How to fix Google Pixel 3 XL that won’t charge
Having a phone that won’t charge can be a real headache. Today’s troubleshooting article answers one of the common problems that a lot of Android users encounter — a phone that stopped charging. While this post focuses on Google Pixel 3 XL, the solutions below can also be applied to any Android device. We hope you’ll find this post helpful.
Before we proceed, be reminded that we provide answers to Android problems. If you are looking for solutions to your own #Android issue, you can contact us by using the link provided at the bottom of this page. When describing your issue, please be as detailed as possible so we can easily pinpoint a relevant solution. If you can, kindly include the exact error messages you are getting to give us an idea where to start. If you have already tried some troubleshooting steps before emailing us, make sure to mention them so we can skip them in our answers.
What causes Google Pixel 3 XL charging failure
Like most Android issues, a Google Pixel 3 that stopped charging must be a result of something. Knowing the cause of a particular issue is a must but in some cases, it can be trickier. There are two general causes why your Pixel 3 XL stopped charging — bad software or firmware or hardware malfunction. There’s no clear cut way to identify what particular factor is behind the trouble though, even if you think it’s a software glitch.
In some cases, finding the culprit is relatively easy, especially if you keep watch on your phone’s history. For instance, if your Pixel 3 XL stopped charging after you tried using an aftermarket charging cable or an unofficial charging accessory, it’s possible that the charging port may had been damaged. Or if charging stopped after tampering with the software, like when you root or flash the device, modification in one particular firmware may be the cause.
In many cases though, below are some of the specific common reasons why your Google Pixel 3 XL may have stopped charging:
- broken charging accessory
- damaged charging port
- damaged battery
- software glitch
- bad app
- hardware malfunction
What to do if your Google Pixel 3 XL stops charging
Troubleshooting this issue requires following a logical set of steps. The aim is to narrow down possible factors. Follow our suggestions below to know what to do.
Use another set of charging accessories
What many smartphone users don’t realize is the fact that USB cables can go bad even if there’s no obvious external damage to them. This is the reason why a lot of people troubleshooting this problem skip to more advanced steps without doing this one basic thing.
This troubleshooting step is simple. All you need to do is try another charging cable and adapter. If you can’t find one readily, borrow one from a friend or visit your local Google shop so you can use their charging cable or adapter. When borrowing an accessory, make sure that it’s known to be working and an official one.
Charge in a different outlet
If you’ve been charging in the same wall outlet since the problem started, there’s a chance that the issue may not be on your device but with the outlet. Try to use another one when charging to see if that will make a difference.
Visual check on charging port
Sometimes, charging issues can be caused by a damaged charging port. While there’s nothing much that you can do if that’s your case, it should still help in the sense that you will not be wasting your time checking for other factors. It can also make it easier for a technician during repair.
To do this, you want to do a visual check on the charging port. If there’s obvious damage, like when it’s physically impacted, try not to waste your time looking for software solutions. Instead, you want to contact Google so phone damage can be repaired.
At times, dirt, lint, or bent pins inside the port can cause this problem as well. If you want to see inside the port more clearly, try to use a magnifying tool to examine it. If there’s visible lint or dirt that may prevent the charging cable from making good contact with the system inside, try to use a can of compressed air to clear it out.
Verify if battery is charging
Once you’ve made sure that you have good working charging accessories, the next troubleshooting step is to see if the device holds a charge. Normally, a Pixel device show indicate that it’s charging a minute after you plug it in. This is indicated by either a red LED light or a displayed battery icon.
If a battery icon shows after waiting for 1 minute, your Pixel must have powered off after losing battery charge. In this case, you can simply restart it after leaving it charged for a few minutes.
If there’s a red LED light instead, that means the battery has completely been emptied. You don’t want to allow this to happen again as that might render the battery completely inoperable. If your Pixel 3 XL shows a flashing red light, try leaving the phone charged for at least 30 minutes. Afterwards, restart the phone.
Check for screen issue
If your Google Pixel 3 XL is showing a black screen but appears to be working still as it continues to make sound notifications, or other signs of life (vibrates, showing LED light, rings when you call your number), the problem is most likely screen related. Try to reboot the device normally and see if that will fix the screen. Otherwise, you need to send it in for repair.
Charge with a computer
At times, charging a device with a computer can clear a system bug that prevents regular charging using official accessories from working. When doing this troubleshooting step, make sure that your computer is powered on and has the necessary drivers. Try to install the latest operating system update for your machine if it won’t detect your Google Pixel 3 XL.
Use hardware buttons
With your phone connected to the wall outlet or computer, press and hold the Power and Volume Down buttons at the same time. Do this for at least 20 seconds. If there’s a red LED light, it means the battery has been fully discharged. Make sure to allow the device to charge for at least 30 minutes before you attempt to power it back on.
If Android icon and the word “Start” with an arrow around it when charging, you’ll need to charge the phone for 30 minutes before restarting it. After charging for 30 minutes, press and hold the Power button and tap Restart.
Send your device in for repair
Should the problem continue after doing all the troubleshooting above, you can assume that the cause is likely related to hardware. It can be anything at this point. As an end user, there’s only so much that you can do. Let a trained Google technician figure out the reason for the charging failure.