Vape not charging? Here is what to check first

A vape that will not charge usually has a simple problem: a tired cable, a port full of pocket fluff, or a plug that is not delivering power. Work through the checks below in order, from the quickest fix to the most serious, and you will usually find the cause in a few minutes.

Every vape kit sold in the UK today is rechargeable, so a charging fault is worth tracking down properly. One rule comes before everything else.

1. Start with the cable

Cables fail far more often than vapes do. They get bent, wrapped tightly and pulled out by the lead, and the wires inside can break long before the outside looks damaged.

• Try a cable you know charges another device.
• Look at both ends for bent, loose or blackened connectors.
• Wiggle the cable gently at the device end. If the charging light flickers on and off, there is a loose connection in the cable or the port.
• If a USB-C to USB-C lead does nothing, try a USB-A to USB-C lead. Some devices only charge properly from that type.

2. Clean the charging port

Lint, dust and dried e-liquid build up inside the port and stop the plug from seating fully. If the cable no longer clicks home firmly, this is the likely culprit.

1. Switch the device off, or lock it, and remove the pod or tank.
2. Shine a torch into the port and look for fluff, grit, corrosion or sticky residue.
3. Ease out any debris with a wooden toothpick, and wipe the opening with a dry cotton bud.
4. Never use anything metal. A pin or paperclip can bend the contacts or short the circuit.

If e-liquid has leaked into the port, leave the device somewhere at room temperature for several hours to dry out before you charge it. Do not speed it up with a hairdryer or radiator.

While the pod is out, check its contacts and the device's contacts too. A leaking pod can leave liquid between the two. Wipe both sides dry with a tissue.

3. Check the power source

Next, rule out whatever the cable is plugged into.

• Use a wall adaptor rather than a laptop, keyboard or car socket, which may not supply enough current.
• Try a different socket and a different adaptor. Extension leads can have their own switch or a tripped fuse.
• A standard USB phone plug suits most kits. If your manual recommends a particular type of charger, use that.

4. Give the battery time and the right temperature

A completely flat battery sometimes shows nothing at all for the first few minutes on charge. Leave it plugged in for 15 to 30 minutes before deciding it is dead.

Lithium batteries also dislike extremes, and many devices refuse to charge when they are very cold or very hot. If your vape has spent the night in a cold car or sat in the sun, let it reach room temperature first.

Charging lights and screens are useful clues, but each brand uses its own colours and flash patterns. The same flashing light can mean charging, full or a fault depending on the device, so check your manual for what yours means.

If your mod takes removable batteries

• Swap in fully charged cells. If the mod then works, the old cells are the problem, not the mod.
• Check the cells are the right way round and the battery door is fully closed.
• Inspect each cell's plastic wrap. If it is torn, dented or rusty, stop using that cell.
• Many manufacturers recommend charging removable cells in a dedicated external charger, even when the mod can charge over USB.

Looking after the cells themselves, including matched sets, is covered in the battery guide linked further down.

5. Charging, but still not firing?

Sometimes a vape charges normally and still seems dead.

• It is locked. Many button-fired devices lock with a set number of quick clicks so they do not fire in your pocket. Check your manual for the unlock sequence.
• The pod is not detected. Take it out, wipe the contacts and push it back in until it clicks.
• The coil or pod is faulty. Try a fresh pod or coil. Many devices flash or show a message when they cannot read the coil.

If it fires but feels feeble, that is a different problem. See why you are getting a weak hit, and how to fix it.

Signs it is time to replace the device

If a cable you trust, a clean port and a working plug have not helped, the fault is probably inside the device. These signs point towards replacing it:

• It only charges when the cable is held at an angle.
• The port is loose, cracked or moves in the case.
• It runs flat much sooner than it used to, even after a full charge.
• It shows full suspiciously quickly, then dies within a few puffs.
• It gets noticeably warmer while charging than it used to.
• It got wet, or was soaked by a leaking pod, and has not recovered after drying out.

Most pod kits have a built-in battery that you cannot replace, so a failing battery means a new device. If yours is fairly new, check the manufacturer's warranty terms first and keep your proof of purchase.

Battery wear is a topic of its own: how it happens, how to slow it down and how to recycle an old battery safely. We cover it in how to know when your vape battery needs replacing.

Whatever you do with an old vape, never put it in your household bin or recycling. Take it to a battery or small electricals collection point.

Quick checklist

If the checklist has not brought it back, it may be time for a new kit.

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