Power Bank Won't Charge — Light Behavior Guide
Power bank won't charge your device — diagnosing the problem using LED patterns on Anker, INIU, Mophie, and other power banks. Fix it step by step.
Solid
red
Quick info
Visual description
The power bank appears to have charge (LEDs show 1–4 dots), but your phone or device is not charging when connected. The power bank LEDs may stay still (not counting down as they normally would during discharge), or may flash briefly then go out. The connected device shows no charging indicator.
What it means
A few distinct scenarios where a power bank seems charged but won't deliver power:
Auto-shutoff for low-current devices: Power banks detect when current draw is too low (earbuds, smartwatches, AirPods) and interpret it as 'charging complete' or 'no device connected.' They auto-shut off within 30–60 seconds. The fix is to activate trickle charge mode.
Power bank not pressed: Many power banks require you to press the power button to initiate output. Simply connecting a cable is not always enough to start charging.
Insufficient battery in the power bank: At very low charge levels (below 5%), some power banks cannot deliver enough voltage to charge a device while maintaining themselves. They may appear 'on' but can't actually output power.
Bad output cable: Charging cables with damaged D+/D- data lines can prevent negotiation, causing the power bank's output to fail even if the cable seems physically intact.
Damaged output port: Bent or corroded USB port pins prevent connection even when the cable is seated.
Brand & model variations
The same light pattern can mean different things across manufacturers.
| Brand / Model | What red solid means | Recommended action |
|---|---|---|
Anker All PowerCore models | Anker requires a button press on some models to initiate output. Additionally, trickle charge mode is off by default — small devices won't charge without it. 4 rapid flashes = overcurrent protection, output disabled. | Step 1: press the power button after connecting device. Step 2: if still no charge, hold button 2 seconds to enable trickle charge. |
INIU B41, B63, 10000 | INIU auto-starts output when a device is connected. If the device isn't charging: check if INIU detects it (LED count should start decreasing). If LEDs don't change and device isn't charging: bad cable or INIU output port is blocked. | Try a different cable. Also try blowing compressed air into the USB port — lint in the port is extremely common. |
Mophie Powerstation series | Mophie requires pressing the status button to initiate charge output on older models. Newer USB-C Mophies auto-start. If Mophie LEDs go off within 30 seconds of connecting a device: output auto-shutoff triggered (device too low current). Multi-tap the button to extend output session. | Mophie multi-tap button trick: pressing button rapidly 3 times while device is connected overrides auto-shutoff for 2 hours. |
Diagnose your issue
Answer a few questions to narrow down the cause.
What happens when you plug your device into the power bank?
Safe next steps
Ordered from least to most involved. Check each step as you go.
Step 1: Press the power bank's button AFTER connecting the cable — many models require a manual button press to start output.
Step 2: Try a different, high-quality USB cable — damaged cables are the leading cause of 'won't charge' issues.
Step 3: Check the device's charging port for lint or debris. Remove with a toothpick or compressed air.
Step 4: Try charging a different device — tests whether the issue is device-specific.
Step 5: Ensure power bank has at least 2 LEDs lit. 1 LED can be too low for some devices to accept charge.
When to escalate
Stop troubleshooting and contact your ISP or manufacturer if:
- Power bank appears charged (4 LEDs) but no device can charge from it with any cable — output circuit has failed.
- Power bank output port is physically loose or the USB receptacle moves when the cable is inserted — port has desoldered from the board.