Phone not charging or charging very slowly?
Charging faults are among the most common repairs we see. The cause can be as simple as lint in the port or as serious as a failed charging chip, so it's worth ruling out the easy things first.
Written by Zojari technicians with 12+ years of phone repair experience
Signs you may notice
- Phone doesn't respond when plugged in
- Cable only works when held at an angle
- Charging starts and stops repeatedly
- Fast charging no longer works
- Battery percentage barely rises overnight
Safe checks to try first
- Try a different cable and charger that you know work with another phone.
- Try a different wall socket, not an extension board.
- Look into the port with a torch. If you see lint or dust, switch the phone off and gently remove it with a wooden toothpick. Never use metal pins or needles.
- Restart the phone, then try charging again with the screen off.
- Check whether the phone charges while switched off.
Stop and bring it in if…
- The phone, cable or port gets hot or smells of burning
- The back of the phone is lifting or bulging (a swollen battery)
- You see a 'moisture detected' warning or the phone was recently wet
- The port pins look bent, green or corroded
What usually causes it
One symptom can have several causes. These are the most common ones.
Dirty or blocked port
Pocket lint packs into the port so the cable can't seat fully.
Worn or damaged port
Loose pins or a cracked port from years of plugging in, or from a fall.
Faulty charging board or flex
On many phones the port sits on a small separate board that can be replaced.
Worn-out battery
An old battery may accept charge very slowly or drop suddenly.
Charging circuit fault
A failed component on the main board, often after liquid damage or a bad charger.
What our technicians do
We clean and inspect the port under magnification, test with known-good chargers, and measure how much current the phone actually draws. That tells us whether the fault is the port, the battery, the charging board or the main board, and you get a quotation for the right repair rather than a guess.
Request a quotationCommon questions
Can a cheap charger damage my phone?
Poor-quality chargers and cables can deliver unstable power and, over time, can damage the charging circuit. Use a reputable charger rated for your phone.
Is it safe to keep using a phone that only charges at an angle?
It usually means the port or its connection is failing. Constant wiggling can make the damage worse, so it's best to have it checked soon.
Other repair guides
- Phone keeps restarting on its own?Restarts while you are using it, often under load (camera, games, calls) · Gets stuck on the brand logo and restarts again (boot loop)Read the guide
- Phone dropped in water or had a drink spilled on it?Phone switched off or won't turn on after getting wet · Lines, spots or flicker on the screenRead the guide
- No network, no service or SIM not detected?'No service' or 'Emergency calls only' · 'No SIM' or 'Invalid SIM'Read the guide
- Screen stays black during calls, or you hang up with your cheek?Screen stays black during a call and you can't hang up · Your cheek mutes or ends callsRead the guide
- Callers can't hear you, or you can't hear them?Callers say you sound far away or can't hear you · You can only hear callers on loudspeakerRead the guide
- Phone won't turn on at all?Nothing happens when you press the power button · No charging sign when plugged inRead the guide
Your Device Deserves Expert Care.
Over 12 years of phone repair experience in Kampala. Tell us what’s wrong and a technician will recommend the right repair. No fix, no fee.