How to fix a Motorola Moto E4 that’s not charging or able to charge but very slow [Troubleshooting Guide]

When a smartphone suddenly won’t charge, it may be just experiencing some random software glitches, halting the charging system from carrying out the usual routine. Most charging issues in mobile devices are in fact attributed to software errors and that means they’re fixable by end-users. As long as the charger is working and the device didn’t get wet or fall, there’s always a way to deal with the problem. Highlighted in this context are some recommended workarounds to deal with charging issues on a Motorola Moto E4 smartphone. Read on to find out what to do if your Moto E4 suddenly won’t charge or is charging very slowly.

If your Moto E4 is able to charge but very slowly, then you’re most likely dealing with a software problem. In that case, you can try any of these workarounds.

First workaround: End all background apps then reboot your phone.

Background apps could be the main culprit especially if they crashed or got corrupted. Background apps are comprised of applications you’ve recently opened or used but not closed. They remain running in the background and ready to launch whenever triggered. Unfortunately, any of these background apps can give into random errors and eventually halts other phone functions. To make sure this isn’t what’s causing charging problems on your device, clear all recent apps from your Moto E4 with these steps:

1. Tap the Recent Apps icon from the Home screen. Doing so will show up a list of recently used or opened apps.
2. Swipe an app to the left or right to remove the application.

Do the same until all apps are closed. After clearing all background apps, reboot/soft reset your Moto E4 with these steps:

1. Press the Power button for a few seconds then release when the menu appears.
2. Select Power off then tap OK. Your phone will then shut down.
3. After 30 seconds, press the Power button to turn the phone on again.

Alternatively, you can force restart your Moto E4 with these steps:

1. Press and hold the Power button for about 10 to 20 seconds.
2. Release the button when the phone restarts and goes through the boot-up sequence.

A soft reset or reboot dumps errant cache and temporary data thus refresh the internal memory and operating system.

Second workaround: Check battery usage and manage apps.

A device that’s suddenly charging very slowly may have something in it that’s rapidly consuming the battery. In this case, what really happens is that your phone is charging in a normal pace but since something is rapidly draining its power, it appeared to be charging very slowly as it takes longer for the battery to become fully charged. In most cases, rogue apps and services are the main culprits. You can see what subsystem, component, or application is using the most power on your Moto E4 with these steps:

1. Tap the Apps icon.
2. Tap Settings.
3. Then tap Battery.

A new screen containing the details of battery usage will then show up. Check and see which app is consuming the most power of your phone. If you see something unusual with an app’s power consumption, then you need to manage that app. You may have to disable that app temporarily or remove it from your device completely. Should you prefer the latter, then follow these steps to delete/uninstall the errant app from your Moto E4:

1. Tap the Apps icon.
2. Tap Play Store.
3. Tap Menu.
4. Go to My apps & games.
5. Locate the app that you want to delete.
6. Tap to select the app and then tap Uninstall.
7. If prompted, to OK to confirm app deletion.

Reboot your device when you’re done uninstalling errant applications.

Third workaround: Update phone software to the latest version available.

Updates can sometimes cause problems including battery draining issues in mobile devices. But they’re originally intended to offer benefits including new features, enhanced functionality and security patches to get rid of any existing bugs and malware. Should the charging problem you’re dealing with is attributed to some malware or software bugs, then installing updates will likely deal with it. That said, check for any system software update available for your Moto E4 with these steps:

1. Tap the Apps menu icon.
2. Tap Settings.
3. Tap System.
4. The tap System Updates.

Installing app updates can also help especially if errant apps are to blame. App updates also offer security patches to clear any bugs and malware that may have caused the app to go rogue. If you haven’t set your device or apps to install available updates automatically, then you can manually check for and install pending updates for your apps. Here’s how:

1. Tap the Apps icon to view the list of your apps.
2. Tap Play Store.
3. Tap Menu.
4. Tap My apps & games.
5. A list of apps with pending updates will then appear on the upper part of the screen.
6. If multiple pending app updates are available, then tap the option to Update All apps simultaneously.
7. To update individual apps, tap the Update button next to the name of the application.

Once you’re done installing pending updates for your apps, reboot/soft reset your Moto E4 to ensure that all new changes are properly applied and likewise prevent any apps from going rogue.

Fourth workaround: Factory data reset via Android recovery mode (external reset).

If your phone is able to charge up to 50 percent, then you can perform an external reset to clear fatal system errors that might have caused the charging system to act up. This however should only be considered among the last resort because it will wipe everything from the phone including downloaded apps, customizations, downloaded files, and personal data. Should you wish to continue, back up all your important files then follow these steps to carry out an external reset on your Moto E4 and restore its factory defaults:

1. With your phone powered off, press and hold the Power button and the Volume Down button simultaneously until your phone boots up.
2. Then press the Volume Down button to scroll to and highlight Recovery Mode.
3. Press the Power button to confirm recovery mode restart. An Android bot image with a red exclamation mark will then show up.
4. When you see this image, press the Volume Up button while holding down the Power button.
5. Then press the Volume Down button to scroll to and highlight wipe data/factory reset option.
6. Press the Power button to confirm selection.
7. Press the Volume Down button to scroll to and highlight Yes — erase all user data option.
8. Then press the Power button to confirm selection.
9. Allow your device to complete the reset process and restore the factory default settings.

Your phone will then reboot once the reset is finished. By then you can proceed with the initial setup process. Any software-related problems including slow charging should now be cleared.

If your Moto E4 is not charging at all, then refer to these subsequent charging tips:

1. Use only the original (OEM) charger/charging equipment. Third-party chargers may not be compatible with your phone’s charging system and therefore won’t work. If possible, use only the charger that comes with your device. If you have a spare OEM charger, then you can try using that to determine if the problem is with the original charger or not.
2. Charge from the right power source. To ensure your device is getting enough power input, charge it from a power source or wall outlet. Other charging ports may not be able to supply the right amount of power for your device to charge faster. Make sure that the power outlet or source you’re using is working. Try to switch between power sources or wall outlets, if necessary.
3. Clean the charging port from dust or lint. Dust or lint clogged in the charging port may bar contact from the charger. As a result, the phone may not be able to charge or experience on and off charging. Check the charging port and make sure there’s no dirt or lint stuck in it.
4. Remove third-party casing phone accessories. Third-party casing or protective case may also cause loss contact between the charging port and the charger especially if it doesn’t fit well with your phone. To make sure this isn’t the cause, try to remove any casing from your device and then charge it again.

Other options

If nothing else works and your Motorola Moto E4 is still not charging or able to charge but very slowly, then you should now consider taking a trip to a service center. There may be some sort of physical or liquid damage on any of your phone components like the battery perhaps, that’s preventing it from charging properly. And should there be any hardware damage, then that would need some repair.

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