After playing around with the features to charge only slow and charge only up to 80%, my FP5 is charging now only, if I am using an USB-C port from my laptop or with the Fairphone Charger (with USB-C), but not with any charger using an USB-A to USB-C cable.
If using an USB-A to USB-C cable, it says “charging slow”, but nothing happens. In fact, the SOC is going down due to usage time (not tried to use is, but it’s powered on, screen is off).
I tried to charge it while it is powered off: no success with USB-A, but works with USB-C cable.
For me, it looks a little bit like turning the option on and then off to charge only slow was in reality deactivating the slow charging functionality.
Of course, phone has been restarted (I am always powering it off during night), and I am on the latest software version with the built-in version (Google Android).
Any idea, how to get this working again?
Next step would be to raise a bugfix ticket with the company, if I am not getting a solution here.
I don’t remember hearing of this problem before, and have certainly not encountered it myself. Any combination of A and C works.
The first thing that comes to mind is your A-to-C cable. As you know, USB-C plug is supposed to be reversible - in other words you can plug it in to the port either way round. However there have been reports of cables that are only wired to work one way round. To test this, mark one of the sides of the USB-C plug and then test it one way round and then the other.
A USB-C - to - USB-C cable is unlikely to present this defect, as is borne out by your own experience.
You are certainly right to choose slow charging and 80% when that’s practicable for you. I’ve had my FP5 since end of September and the battery is performing just as it did at the start.
Thank you for your thoughts.
I am an (old) IT Guy and of course, changing the cable, the charger and flipping the plug is everything I already tried. But good to read that we had the same thoughts.
I have had the phone since September last year and am very happy with it. I can deal with the behaviour but would like to use the same (slow) charging environment I am used to. The 80% setting does not work for me as it is only active when the phone is switched on, whereas I usually charge it overnight when it is switched off.
At the moment, I have a really strong feeling that there is a bug in these settings.
You say you have installed latest version, so its Android 14? When did you olay around with the settings and when did the beahviour start, with the current installed build or a previous one?
I have the latest version installed, that the phone is providing to me. So right now: Android 13 with Patchlevel June. But funny: it’s just presenting the download for Android 14
I cannot say, if the behaviour started exactly after settings it back to original, as I was traveling with a rental car which had USB-C in the front panel (which I was using while driving and using Android Car/Google Maps). I recognized it during a stay not using the car - all that is 2 weeks old.
So, I am going to retest tomorrow as soon the latest update got installed.
Sounds annoying, sorry to hear. I don’t think it is the general setting issue though:
I have the 80% setting set permanently but the slow charge only most of the time, sometimes I change it for one quick charge. Therefore I’d say I turn it on quite often.
I am now on A14, but used it for a bit on your A13 version (and I have the phone since release).
Every night I charge with a USB-A to USB-C cable with an old, slow power plug. Few times I use the Fairphone quick charger at my desk.
I have never had any issues like you describe.
Keep us updated on testing and possibly support contact!
So, got Android 14 installed and played with that a couple of days.
Behaviour is, unfortunate, the same:
Plugged an USB A cable to the phone: it’s vibrating, gives sound, says “charging slow” and shows the charging sign in the status bar - but nothing happens and over time, it’s loosing SOC percentage.
Plugged an USB C cable to the phone: vibrating, sound, “charging fast” and it’s really charging.
And, of course, tested that all with different cables and different chargers, having it turned off/an again etc.
All optimising features (charge only slow, charge only up to 80%) are not enabled.
What could be the next steps? Where can I raise a support ticket to the company?
You can try the interactive help at this page. It will lead you trough the process and provide you with all possible causes. If it doesn’t help, you may open a ticket at the end of the process.
If you want to open a ticket directly, you will find the information at the bottom of the page (though I recommend completing the steps).
Hello all, I seem to be havingbthe exact same charging issues with my FP5, therefore won’t repeat or descibe in detail.
Just this much: the phone suddenly became quite ‘picky’ when it comes to which cable (usb a - usb c) it accepts for charging. Most of the time, on plugging in the charger, it vibrates, symbol shows it is charging, exvept it is not. Instead the %indicator goes down.
Right now, out of all the charging cables I own (and All of them were working fine with my FP5 until they weren’t about two weeks ago (around thebtine of the A14 rollout, coincidence?); now it accepts a mere two. And on top of that, it does matter (although it should not and has not before) which way around I plug the cable into the phone charging socket. So if I turn the usb c plug around, it works. If we’re lucky.
This random behavour is quite annoying and not acceptable. Bought the phone last September. Want to try a new usb c unit from the spare parts selection. What do you think, should I?
Hello Peter.
For me, there is no coincidence with the Android14 update, as it started some weeks before. It started with it just after playing around with the battery optimisation functions. From my point of view, it looks like the switch to allow only slow charging is now behaving like “do not allow slow charging” after having it turned on and off again. USB-A = slow charging, USB-C = fast charging.
I am using an original Fairphone charger, which supported both USB-A (to USB-C) and USB-C. Only works with the USB-C port. Same with other charger I still own. So it’s not a question of the charger, but the port (and the underlaying charging protocols the port supports).
I have a support cases opened last week, but no feedback so far.
Check the comment from max_o above, which I marked as solution.
One other possibility is that you ask the shop, where you purchased your device (if not directly with Fairphone).
