Xiaomi: the phone is charging, then it is charging, then not – what is the reason

The situation when Xiaomi smartphone starts to react randomly to the connection to the network, familiar to many users: the screen lights up, the icon of the lightning appears, but after a second the sound of the shutdown is heard, and the cycle repeats endlessly. This behavior of the device is not only annoying, but also poses a real threat to the battery and motherboard, as the surges of current can damage the power controller.

The causes of unstable charging can be hidden in both trivial contamination of the connector and deep hardware malfunctions. Often, owners of Redmi or Poco sin on the cable itself, forgetting to check the condition of the socket. It is important to understand that the MIUI protection system can block the power supply when anomalies in the circuit are detected to prevent overheating or short circuit.

In this article, we will take a look at all possible factors, from software failures to physical damage, and you will learn how to conduct initial diagnostics and understand when to carry a gadget into the service, and when you can solve a problem yourself in five minutes, the main thing is to act consistently, eliminating simple options before moving to complex ones.

Diagnostics of external elements: cable and power supply

The first thing that comes to mind when you're having a charging problem is that you're breaking the cable, and in fact, 60 percent of the time, the problem is that the wire is broken inside the insulation, and even if the cable looks whole, the inner veins could move away from the contacts, and the contact would disappear when you move the least.

The power supply is also often the culprit of unstable work. Cheap Chinese adapters that do not support Quick Charge or Power Delivery fast charging protocols can give out unstable voltage. The smartphone tries to negotiate with the unit about current, does not receive a response and stops charging, then the cycle repeats.

To check, try connecting your device to another power source, such as a computer port or powerbank. If the phone is charging consistently on another unit, your main adapter is out of order. Don't ignore this step, as using a faulty unit can kill the charge controller on the board.

• 🔌 Visual inspection: carefully check the cable for clutters, bloating and scuffing, especially at connectors.
• 🔋 Test with another adapter: Use an original or certified power supply with similar power.
• 🖥️ Checking the PC port: connecting to USB-The computer port will help eliminate the problem with high current.
• 🔄 Side change: Try flipping the Type-C plug (although it is symmetrical, the contacts can oxidize on one side).

Problems with the charging connector and its cleaning

A USB Type-C or Micro-USB connector is a mechanical part that is subjected to constant physical stress, and over time, dust, pocket pile and other dirt accumulate inside the socket, which compresses and prevents the plug from entering the end, which causes contact to take place incompletely, and the phone to charge or not.

Other than dirt, the problem might be the loose contacts inside the connector itself, and if you used your phone frequently while charging, the contacts' petals might have weakened, so the plug dangles, and you have enough light touch to interrupt the current, and sometimes you can use the gently bending the central tongue, but that requires jewelry precision.

⚠️ Note: It is strictly forbidden to use metal objects (needles, pins) to clean the connector, as you can accidentally close the contacts and burn the motherboard.

The cleaning procedure should be done with the device turned off. Carefully, without pressing too much, walk the inner walls of the connector with a toothpick, scavenging the compressed dust. Often after such a simple procedure, the phone starts charging as new. If the connector is physically destroyed or fell off the board, only a replacement at the service center will help.

Software failures and MIUI settings

Sometimes the hardware is completely functional and the problem lies in the software. Android operating system with a MIUI shell may not properly process signals from the power controller, which often happens after a failed firmware update or installation of applications that conflict with system processes.

One common reason is Charging Optimization, or third-party battery applications that aggressively manage power consumption, which can mistakenly detect overheating or power surges and programmatically cut off the power chain.

It's also worth checking if the flight or power saving mode is on at a critical moment, and if the phone is getting stuck on the boot screen or logo, it can mimic charging problems when the system can't actually start, and in such cases, logging into Recovery or Fastboot mode helps.

• 📱 Reboot: banal shutdown and turn on the smartphone resets temporary driver errors.
• 🛡️ Safe Mode: boot your phone in Safe Mode to eliminate the impact of third-party apps.
• 🔄 Resetting: an extreme measure that returns the software part to factory status (backup required).
• 📲 Software Update: Check for official system updates that may contain bug fixes.

Hardware malfunctions: battery and controller

If the external cells and the software are fine, the most likely problem lies inside the case. The most common culprit is a worn-out battery. Over time, lithium-ion batteries lose capacity and can't keep the voltage under load. The phone sees a sharp drop in voltage and thinks the battery is empty, stopping charging.

The second important element is the power controller (IC charging), which is the chip on the motherboard that regulates currents. If it overheats or gets a microcrack from a fall, it can randomly turn the power on and off. Repairing the controller requires professional equipment and soldering skills.

You can visually detect the bloating of the battery: if the back of the phone starts to recede or the screen slightly sticks out, the battery needs to be changed immediately. Operating a bloated cell is dangerous for the risk of fire. In modern Xiaomi models with non-removable batteries, this requires opening the case.

The influence of temperature and environment

Temperature is a critical factor for lithium batteries. If your Xiaomi is lying in the sun, near the battery, or you use it for heavy games while charging, the temperature can exceed the permissible threshold.

So low temperatures are also bad. If you bring your phone from the cold into a warm room and you put it on charge right away, the condensation inside can cause a short circuit, and the cold electrolyte in the battery can't respond properly. A smartphone can charge, but the percentage won't rise.

Let the device cool or warm to room temperature before connecting to the network. Remove the tight case that interferes with heat transfer. If the phone is hot to the touch, close all applications and put it on a cool surface (but not in the refrigerator!).

⚠️ Warning: Never put a charging phone under your pillow or on soft cloth.This disrupts heat transfer and can lead to critical overheating and fire.

When you need to go to the service center

There are a number of signs that you can't solve the problem on your own, and if you've tried all the cables, cleaned the connector, reset the settings, but the smartphone continues to behave inappropriately, the damage is hardware in nature, and further attempts at "treatment" can only make the situation worse.

Symptoms are particularly troubling, such as the smell of burning, the intense heating of the lower part of the phone (where the board is located), or the appearance of artifacts on the screen while charging, which indicates a short circuit or failure of the motherboard components.

In the service, specialists will call the circuit with a multimeter, check the current consumption through the laboratory power supply and tell you exactly what to change: connector, plume, battery or do rebolling / replacement of chips. Do not drag on a visit if you need a phone for work.