Power Bank Shows No Lights At All
Power bank with no lights — why it shows nothing and how to wake, charge, or reset a completely unresponsive power bank from Anker, Mophie, Iniu, and others.
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Quick info
Visual description
The power bank shows absolutely no LED indicators or display activity when you press the power button or when you connect a charging cable. The device appears completely unresponsive — no blinks, no lights, no vibration, no sounds.
What it means
A power bank with no lights falls into three categories:
1. Completely discharged battery: Lithium cells can discharge past the minimum safe voltage if left unused for months. Below ~2.5V per cell, the protection circuit shuts everything down — including the LEDs. Even pressing the power button produces no response. This is recoverable.
2. Over-discharge protection mode: Most power banks have a 'sleep mode' that activates when charge drops below ~3% — the LEDs turn off and the unit won't respond to the power button until it receives charge. Some users assume the device is broken when actually it just needs to be plugged in for 20–30 minutes before any lights appear.
3. Hardware failure: Rarer, but power banks can fail — usually the charging IC, the USB port, or the battery cells themselves. In this case, even after prolonged charging, no lights appear.
Brand & model variations
The same light pattern can mean different things across manufacturers.
| Brand / Model | What white off means | Recommended action |
|---|---|---|
Anker PowerCore 10000, PowerCore 20000, 737 | Anker PowerBanks enter deep sleep when empty. No response to button press is normal when fully depleted. Connect via USB-A to USB-C or USB-C to USB-C (check which is input). Leave on charge 30 minutes before expecting any indicator light. | Plug into a 5V/2A wall adapter (not a laptop USB port) for 30 minutes. Anker units need wall current to wake from deep sleep. |
Mophie Powerstation, Juice Pack series | Mophie power banks can take up to 60 minutes to show any LED response when fully depleted, especially the larger 20,000+ mAh units. The charge indicator may stay dark for the first 30 minutes of charging. | Use the Mophie-included cable. Aftermarket cables sometimes can't wake a fully depleted Mophie due to impedance. |
INIU / Baseus / Romoss (generic brands) Various 10,000–30,000 mAh models | Budget power banks sometimes have aggressive deep-sleep thresholds. They may show no lights for 20–40 minutes even when plugged in and charging normally. The charging process has started but the indicator circuit is the last to wake. | Leave charging via wall adapter for 45 minutes. If no lights after an hour, the charging port or IC may be faulty. |
Diagnose your issue
Answer a few questions to narrow down the cause.
How long has the power bank been unused since its last charge?
Safe next steps
Ordered from least to most involved. Check each step as you go.
Connect the power bank to a wall adapter (not a computer USB port) — use 5V/2A minimum.
Use the original charging cable if possible — some power banks are picky about cable resistance.
Wait 30–45 minutes before concluding that nothing is happening. LEDs are the last to wake.
Do NOT leave a power bank charging unattended overnight if it's showing no response after 2 hours — permanently over-discharged lithium cells can be a fire/swelling risk if force-charged.
If swelling or heat is detected on the power bank body: stop charging immediately and dispose of safely at an electronics recycling center.
When it resolves on its own
Condition: After a sustained charge of 30–60 minutes on a wall adapter
Expected time: Most power banks wake and show some LED activity within 45 minutes when connected to a wall adapter after deep discharge.
When to escalate
Stop troubleshooting and contact your ISP or manufacturer if:
- No LED activity after 2 hours on a wall charger — battery is likely permanently over-discharged.
- Power bank body feels warm or swollen during charging — stop immediately and remove from building.
- Power bank is under the 18-month warranty window — contact manufacturer for replacement.