when using a power bank. You can prevent the build-up of dirt and grime in your charging port by properly storying your power bank and regularly blasting the port with an air duster.
3. Use A Different Cable
You could successfully solve your charging issue by simply changing the charging cable that you are using. Charging cables are prone to damage and generally have a short lifespan compared to the devices that utilize them.
You should expect to have to replace your charging cable every so often. Even when taken care of they will still eventually lose the ability to charge efficiently as the connector tip wears from use.
You could have inadvertently damaged the charging cable during storage or removal from a device. If you believe that this is the case, simply changing to a different charging cable could help solve your problem.
Keeping an extra charging cable on hand could be a wise preventative measure against any future cable issues that you might encounter.
4. Do not Use An Extension Cord
You should avoid using an extension cord with your power bank, as it can be an unreliable way to transport the charge from the outlet to your device. Your power bank is optimized to be plugged directly into the wall via a USB outlet. If you attempt to charge your power bank any other way, your risk encountering problems.
Short term, you should be fine using an extension cord to charge your power bank, but if you use an extension cord to charge your power bank all the time, you could experience charging issues.
If you want to test the integrity of your device, you should always do it by plugging directly into a wall outlet to accurately gauge whether your device is working or not.
5. Replace Power Bank
Unfortunately, there are some situations where you might need to replace your power bank entirely. This could be due to a complete depletion of the battery due to long-term use, or some sort of damage incurred by the user.
Since a power bank’s main function is to deliver charge to other devices, its lifespan can be quite short compared to other devices that have internal rechargeable batteries. It is important to consider longevity when purchasing a power bank, as cheaper ones tend not to last as long.
One of the longest-lasting, quality power banks on the market is the Iniu Portable Charger (view on Amazon). It features a 20,000mAh battery capacity and claims that it can keep your devices charged for days at a time off a single charge.
You should attempt to troubleshoot your power bank before settling on a replacement. Many different things could cause charging issues, so considering those options first might be a wise choice.
6. Blow Out The Charging Port
If there is a substantial amount of dirt and grime built up in the charging port of your device you could consider attempting to blow out the charging port using an air duster or a quick deep breath. This can help to clean the charging port of any debris that could be causing connection issues.
Air duster is one of the safest ways to clean out a charging port, as it keeps you from having to stick anything into them, which risks damaging the ports. Quickly clearing the ports of any debris commonly resolves many charging-related issues when using a power bank.
7. Use A Wireless Charger
If you are having trouble getting a connection due to a faulty cable or charging port, you could bypass this issue by simply using a wireless charger to charge your power bank.
Wireless charging, as the name implies, does not utilize any kind of ports to facilitate the power exchange. This can be a workaround for someone who knows they currently have a cable or charging port issue.
8. Update Your Firmware If You Can
If you have a more advanced power bank, it could need a firmware update before proper charging behavior is restored. Firmware is what your device depends on to execute critical functions. If your firmware is outdated, it could cause serious issues and potentially cause your device to become inoperable.
You will be able to update the firmware for your power bank by consulting the manual for your device. From there, simply follow the instructions to update your device to the latest firmware.
Your power bank might not be something that you typically would consider needing updating, but the firmware is present on many devices to help keep their programming in order.
9. Consult the Internet and Your Device Manual For More Information
Guides like the one that you are currently reading can provide valuable resources for identifying and troubleshooting any potential problems your might encounter while using your power bank.
This guide has provided you with detailed troubleshooting information and key signs to look for when identifying power bank charging problems. You should also consider consulting the manual for your device to ensure that you are well versed in the ins and outs of your device.
10. Contact The Manufacturer
This should generally be considered as a last resort, as the manufacturer’s support team will likely suggest to you many of the troubleshooting methods that are listed above. That being said, if you are experiencing persistent problems with your power bank not charging, you might consider contacting the manufacturer and have them investigate your issue further.
If you decide to go this route, you will be put in touch with a representative who will walk you through any potential troubleshooting methods that you may have missed. They will then provide detailed feedback regarding what you should do to resolve your issue.
This could range from simple troubleshooting fixes or advice to sending off the device to repair or replacement.
Final Thoughts
Mobile devices have become a vital and integrated part of the daily lives of people all over the world. People depend on being able to access their devices while on the go to stay in touch with family, work, and friends. Due to the dependence of people on these devices, the power bank market has skyrocketed.
You will likely see people on the bus or train with their phones or laptops hooked to one of these power banks. They are an extremely useful tool for those commuters or travelers who like to stay connected all the time.
Like any technology, power banks are prone to wear and tear and software errors. Some of these errors could cause your device not to charge properly, which can be frustrating when you go to charge something.
This guide has broken down a number of the main causes of power banks not charging correctly. Using the information above, you can accurately identify your issue and address it appropriately.
The troubleshooting methods listed have all been proven to resolve charging issues with power banks. Keep in mind that there are times when a power bank has simply run out of juice and will no longer be able to hold a charge no matter what.
This is due to the nature of rechargeable batteries. While they can last for quite some time, they will eventually lose their ability to hold a charge, regardless of how well it has been maintained. Due to this fact, you must do your research and pick a power bank that is built for longevity. Most quality power banks have a life expectancy of 2 to 5 years.
Using the knowledge you have gained from this guide, you can now make an informed decision when purchasing your next power bank or while addressing charging issues with your current power bank device.