I have a Samsung Galaxy A02 or A02s that's several years old, and I usually leave it charging while I sleep. A few weeks ago, I plugged its usual black power adapter into a faulty extension strip. There was a spark, the strip lost power, and the computer connected to it shut down. After that, the adapter stopped charging my phone, so I assumed it had been damaged and switched to another one.
Recently, charging has become unreliable again. After a full night plugged in, the phone was only at 66%. With the current adapter and cable, it sometimes doesn't charge at all, sometimes says it's charging without increasing the battery percentage, and sometimes charges extremely slowly. I've tried different outlets, but the issue continues.
I also have another adapter and cable, but using that combination makes the touchscreen behave strangely, and the charging problem still occurs. Could the charging port be dirty or damaged, or are the adapters and cables failing? Is the battery or phone old enough that it needs to be replaced?
2 Answers
Also check the phone’s battery settings for charging protection or a charging limit. Some Samsung phones intentionally stop around a set percentage, although that usually wouldn’t explain charging that never increases or becomes extremely slow. If the problem happens with multiple known-good chargers and the screen acts strangely with one setup, the charging port, battery, or charging circuitry may be damaged. Given the phone’s age, a repair or replacement could be more practical than continuing to use questionable chargers.
Start by testing the phone with a known-good adapter and cable, preferably ones that work normally with another device. Since the original adapter may have been damaged by the electrical fault, don’t keep using it. Check the charging port for lint or debris as well. If the cable doesn’t fit securely or falls out easily, gently clean the port with something nonmetallic; a small amount of isopropyl alcohol can help, but let it dry completely before charging.
The cable seems to stay in place, but I’ll test another adapter and cable separately to figure out which part is failing.