How to Fix a Charger: DIY Fixes for Phones, Laptops, & More

If your charger is only charging your phone, tablet, or laptop when you hold it a certain way (or isn't working at all), you may be able to fix it yourself. If there's no physical damage to the charger, try some quick charging fixes to rule out non-charger issues. Then you'll want to narrow the problem down to the charging cable, adapter, or charging port. No matter what the issue is, there's usually a quick (though temporary) fix to keep your devices running until you can get a new charger. This wikiHow article teaches you how to fix a broken Android, iPhone, or laptop charger, with expert tips from tech and smartphone repair specialists.

Fixing a Broken Charger

Smartphone repair specialist Shavo Hacopian says if a charging cable is physically damaged, you may be able to fix it temporarily by wrapping it in electrical tape. You can also fix damaged chargers using heat shrink tubing or by soldering. If no damage is visible, test each charging component to isolate the issue.

Section 1 of 6:

Quick Fixes to Try First

Before you try to fix your charger, make sure you're using the correct charger for the device. While most iPhones and Androids use USB-C chargers that are largely cross-compatible, you usually can't use a random laptop charger to charge your laptop just because the connector fits.
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Make sure the outlet is on. In many homes, there's that one switch that seems to do nothing, but actually controls the outlets in the room. To test this, plug in a lamp, turn it on, then toggle the switch up and down. Did the lamp turn on? Then you'll know if that switch needs to be on for that outlet to work.
- Check the switch on your power strip. If you're using a surge protector or power strip, make sure the power switch is turned on.
- Try a different outlet. Maybe the one you're using doesn't work anymore, so changing to a different outlet may or may not work.
- Check the circuit breaker. Go to your fuse box and look for a switch that's flipped (not like the others). You can reset the switch in the fuse box to turn it back on.
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If you're using something like a computer, laptop, or tablet to charge your phone, rebooting that other device may fix your charging problem.

Section 2 of 6:

Isolate the Issue

Once you've determined that your charger isn't working, inspect it for bare wires and stripped insulation/wire sealing. Move the cable from one side to another. If the charging stops, the wire inside could be broken, or there could be an issue with the connector.^{[1]
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Try switching out different parts of your charger to test. To fix your charger, you'll need to determine which part of the charger isn't working.
- For example, if you're using the USB cable to connect your phone to your laptop for charging, plug it into a wall adapter, then plug it into the wall to see if it'll charge.
- Try multiple wall adapters if the first one you try doesn't work.
- If your power adapter works but your phone isn't charging, try another charging cable to see if your phone charges. If it does, you've successfully isolated the issue to your original charger cable and can either continue to repair it or buy a new one.
- Look for lights on the charger or adapter. On some chargers, like Mac and iPhone power adapters, there are lights on the piece that connects to the wall to indicate that it is getting electricity from the wall. In that case, you know nothing is wrong with the wall or that connection. Now you can focus on fixes that concentrate on the charger and cable itself.
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Test the components with a multimeter. If you don't have extra cables or another power source to test your charger, you can figure out which part of the charger isn't working using a multimeter. Warning: When holding the prongs of your multimeter, only touch the insulated parts. Do not touch the metal, especially when testing the voltage of an outlet.
- Test the outlet: Connect the probes to the multimeter and set it to AC voltage. Then, while holding the prongs by the insulated parts only, insert the black probe into the neutral port and the red probe into the hot/positive side of the outlet. The outlet is working if you get a reading of 110-120 volts (in the US).^{[2]
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- Test the cable: Turn the multimeter's central knob to resistance (Ohms or Ω). Touch the red lead to the USB connector, and the black lead to the connector you plug into your device.
  - On a digital multimeter, you will hear a beep if there is continuity.^{[3]
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  - Otherwise, if you see a value lower than 1, the cable has continuity. An infinity reading higher than 1 indicates the cable is broken and needs to be fixed or replaced.^{[4]
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- Test the adapter: This is especially helpful for laptops. First, check the adapter (the brick) to see what voltage (v) you're looking for–it'll usually be a range, like 19-20v. Then, plug the charging cable into a power source and set the multimeter to AC voltage. Touch the black ground lead to the outside of the connector, and the red lead to the inside of the connector. If the adapter is working, the voltage reading on the multimeter should fall within the range printed on the adapter.^{[5]
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Mike Holt, Residential Wiring Specialist

Testing outlets with a multimeter is a crucial safety step before any electrical work. Set the device to AC voltage mode and insert the leads correctly, with one prong in the hot slot and one in neutral. Abnormal readings indicate a wiring issue that must be addressed before proceeding, potentially preventing electrocution or fire.

Section 3 of 6:

Clean the Charger & Port

Remove any debris that could be interfering with the connection. Many devices won't charge if there's a small lint cluster or other debris in the charging port or cable connector. You may be able to fix the charger quickly just by cleaning the port or connector. Consumer technology expert Mitch Harris says you can clean the charging port by slightly dampening a cotton swab with rubbing alcohol and gently wiping the area.^{[6]
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Mitch Harris
Consumer Technology Expert

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- You can also use a can of compressed air, a toothpick, and some isopropyl alcohol to clean it.
- You also want to make sure the USB port on your charger isn't dirty. If it is clogged with lint or other debris, clean it with a Q-Tip or other non-metallic instrument. Make sure it isn't plugged in so you don't shock yourself.

Section 4 of 6:

Fix with Electrical Tape

Consider wrapping the charging cable in electrical tape for a temporary fix. If the charging cable has exposed wire, Hacopian says you can use electric tape as a quick fix, but he really recommends replacing the charging cable as a more permanent solution for a split charging cable.^{[7]
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Shavo Hacopian
Smartphone Repair Specialist

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- Computer and tech specialist Luigi Oppido agrees. "If the plastic coating is coming off of your charging cord, you can temporarily fix it by reinforcing it with electrical tape," he says.^{[8]
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  Luigi Oppido
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- If you want a solution that could buy you some more time (and you feel comfortable using heat shrink and a heat gun), try heat shrink instead.

Section 5 of 6:

Fix with Heat Shrink

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Consider heat shrink tubing for a sturdier fix. If you have heat shrink tubes that have a 3:1 ratio and a heat gun, you can use heat shrink to fix your charging cable. If you don't have heat shrink or a heat gun, you can buy some (or a whole charger repair kit) from Amazon or your local hardware store.
- Be sure to use the appropriate 3:1 ratio. A 2:1 ratio heat shrink tube is cheaper, but it isn't strong enough to fix a charger.
- Likewise, your heat gun needs to be precise. You don't want to cast a wide burst of heat that could damage your phone or anything else.
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Cut your heat shrink tubing to the appropriate size. You'll know the size you need depending on how much of your cable is split or open.
- Make sure it's a little longer than the split since the heat shrink tube will shrink when heated.
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Hold the tube in place while you use the heat gun to shrink it into place. Use pliers so your fingers are safely out of the way. Pliers also have rubber handles, so the heat isn't transferred up the metal to you. Make sure you're constantly rotating the cable so the tube shrinks evenly on the cable.^{[9]
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- When you're done, allow the charger cable to cool for a few minutes before testing it.

Section 6 of 6:

Fix with a Soldering Iron

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If the charging cable head is broken, you can solder it. Use this method to repair a broken connection in the charger cable head (the area right below the port that you insert into your phone). To solder, you'll need a cutting tool, a soldering gun, soldering wire, a glue gun, and either electrical tape or some heat shrink.
- You can use this method on Android and iPhones, but the cable colors will be a little different. Apple chargers always have red, white, green, and black wires. Android chargers may not have these colors, so soldering the correct wires can be a bit of a challenge. If you aren't confident in the wires you should solder, buy a new cable instead.
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Cut into the charging head gently. Use your cutting tool to cut horizontally across the middle of the head without slicing the wires inside. You'll want to rotate the cable so the cut continues all the way around.
- Take your time so you don't cut more than you need to! You don't want to cause more damage to the wires.
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Pull apart the two pieces to expose the inside wires. Do this gently so you don't damage the wires any more than they already are.
- If the wires are bundled together, use something small and sharp, like a push-pin, to separate the wires and cut through any heat-shielding protection.
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Note the wire sequence. On iPhones with consistent coloring, the wires are, from left to right, red, white, green, and black. The red and black wires are responsible for transmitting power, while the white and green cables transmit data.
- Since there's a problem charging your phone, you'll know that you need to fix the red or black wires.
You'll want to keep your fingers away from the soldering equipment, so a pair of pliers might be the answer.
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Insulate the wires. Use the glue gun to insulate each wire so they don't touch each other in the cable head.
- This is also meant to re-insulate the wires to protect them from heat. You can use smaller heat-shrinking tubes instead if you prefer.
Use electrical tape, your glue gun, or heat shrink tubing to close the cut part.
If your soldering skills didn't work, buy a new cable.^{[10]
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Warnings

Before using a multimeter, consult the owner's manual first. Pay close attention to any safety warnings and tips contained within.

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