Whether you are on your way out to a day full of errands, or a relaxed one by the beach, chargers are a must-carry because there’s sure to be a device that’ll run out of juice at some point in the day. Ironically, for such heavily used accessories, most chargers spot cables that seem to be intentionally designed to be fragile and easy to fray.

So, if yours just broke, don’t despair. It’s a common problem, and DIY solutions abound. Even better, we discuss ways to fix a broken charger cable and several other reasons your charger won’t work.

How to Fix a Broken Charger Cable: The Quick Fixes

Want to fix a broken charger cable? We’ve got some great fixes, but we’ll start with the quick ones perfect for when you need just a temporary fix:

Use Some Electrical Tape

Electrical tape is one of the easiest and most affordable fixes for a broken charger cable. You probably won’t even have to buy it because you have it sitting in your DIY drawer. That said, neatly wrap the tape around the damaged part several times to keep it immobile and prevent further damage. And if you intend to use it that way for a while, consider wrapping the tape throughout the length of the cable. For more lasting results, consider using a spring to stabilize the frayed section, wrap some electrical tape around it, and add a heat-shrinking tube, as shown in the video above.

Sugru Is Even Better

Using Sugru moldable glue is another quick and, surprisingly, a little longer-lasting fix for a broken charger. Also known as Formerol, Sugru is the world’s first-ever moldable glue. It’s a flexible, silicone-based, putty-like substance that cures into a durable rubber-like material upon air exposure. While flexible in its putty state, Sugru sticks permanently to various materials, including cable insulation.

It provides a better and more permanent fix for a broken charger cable. You’ll only need to mold it around the damaged area and leave it to cure for about 24 hours. Again, consider molding it throughout the cable’s length to protect it from further damage and keep it serving you longer.

Sugru is durable enough to repair broken laptop power cables as well.

Fixing a Broken Cable: The Technical Fixes

The above quick fixes are great, but are you trying to fix a more complex charger cable such as for a laptop? Here is how to fix a charger cord that won’t charge.

Heat Shrink

Heat shrinking will have you saying goodbyes to a broken or fraying charger cable permanently, but you will need to secure a heat gun and some heat shrink tubing. Get some heat-shrink tubing in a size that fits the cable you’re trying to repair. Cut it to the appropriate length, but ensure it covers a slight area on the charging head for a strong, long-lasting connection and then finally, apply heat using the heat gun. Hold the cable down using a pair of pliers, and keep rotating it to achieve a uniform, secure fit.

We’ve included a video illustration for cables considered too large to heat-shrink, in case you need to repair a laptop charger or other larger cables, and you don’t have the right size of heat shrink tubing.

Soldering

Since charger cables fray easily, most of us tend to ignore the problem until the actual wires get stranded and break, causing the charger to stop working altogether. If this describes your current situation, and you’ve got access to a soldering iron, don’t toss the cable out yet. Using a heat gun, some soldering wire, and a cutting tool, you can fix the faulty or broken wires, and restore your laptop’s charger to working condition. Check out how to solder stranded wires in the video above.

Why Won’t My Charger Work?

Is your charger not working even after the above fixes? Don’t fret: here is how to fix a charger that won’t charge.

1. The Outlet

If your charger had been working well regardless of being broken, and now it won’t work even after fixing the broken part, the power outlet is probably the issue. Check the fuse box for a tripped breaker; if that’s not the case, try using a different outlet. Ensure you try charging a different device using the same outlet; if it works, your power source isn’t the culprit.

2. The Device You’re Trying to Charge

When a device fails to charge, we instinctively think it has something to do with the charger because it’s the most common culprit. However, in other instances, your device might be the issue. For instance, the charging port might accumulate debris preventing efficient charging—and, ultimately, all charging. Suppose this is the case; you’ll need to clean it using a toothpick or a soft toothbrush. But first, confirm that the port is indeed clogged.

In other scenarios, you might have taken a little longer to update your phone’s charging software, resulting in bugs that impede the charging process. Check if you’ve got any pending updates, and install them.

Some devices even have a feature to stop the charging process upon moisture detection. If your device is one of these and you’ve recently come into contact with a lot of moisture, leave your phone out to dry for a few hours. So, if you’ve tried all the tactics above, and your outlets are working fine, check your device for the mentioned issues, and try the recommended fixes.

3. The Battery Is Dead

If none of the above is the culprit for your charger not charging, you’re probably dealing with a dead battery. Batteries typically fail to work for two main reasons: they’re either too old or defective. If you’ve been holding on to your device for a while, the former is probably your culprit. However, if it’s a fairly used device, the battery is probably defective, and you will need to check. Look out for bulging or leaking. And if the device had been running out of charge faster than usual before this, then the battery is undoubtedly why your charger won’t charge.

Fixing a Broken Charger Cable

Chargers are now an integral part of our lives. So, it’s normal to be frustrated when your charger fails to work. Luckily, as noted, there are plenty of ways to fix a broken charger cable right from home, and as highlighted in the second section, your charger isn’t always the issue. Before you toss it out, check if your outlet, device, or battery is why it won’t charge, and ensure you try the quick and technical fixes above to remedy the situation.