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How to Charge Your Phone Without a Charger
Some easy—and surprising—ways to give your phone a boost
By Karen Marcus Karen Marcus Writer University of Colorado at Denver Colorado State University Karen Marcus is a former Lifewire writer who has also written for companies like HP, Intel, IBM, Samsung, and others. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on October 23, 2022 Reviewed by Christine Baker Reviewed by Christine Baker Christine Baker is a marketing consultant with experience working for a variety of clients. Her expertise includes social media, web development, and graphic design. lifewire's editorial guidelines Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email In This Article
Expand Jump to a Section Use a USB Port Charge With a Battery Pack Hand-Crank Chargers for Emergencies Use a Solar-Powered Charger Charge With a Car Charger Wireless Chargers for Easy Charging Frequently Asked Questions This article explains several ways to charge your phone if you don't have a phone charger, including using a hand-crank charger or a solar charger. All of these methods require either a charging cable that's compatible with your iPhone or Android device or a wireless charging pad. Use a USB Port to Charge Your Phone
For this process, you need a charging cable that is compatible with your phone. You can plug your phone into your laptop for a quick charge or find alternate USB ports that can do the job. Most USB ports found in airports and some coffee shops provide enough power to charge a standard smartphone. Also, some hotels have USB ports built into lamps and bedside tables. They are usually of the USB-A shape, which is the rectangle end of the cable you usually use to charge your phone. Plug the USB end of the charging cable into the USB port. Plug the other end into your phone. Westend61 / Getty Images Charge Your Phone With a Battery Pack
You’ll need to do a little advance planning to use this method. All modern battery packs can supply enough power to charge your smartphone, although not all of them may support fast charging (even if your phone does). Charge your battery pack in advance and remember to take it with you when you won't have access to your regular phone charger (or simply carry it with you at all times). Each battery pack will be slightly different, but typically all you need to do is to plug the charging cable into it and into your phone and turn it on. Vladimir Sukhachev / Getty Images Hand-Crank Chargers for Emergency Phone Charges
A hand-crank charger doesn't require any electrical power, making it a great choice for outdoor adventures or emergencies. To use a hand-crank charger, plug the charging cable into the charger and into your phone, and keep cranking until you get a usable charge. It may take some time before you get a usable charge. Some hand-crank models have batteries built in, so you could charge the battery and then use the battery to charge your phone. PXHere Use an Eco-Friendly Solar-Powered Charger
Another great choice for outdoor adventures, a solar-powered charger only requires sunlight to run. Solar chargers typically work in one of two ways: Sunlight charges a battery in the unit, which is then used to charge the phone or the solar charger charges the phone directly. Set up the charger to collect sunlight, or place it on your backpack to charge it while hiking. Plug your charging cable into the charger and into your phone. rico.pulido08 / Twenty20 Charge Your Phone With a Car Charger
Most modern vehicles have USB ports that you can use for charging mobile devices. If not, you can buy an adapter that plugs into the lighter port. Start your car or turn it to accessory mode. Plug one end of the charging cable into the car's USB port or adapter and the other end into your phone. Marin Tomas / Getty Images Use a Wireless Charger for Easy Charging
If your smartphone works with wireless charging, you don't have to do anything other than place your phone on the charging pad. The urban myth that you can use fruit to charge your phone is technically true but requires a lot of fruit and additional equipment. Therefore, it is impractical and not recommended. photo / Getty Images How to Choose a Wireless Charger FAQ Why isn't your charger working? Your charger might stop working for several reasons: the wall socket is off or damaged, the charger is damaged, or there is damage to the device's power port. How do you clean a phone's charging port? To clean the iPhone's charging port, use canned air, a mini vac, a Post-It Note, or a toothpick. You can also take it to a professional at the Apple Store or even a jeweler. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Charge an Apple Pencil (Any Generation) How to Charge an iPhone 12 How to Charge Your GoPro Camera and Batteries How to Charge a Chromebook Without a Charger How to Connect Your Phone to Your TV With USB The 8 Best Emergency Radios of 2022 The 5 Best Portable Solar Chargers of 2022 How to Charge a Samsung Galaxy Watch Without a Charger How to Fix a Broken Charger How to Charge a Lenovo Laptop Without its Charger How to Charge a MacBook Pro Correctly WBPINE 24000mAh Solar Power Bank Review: Huge on Battery Life What to Do When Your Car's USB Port Won't Charge Your Phone BigBlue Solar Charger Review: Reliable Power on the Go How to Charge Your Phone or Laptop on a Plane How to Fix It When a Tablet Won't Charge Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies