Why Xiaomi Redmi 9 is not charging, but shows that charging is underway: a full analysis of the problem

The situation is familiar to many: you plug a Xiaomi Redmi 9 into a charger, a lightning battery icon appears on the screen, the percentages even begin to rise — but after an hour or two it turns out that the phone has not charged. Or worse, the charge level drops despite the power connected. The problem of “false charging” is one of the most insidious malfunctions of Xiaomi smartphones, because everything looks normal, but in fact the battery is discharged to zero.

In this article, we’ll look at all the possible reasons why the Redmi 9 isn’t charging, although the indicator shows the opposite – from banal connector contamination to serious hardware breakdowns. You will learn how to diagnose the problem yourself, what manipulations should be tried at home, and in which cases it is better to immediately carry the phone to the service. MIUI, which can block normal charging.

Spoiler: 60 percent of the time, it's not the smartphone itself, but the components or settings that the user can replace/fix without special skills. But there are exceptions, for example, a defect in the power controller on the Redmi 9 board is often disguised as a "normal glitch", and without diagnosis it can not be distinguished from a faulty cable.

Before rushing to disassemble the phone or carry it to the workshop, go through our checklist of primary diagnosis - it will save time and money.

1. Checking the charger and cable: why 90% of problems are solved by replacing accessories

The first thing to rule out is that the charger or cable malfunctioned, and even if you were using Xiaomi's "native" kit, it could have failed, especially for users who charge their phone from a laptop, powerbank or cheap no-name chargers.

How to check:

1. Connect Redmi 9 to another charger (preferably the original one with Quick Charge 3.0 support).
2. Try another cable – better with USB Type-C and USB-IF certification.
3. Connect your phone to your computer or laptop – if charging is going well, the problem is the power supply.

⚠️ Attention: Cheap cables without protection from voltage drops can damage the power controller on the board Redmi 9. If after connecting such a cable the phone stopped charging at all - this is an occasion for a visit to the service.

Another nuance: Xiaomi Redmi 9 supports charging up to 18W, but if you use a power supply on 5W (for example, from an old smartphone), the phone will charge extremely slowly or even simulate the process without real recharge.

2.Diagnostics of USB Type-C connector: dirt, oxidation and mechanical damage

The USB Type-C connector in Redmi 9 is one of the most vulnerable places, and over time, it gets dust, it gets moisture, and if you don't connect the cable properly, the contacts can bend, and even microscopic dirt can disrupt the connection, which makes the phone "think" that it's charging when it's not actually getting current.

How to clean the connector:

• 🔦 Light the connector with a flashlight – if you see dust, debris or oxidation, it needs to be cleaned.
• 🧹 Use a wooden toothpick (not metal!) to remove dirt neatly.
• 💨 Blow the connector with compressed air (for example, a canister for cleaning equipment).
• 🔌 Check the contacts for bends - if they are bent, the connector will have to be changed.

⚠️ Warning: Never use alcohol or acetone-based liquids to clean, which can damage the plastic parts of the connector. If you see corrosion (green plaque) inside, this is a sign of moisture intake - in this case, professional cleaning with the disassembly of the phone is required.

If you have a problem after cleaning, try to move the cable slightly in the connector while charging, and if the charge indicator appears, it disappears - this is 100% a sign of poor contact, and the connector needs to be repaired or replaced.

3. Software glitches: why MIUI can block charging

Sometimes the Xiaomi Redmi 9 doesn’t charge due to software bugs of MIUI firmware.This can happen after a system update, reset settings, or installing third-party apps that conflict with power management.

What to do:

• 🔄 Reboot your phone – sometimes it helps to reset the charging controller’s temporary errors.
• 📱 Launch your phone in Safe Mode (hold the power button) → "Safe Mode. If charging started, one of the installed applications is to blame.
• ⚙️ Reset the settings to factory (don't forget to make a backup!). To do this, go to Settings. → The phone. → Resetting settings.
• 🔧 Update. MIUI until the latest version - in new assemblies often fix bugs with power management.

If the phone is charging when it's off but doesn't charge when the screen is on, it's a classic symptom of a crash in the service android.os.BatteryService, in which case only a reset or flashing will help.

⚠️ Note: After resetting the phone may be the first 10-15 It's okay to show false charging for a minute, because the system calibrates the battery data!

4.Battery problems: bloating, wear and calibration

The Xiaomi Redmi 9 battery has a capacity of 5020 mAh, but its performance deteriorates over time. If the phone has been in use for more than a year, the cause of the “false charging” can lie in the wear and tear of the battery or its bloating.

Signs of a faulty battery:

• 🔋 The phone is quickly discharged even when turned off.
• 🌡️ The body in the battery area swelled or became hot.
• ⚡ Charging goes only to a certain percentage (for example, up to 80%), then stops.
• 📉 B Settings → Battery shows high wear (more than 30%).

How to check the status of the battery:

1. Install the AccuBattery app (available on Google Play).
2. Look at the discharge graph – if it’s uneven (sharp jumps), the battery is faulty.
3. Check the battery temperature – if it is above 40°C when charging normally, it is an alarm.

If the battery is swelling, it is dangerous to use the phone, which can lead to fire, in which case the battery must be replaced immediately at the service center.

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If the phone suddenly turns off at 20-30% charge, but after connecting to charge again, this is a sign of the “memory effect” of the battery, which will help to completely discharge (up to 0%) and subsequent charging to 100% without interruption.

5. Power controller defect: when the problem is on the board

If all previous steps didn’t work, the problem is probably with the power controller, the chip on the motherboard that controls charging and power distribution. In Redmi 9, the Qualcomm PM6150 chip (or similar chip) is responsible for this.

Symptoms of Controller Failure:

• 🔌 The phone is charged only when it is off.
• ⚡ The swelling is in the snag (i.e., no).
• 🔥 The phone is very warm in the area of the charging connector.
• 📵 The cable connection is not determined (although it is physically connected).

Unfortunately, you can't fix the controller yourself, you need soldering equipment and experience with microelectronics.

1. Controller soldering (if the problem is poor contact).
2. Replacement of the motherboard (in case of serious damage).

The cost of repair depends on the complexity:

⚠️ Warning: If the service offers to "swipe the power controller" is a fraud, the controller is a hardware component, it cannot be reflashed.

6. Alternative charging methods: what to do if nothing helps

If Redmi 9 refuses to charge in the traditional way, you can try alternative methods:

Charging via a wireless adapter (if supported):

• 🔌 Buy an adapter. USB-C → Qi (costs around 500–1000) ₽).
• 📱 Connect it to the phone connector and put it on wireless charging.
• ⚡ If charging went - the problem is exactly in the connector or cable.

Charging through OTG-cable (emergency method):

1. Connect Redmi 9 to another phone or powerbank OTG-cable.
2. On the second device, turn on the “Return Charging” mode (if supported).
3. If the Redmi 9 started charging, the problem is with the power supply or cable.

Charging through the docking station:

Some USB-C docks have more reliable contacts than a standard cable, and if you have one (for example, for headphones or a game controller), try connecting your phone through it.

⚠️ Attention: If the phone is not charged by any of the alternative methods, do not try to disassemble it yourself - without experience you can damage the plumes or board.

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If the Xiaomi Redmi 9 only charges when it’s off, it’s a sign of a serious malfunction of the power controller or firmware, and the screen on creates a load that the damaged system cannot handle.

7.Prevention of charging problems: how to extend the life of the battery

To avoid charging problems in the future, follow these guidelines:

• 🔌 Use only certified cables and chargers (especially those with Quick Charge support).
• 📵 Do not charge your phone in the cold or in direct sunlight – the optimal temperature for charging is 10–30°C.
• 🔋 Avoid full discharge – connect charging at 20-30%.
• 📲 Turn off the "energy-intensive" functions (GPS, mobile data) during charging.
• 🔄 Calibrate your battery once every 3 months: discharge your phone to 0%, then charge to 100% without interruption.

It is also useful to disable charging optimization in MIUI if it is enabled:

1. Go to Settings. → Battery.
2. Select Battery Settings → Charging Optimization.
3. Turn off the feature or set a charging schedule (for example, up to 80% at night).

These simple measures will help to extend the battery life and avoid problems with “false charging”.

FAQ: Frequent questions about charging Xiaomi Redmi 9