Why does my wireless charger only work when the phone sits in one exact spot?

Main answer · Wecent Editorial Team

Short answer: Wireless chargers need the coil in the phone and the coil in the charger to line up, and the tolerance can be small. Phones put their coils in different places, and cases add distance. If the sweet spot is tiny, the charger may have a small coil area, or a thick case, metal or a weak adapter may be shrinking it. Find the spot, remove the case and try another phone or pad.

How alignment works

Wireless charging is a pair of coils. The charger’s coil makes a magnetic field, and the phone’s coil picks it up. The closer and better lined up they are, the better the power transfer. A phone’s coil is usually in the centre of the back, but not always, and the position changes with the model.

Why the spot can be small

• Small charger coil. A pad with a single small coil gives a small working area.
• Phone coil position. It may be off-centre, so the best spot is not the centre of the pad.
• Thick case. The extra distance makes the field weaker, shrinking the working area.
• Metal or magnetic accessories. They can disturb the field.
• Weak adapter. A poor power source lowers the margin.
• Camera bumps or a curved back, which hold the phone at an angle.
• Pad design. Some designs use alignment magnets or marks for the sweet spot, and others do not.

What to try

1. Remove the case, and test again.
2. Move the phone slowly around the pad, and watch for the charging indicator.
3. Find the spot where it holds steadily, and mark it if the pad allows.
4. Use the recommended adapter and cable.
5. Try another phone to see if the working area differs.
6. Try another pad.
7. Clean the surface, and remove any metal.

Choosing a better design

If you often fail to line up, look for a magnetic charger with guided alignment, or a stand where the phone rests naturally in the right place. Multi-coil designs also give a larger working area.

Is it a fault?

If a charger works in only one spot, and the spot is very small even without the case and with the right adapter, the product has a narrow working area, or the coil is damaged. Consider a replacement.

For brands

Publish the working area, use alignment aids and test with a range of phones and cases.

Quick summary

Find the sweet spot, remove the case, use the right adapter and consider a magnetic or multi-coil design.

Where this answer says to confirm with Wecent, the detail is not published on the product page and has to come from the datasheet or the factory. General facts come from the regulators, standards bodies or device makers named in the text.