Why Is My Wireless Charger Blinking?
A blinking wireless charger usually signals a foreign object detection, misalignment, or charging failure. Here is what each blink pattern means.
Problem Summary
The indicator light on your wireless charger is blinking, flashing, or behaving unexpectedly rather than showing a solid charging light.
Common Blink Patterns and Meanings
Different chargers use different LED patterns, but there are universal meanings:
Slow Steady Blink
Usually normal standby or active charging indicator. The charger is powered on and working. Some chargers blink every 2-3 seconds to confirm active charging.
Fast Blinking or Rapid Flashing
Typically indicates an error:
- Foreign object detected: Metal between phone and pad (key, coin, card)
- Device not recognised: Phone is too far off-centre or at a strange angle
- Overtemperature protection: Charger or device is too hot
Alternating Colours (e.g. Red-White)
Indicates a fault state. Could be a hardware issue with the charger, or an incompatible device.
Blinking Then Stopping
The charger detected something, attempted to initiate charging, and failed. Most commonly caused by misalignment or case interference.
Step-by-Step Fix
Step 1: Remove everything from the charging pad. Wait for the light to settle.
Step 2: Check for metal objects — coins, cards, keys — on or near the pad.
Step 3: Place your phone squarely in the centre of the pad.
Step 4: Remove the phone case and try again. Some cases (especially with wallet pockets or metal trim) trigger foreign object detection.
Step 5: Move the charger away from metal surfaces. Metal desks or surfaces with metal reinforcement can trigger foreign object detection.
Step 6: Check charger temperature. If it feels hot, unplug it and allow to cool before retrying.
Step 7: Test with a different device. If a second device charges without blinking, the issue is your phone or case.
Step 8: Test with a different power adapter. Unstable power supply can cause erratic LED behaviour.
When to Replace the Charger
Replace if:
- The charger blinks erroneously with all devices and after all troubleshooting
- The blinking started after physical impact or liquid exposure
- The charger does not charge any device reliably