Power Bank Not Charging? Here’re 6 Ways to Fix It
Usually, the power bank’s LED will not turn on when it runs into charging issues. In some cases, you will see a charging indication, but the charge level will not increase.
Anything from a broken power cable to a damaged battery could stop the power bank from working. It could also be that the voltage from the power source is not enough to charge the device.
Besides this, extreme temperature also stops the power bank from charging. Its internal circuitry is designed such that the Lithium-ion battery stops charging once it reaches extreme temperatures, preventing the device from permanent damage. So you can also ensure that the power bank is not running too hot before getting into the fixes mentioned below.
Check the Power Cable, Port and Adapter
You can first start by ensuring that the power cable and adapter are functional. This may include broken/exposed wires, a bent power port, or even a swollen battery. If the cable or the adapter has visible damage to it, try using a different one.
However, if the power bank itself is damaged or swollen, there is a chance that the battery in your power bank is permanently damaged. If you are still under the warranty, you need to contact your manufacturer.
If the power bank and its charger do not have any visible damage, you can try using the power adapter on another device. The power bank usually charges with a micro-USB or USB Type-C port. So, you can try using the power bank’s power adapter and cable to charge another device that has a micro-USB or USB Type-C charging port.
If it charges another device, the issue is likely with the power bank itself. Furthermore, in order to charge the power bank, its charger should supply the correct amount of voltage and current. Your power bank will have a separate sticker that shows the amount of voltage required to charge it.
If the charger does not meet the voltage/current requirement, you may face issues when charging the power bank. In such cases, you can try charging the power bank using a different charger that meets the voltage/current requirement.
Clean Input Ports
After a certain time of usage, dust will settle in the input ports on any device. The dust particles can cause an obstruction, which may stop the input port from performing its task. In the case of power banks, dust particles on the power port may stop the device from charging. So, you should clean the ports to ensure that there are no dust particles on the charging ports (both input and output).
- Check the power bank’s power port. Usually, a micro USB port powers your power bank but some power banks may even use a USB type-C or a USB type-A port to charge.
- Use compressed air to blow dust out of the power port.
Reboot the Power Bank
Another reason the power bank fails to charge could be due to the residual charge stored in the capacitors inside the power bank. In such cases, you can try force-rebooting your power bank.
The process of rebooting the power bank can be different. For some power banks, you need to hold the power button for a few seconds to reboot. However, the process can be a little trickier for others and some power banks may not provide a power button at all.
To make sure that you follow the right steps, you can refer to the power banks user manual to reboot. If the user manual does not have the steps to reboot the power bank, it may not support a reboot.
Use Wall Outlet to Charge
The power bank may not get the required amount of voltage when charging directly from a USB outlet. Although the power bank does not need much voltage to charge, a USB port may not supply a sufficient amount.
Depending on the power bank, it may use a micro USB, USB Type-A, or Type-C power port to charge. Besides this, the device also has a few USB ports to supply power to your mobile devices.
The power bank will not charge if you have plugged the power source into a USB-out port. To charge the battery in the power bank, you need to insert the power port into the USB-in port. The USB-in port is usually indicated with the word IN written beside it.
In some power banks, you may even notice a plug icon that indicates the charging plug.
Discharge Battery and Charge Again
Sometimes, the power bank will not indicate that it is charging unless you charge a device with it. This can happen when there is an interruption in the flow of charge. To fix this you need to temporarily discharge the charge on your power bank.
- Disconnect the power bank from a power source and charge any mobile device for a few minutes.
- Now, disconnect the mobile device from the power bank.
- Charge the power bank directly from a wall outlet and check if the charging LED blinks.
Also, you should not charge a device simultaneously when charging the power bank. When you are charging and discharging the power bank at the same time, it may seem like the power bank is not charging.
Repair/Replace Power Bank
If the warranty on the power bank is not void, you can get a replacement. In such a case, you need to contact the manufacturer. However, in case the power bank has physical damage on ports and cables, do not make attempt to fix it without expert supervision and directly take it to a local repair shop.
Deep Shrestha works as a computer hardware writer at TechNewsToday with several hardware and programming certifications. Although he has been writing technical content for more than a year, his interest in hardware components started at a very young age ever since he heard about PC building. Pursuing his passion, he has assembled several desktop computers. Besides building desktop PCs, Deep also has hands-on experience fixing software and hardware issues on laptops and desktop computers. Using all this knowledge and skills about computer hardware, he’s on a quest to make content that’s easy to read and understand for everyone. You can contact him at deep@technewstoday.com
Running out of juice? These are the 9 best portable power banks of 2019—starting as low as 18
Smartphones and tablets help you stay in touch with the people you love and can provide you hours of entertainment. But all of that can quickly go away if your smartphone’s battery is at five percent and you’re nowhere near a wall outlet.
With a portable battery pack stored in your backpack or purse, you’ll always have enough power to stay connected to your friends and family and have vital information at your fingertips.
We rounded up the best battery packs for travelers, students, and everyone in between, for every budget.
Anker PowerCore 10000
The Anker PowerCore 10000 is one of the most affordable battery packs that doesn’t compromise on power or speed. It’s also compact and easy to carry in a backpack or handbag. It’s perfect for any iOS or Android device, and features a single USB port for output power. It even comes with a handy travel pouch.
“Very very small. Easy to use. I can charge my iPhone two to three times easily off this battery or my iPad once which makes it great for long trips or a long day at school,” wrote a satisfied Amazon reviewer. “I even used my iPad with this battery plugged in and noticed the charge level on the iPad going up while I was surfing the web and watching movies. The unit is about the size of a deck of playing cards. It comes with a nice little carry bag. I love it. Bought a bunch of them as gifts for friends and family.”
Anker PowerCore II 20000
The Anker PowerCore II 20000 is a little bit more expensive, but delivers more power at a higher speed, and has two USB ports. Designed with power users in mind, this model charges up fast.
“This thing is a portable powerhouse. I use it to charge my cell phone (a OnePlus 3) and my tablet (an Amazon Fire HD 10), and it works wonderfully,” a happy Amazon reviewer wrote. “You get a lot of both portability and charge time out of this device, and it will easily fit in a or take up little-to-no room in a backpack. I’ve never had to recharge the device during regular use on weekend trips, so it’s perfect for shorter travels, camping, or the like.”
Aukey Power Delivery Power Bank
If you have a newer smartphone, such as an Apple iPhone XS or Google Pixel 3, then this battery pack from Aukey is a great pick. Sleek and stylish, it has the latest USB-C ports and has enough power to charge a Nintendo Switch gaming console.
“This has a lot of good things going for it,” wrote an Amazon reviewer. “It’s portable, good looking, and solid. What I really like about it, though, is that it will quickly charge my Nintendo Switch with the Power Delivery port and it quickly charges my Galaxy S8 with the Quick Charge 3.0 port. It’s hard to find one that does both with the correct specs.”
Belkin Power
The Belkin Power is the gold standard of battery packs. It features up to 11 hours of extra battery life for your smartphone on a single charge, while its traditional USB port makes it compatible with older and newer devices, alike. The battery pack comes in three colors: black, silver, and pink. Belkin also includes a spare USB charging cable.
“This is by far one of the best chargers I’ve used,” a reviewer wrote on Amazon. “It is very slim and can easily fit into your Takes very little time to fully recharge and once it’s charged, it can charge your portable electronics easily.”
Belkin Valet Charge
If you own an Apple Watch, then this battery pack is for you. It’s one of the few battery packs out there that’s compatible with the Apple Watch, as well as the Apple iPhone. So if you have both devices, this battery pack can quick charge them at the same time.
The Belkin Valet Charge can take the Apple Watch from 10 percent to 100 percent eight times before dying, while it can do the same for the Apple iPhone about three times.
“This is a very handy little accessory for Apple products,” a delighted reviewer wrote. “It’s nice to have a spare charger for my phone and Apple Watch while traveling or in another room. It charges quickly and takes up little space. It’s easy to unplug and take with you while away from home. It has a nice weight to it, and as always Belkin provides reliable charges. Highly recommended!”
iMuto Portable Charger
The iMuto Portable Charger is just a good multipurpose battery pack. It’s small and compact enough to fit in your. while it gives much needed juice to your dying smartphone or tablet when you’re out and about. It can even give a quick re-charge to the Nintendo Switch.
This battery pack features two USB-A ports and one USB-C port for a wide variety of devices, while it also has a handy digital display, so you’ll always know how much juice is left.
“The charger definitely served its purpose,” wrote a happy reviewer on Amazon. “Me and my husband were at a convention and with both of our phones (Galaxy S7 edge, Samsung Note8) charging on the portable charger; it was charging fast and kept our batteries alive once they started to get low.”
Anker PowerCore 5000
If you’re looking for a battery pack that’s ultra-portable, look no further than the Anker PowerCore 5000. It’s only 4.2 inches tall and 1.3 inches wide with a cylindrical design that makes it more able than traditional battery packs. It’s like having a tube of lip balm in your
This battery pack is perfect for the Apple iPhone, Apple iPad, Samsung Galaxy devices, and just about any other Android smartphone or tablet. It features a single USB port that can give your device additional battery life when it’s about to die.
“I love the PowerCore 5000 as it can fit in my next to my phone, but still provides plenty of power. This has been especially helpful during my recent travels,” wrote a happy Amazon reviewer. “I can easily make it through the day while watching hours of video while traveling. I have drained and charged this pack over 25 times and it has been flawless every time I need it.”
The reviewer later added, “For the cost, this pack is a no brainer.”
Mophie Powerstation
The Mophie Powerstation is a handy battery pack that really packs a punch. It can give your device an extra 48 hours of juice with a single USB port. While most battery packs have this ability, the Mophie Powerstation’s standout feature is it also doubles as a wireless charging pad. So if your smartphone features wireless charging, you can ditch charging cables with this battery pack.
One of the pack’s best features is you can turn it off and on with just a push of a button, so you’re not draining its battery life while it’s stored in your backpack or purse or while traveling. Just turn on wireless charging when you need it and turn it off when you don’t.
“In my life, traveling and working from ballrooms, I have owned a plethora of phone battery packs. This one takes the cake,” wrote a satisfied Amazon reviewer. “I would have thought that there would have been efficiency lost in the wireless charging but this pack has been able to reliably wirelessly charge my iPhone X 1.5-2 times without having to be recharged. It’s also that it doubles as a plug-in wireless charger, one less thing to carry. It’s about the same size as my phone.”
Xiaomi Mi Slim Power Bank Pro
The Xiaomi Mi Slim Power Bank Pro is a really good compact power bank that can give your device a quick charge with up to 18 watts of electrical power (if your device supports it). It features one USB-A port for traditional Android devices and Apple iPhones and one USB-C port for modern smartphones. It even charges both ways, if the battery pack is getting low and your mobile device has some juice to spare.
“Very portable, small enough to fit in a jacket I used this at the airport in Chicago,” an Amazon reviewer wrote. “I could put the battery pack in my jacket with my phone and charge it while there during a 12 hour layover. Many of the electric charge ports were broken at the airport and being tired, it was helpful to put the charger in my in case I dozed off or forgot I had it and needed to move to check flight gate changes. It charged my phone quickly, was convenient to use, unobtrusive, not heavy. Very glad I had it.”
Shop it: Xiaomi Mi Slim Power Bank Pro, 30, amazon.com
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
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