What to Do If a Tablet Will Not Charge: A Simple Guide
You plug the tablet in for the night, and in the morning it is still flat. It is a worrying moment, and easy to assume the tablet has died. The good news is that nine times out of ten it has not. A tablet that will not charge is usually a loose cable, a tired charger, or a speck of pocket lint in the socket, not a broken device.
This guide walks through the simple checks in order, starting with the most common and harmless. Try them one at a time. There is a fair chance you will be sorted before you reach the bottom, and none of these steps can do any damage. For the wider view, our guide to the best tablets for seniors in Australia compares the main options.
Quick answer
Most of the time the cable or the plug is the culprit, not the tablet. Try a different wall socket, then a different charging cable and plug if you have one. Gently clean any fluff out of the charging port on the tablet. Leave it plugged in for a good half hour, because a very flat tablet can take a while before the screen shows anything at all. If it still does nothing after all that, it is worth a trip to the shop.
Steps to try, in order
1. Give it time, and watch for a sign of life
If a tablet has run completely flat, it will not light up the second you plug it in. It can sit there looking dead for several minutes while it takes on enough power to wake. Plug it in, leave it somewhere you will not knock it, and come back in half an hour. Look for a small battery picture or a lightning bolt on the screen. That is the tablet telling you it is charging, even if it is not ready to use yet.
2. Try a different wall socket
It sounds too simple, but a switched-off socket or a faulty one is a very common cause. Make sure the switch on the wall is on. Then try a completely different socket in another room. If you have a lamp or a phone charger that you know works in that socket, even better, because it confirms the power is good.
3. Check the cable and the plug closely
Charging cables take a daily beating, and they are the part that wears out first. Run your fingers along the whole length. Look for kinks, fraying, or a bent end. If the cable plugs into a small white block that goes in the wall, check that too. The best test by far is to borrow a different cable and plug, perhaps from a family member, and see if the tablet charges with those instead. If it does, you have found the problem and a new cable is a cheap fix.
4. Clean out the charging port
The little socket on the tablet where the cable goes in collects pocket lint, dust and crumbs over time. When it packs in tightly, the cable cannot make a proper connection. Turn the tablet off first. Then, in good light, look into the port. If you see fluff, gently tease it out with a wooden toothpick or the corner of a dry, soft cloth. Be slow and gentle. Never use anything metal, and never use water. This one small thing fixes a surprising number of charging problems.
5. Make sure the cable is pushed all the way in
A cable that looks plugged in can be sitting just shy of home, especially if the tablet is in a thick case. Press it in firmly until it stops. A good cable clicks or sits flush against the tablet. If the case is in the way, take the tablet out of it and try again.
6. Restart the tablet
Sometimes the tablet is charging but has frozen, so the screen will not respond. Turning it off and on again clears that. On most tablets you hold the power button for a few seconds until it offers to switch off, or you hold the power and volume buttons together. If you are not sure of the buttons for your model, our guide on what to do if a phone or tablet is slow or not working walks through restarting in more detail.
If none of that works
If you have tried a different socket, a different cable, cleaned the port and given it plenty of time, and the tablet still shows no sign of charging, then it is worth getting it looked at. A battery does wear out after many years, and that is a normal part of a tablet’s life, not something you did wrong. The fix is usually straightforward and far cheaper than a new tablet.
Take it to where you bought it, or to any Officeworks, JB Hi-Fi or Harvey Norman with a repair counter. If it is an iPad, an Apple-authorised repairer can check it. If it is still fairly new, it may be under warranty, so dig out the receipt before you go. There is also a lot of free, friendly help around the country, which we round up in our guide to free tech help for seniors in Australia.
A quick checklist before you worry
- Wall switch on, and a second socket tried.
- A different cable and plug tested if you have one.
- Charging port checked for fluff and gently cleaned.
- Cable pushed firmly all the way in, case removed if needed.
- Left to charge for at least half an hour before deciding.
Before you finish
Download the free Family Tech Safety Checklist to help check phone safety, passwords, scam messages, emergency contacts and medical alarm details.
FAQ: When a tablet will not charge
How long should I leave a flat tablet before it shows anything?
Give it at least half an hour. A tablet that has run all the way down needs to build up a little power before the screen will even light up, so a blank screen in the first few minutes is normal.
Can I use any charger, or does it have to be the one it came with?
A charger from another phone or tablet will usually work, as long as the end fits the socket. The matching charger is best, but borrowing another one is a perfectly good way to test whether your own cable is the problem.
Is it safe to clean the charging port myself?
Yes, if you are gentle. Turn the tablet off, use a wooden toothpick or the corner of a dry cloth, and take your time. Never poke metal into the port and never use water or cleaning spray.
The tablet gets warm while charging. Is that a problem?
A little warmth is normal. If it becomes hot to hold, unplug it, let it cool, and try a different charger. A genuinely hot tablet is worth having checked, but mild warmth is nothing to worry about.
How do I know if the battery has simply worn out?
If the tablet is several years old, charges very slowly, or runs flat within an hour or two, the battery may be near the end of its life. A repair shop can test it and fit a new battery, which is far cheaper than replacing the whole tablet.
