Samsung Phone Shows Lightning Bolt But Not Charging?

When one plugs their Samsung phone into a charger and sees the lightning icon, that usually means their device is charging. However, some users encounter a frustrating situation whereby the lightning bolt appears, but the phone isn’t charging. In most cases, this happens when you need your phone for daily communication, working, or even simple entertainment. This article will explore why the Samsung phone shows lightning bolts but not charging and the solutions.

Samsung users should inspect and replace the charging cable and adapter, and damaged charging port, restart their phones, check for software updates, perform a factory reset, replace the battery, and avoid using third-party accessories to fix this issue.

Common Causes of Samsung Phone Shows Lightning Bolt But Not Charging

Several factors can bring about the display of the lightning icon on your phone without charging. These are:

1. Faulty Charging Cable or Adapter

A faulty charging cable or adapter is one of the most prevalent reasons for Samsung charging problems with lightning bolts. Over time, cables fray, break at the core, or lose their effectiveness in transferring power. Besides that, malfunctioning charging adapters can deliver less than adequate power to your phone.

2. Dirty or Damaged Charging Port

Although your Samsung phone’s charging port is small, it is important. Dirt, dust, or other debris inside the charging port blocks the charger’s connection from contacting the phone. It can also be damaged by rough handling or frequent plugging and unplugging. Another case would be exposure to moisture.

3. Software Glitches

Software glitches sometimes prevent charging. For example, a glitch could show the lightning bolt icon when not charging. This may be related to a recent software update, a buggy app, or even system instability in general.

4. Battery Health Issues

When your phone’s battery is old or damaged, it might not charge, even when you attach it to power. Lithium-ion batteries are rated to cycle several times before they begin degrading. That means if your battery has hit the end of its cycle, it might show your phone a lightning bolt but won’t charge.

5. Third-Party Charging Accessories

Third-party or non-certified charging cables and adapters can also cause this. These accessories may not meet Samsung’s power delivery and quality standards, resulting in a lightning bolt showing but no charge.

6. Background Apps and Processes

If your phone runs multiple background apps or processes, it can also draw more power than the charger can deliver. This can occur when using a low-power charger. Then, lightning bolts can appear and not increase the battery percentage.

How to Fix the Samsung Phone Shows Lightning Bolt But Not Charging

If your Samsung phone indicates the lightning bolt icon but won’t charge, you can take several troubleshooting steps to fix this issue.

1. Inspect and Replace the Charging Cable and Adapter

First, inspect your charging cable and adapter for visible wear, such as a frayed wire or a bent connector. If you think either has become faulty, try using a different set. Always use an original Samsung charger for complete compatibility and safety, and fix Samsung problems.

2. Clean the Charging Port

Check the phone’s charging port. Take a closer view with a flashlight to check for evident dirt or other debris accumulations. Use a small, soft-bristled brush or compressed air to clean the port; just be careful not to damage the delicate connectors inside.

3. Restart Your Phone

Sometimes, this means doing something as simple as restarting the device. You can do this by turning the power button off and then on again. Then, after booting up, charge the phone again to see if the problem will go away.

4. Check for Software Updates

• Keep your phone’s software updated to fix Samsung phone shows lightning bolt but not charging.
• Go to Settings > Software update and check for any available updates.
• If an update is available, install it. It might contain fixes for known bugs or glitches affecting the charging process.

5. Perform a Factory Reset

• If it persists and you feel it might be an issue at the software end, you must factory reset it. This will wipe your phone, so back up any important files, then follow these steps:
• Go to Settings > General management > Reset > Factory data reset to perform a factory reset.
• Allow the reset to complete, then turn your phone back on to see if the Samsung charging issue has been resolved.

6. Replace the Battery

If you follow the steps above and your phone still doesn’t charge, the battery is probably the problem. You may visit a Samsung-authorized service center or send the device to third-party repair shops like Cell N Tech to have the battery checked and updated if necessary.

7. Avoid Using Third-Party Accessories

Always use genuine Samsung accessories to charge your phone. Third-party chargers may not provide the right voltage or amperes, which will result in charging issues.

Why is my Samsung phone showing charging but not charging?

Your Samsung phone may show a charging icon but not charge due to a faulty charging port, dirty charging cable, or software issues. Clean the charging port and try a different cable to resolve the issue.

How do you fix a Samsung phone that shows a lightning bolt but does not charge?

To fix a Samsung phone shows lightning bolt but not charging, try using a different charger, cleaning the charging port, restarting the phone, or checking for software updates.

Why is my Samsung phone taking so long to charge?

Your Samsung phone may take longer to charge due to a faulty cable, a weak power source, background apps consuming power, or a deteriorating battery affecting charging efficiency.

Conclusion

In conclusion, having a Samsung phone that shows lightning bolt but not charging can be a frustrating experience and require various solutions. The reasons for this issue are faulty charging cables or adapters, dirty or damaged charging ports, software glitches, battery health issues, third-party charging accessories, and background apps and processes.

After learning about the reasons, Samsung users should follow the steps, including inspecting and replacing the charging cable and adapter, cleaning the charging port, restarting their phone, checking for software updates, performing a factory reset, replacing the battery, and avoiding using third-party accessories. You can also send your phone for professional smart phone repair.