- Phones and tablets
- Android phones and tablets
Red cross on battery icon
Samsung Tab Red cross on battery icon: PC USB charging alert
Risk level
Medium
Proceed carefully and stop if the check is unclear.
Urgency
Medium
Quick answer
When your Samsung Galaxy Tab shows a red cross on the battery icon or refuses to charge over a wire, it is typically plugged into a PC or laptop USB port that cannot power the tablet, connected to an unauthorised or damaged charger, or blocked by lint in the port.
Safety first
Stop and check this first
- Immediately stop using any adaptor or charging cable that shows cracks or exposed wires, and avoid non-authorised travel or standard chargers that can prevent proper charging or damage the Galaxy Tab.
- Never charge the tablet when moisture is present in the USB port or charger because it can damage internal circuits; wipe it with a soft clean cloth and leave it in a well-ventilated area to dry completely first.
Safe checks you can perform
- Switch from a PC or notebook USB port to a Samsung Authorised mains charger on a wall outlet
- Check the cable for damage and gently blow dust out of the powered-off charging port
- Run Tablet diagnostics in the Samsung Members app
- Perform a soft reboot and test charging in Safe mode
Leave these tasks to a qualified professional
- Do not attempt this professional task: Seek professional help at your nearest authorised Samsung Service Centre for blocked or damaged ports
- Do not attempt this professional task: Book an official repair or contact Samsung Support for warranty or out-of-warranty service
What a technician must be able to justify
Technician visit
These are the steps they must carry out and show you. Tick them as they work: if steps are skipped, do not accept a part swap.
These are not instructions for opening or handling the equipment yourself. They are the checks that should support a technical conclusion.
Seek professional help at your nearest authorised Samsung Service Centre for blocked or damaged ports
What they doHave a professional engineer at an authorised Samsung Service Centre inspect the tablet if the charging port is completely blocked, feels loose, or had moisture exposure.
They must show youphysical inspection of the internal metal charging terminals and test results with an authorised Galaxy Tab mains charger.
In writingService Centre inspection report stating whether the charging port requires professional cleaning or hardware repair.
Book an official repair or contact Samsung Support for warranty or out-of-warranty service
What they doBook a repair online or visit a Samsung support centre if the Galaxy Tab still will not charge after testing another authorised mains charger, soft rebooting, and entering Safe mode.
They must show youresults of the Samsung Members Tablet diagnostics tests for Battery status and Cable charging.
In writingwritten repair booking confirmation and diagnostic summary from the authorised Samsung Service Centre.
Before accepting a part or repair
Nothing has been shown yet. Do not accept a part swap based on the code alone.
Follow these steps
Note: Follow the documented order. An error code identifies the affected system, but it does not prove by itself which part has failed.
Switch from a PC or notebook USB port to a Samsung Authorised mains charger on a wall outlet
- Who:
- You, no tools needed.
- How:
- Disconnect the Galaxy Tab from any PC or laptop USB lead and plug it into a wall power outlet using the Samsung Authorised mains charger and cable compatible with your tablet.
- Result that matters:
- Verify whether the red cross clears when connected to a wall power outlet.
- If the red cross disappears from the battery icon and the tablet charges normally from the mains socket:
- the PC USB port could not supply enough power.
- If the tablet still does not charge from a wall outlet:
- inspect the cable, adaptor, and charging port next.
- Evidence to keep:
- Mains charger model used and battery icon status when plugged into a wall outlet.
Evidence: The battery of my Galaxy Tab device is not charging? What should I do? · What to do if your Samsung Galaxy Tab is not charging
Check the cable for damage and gently blow dust out of the powered-off charging port
- Who:
- You, with a flashlight.
- How:
- Inspect the adaptor and cable for cracks, exposed wires, or a loose fit, and test with another Samsung Authorised cable and adaptor. Turn off the tablet, shine a flashlight into the charging port, and gently blow into the port if you see dust or lint near the metal terminal.
- Result that matters:
- Confirm clean contact between the USB connector and the charging terminals.
- If the cable fits snugly into the clean port and charging resumes:
- lint or a faulty cable was blocking power.
- If the port is completely blocked, feels loose, or still fails to charge with a known good mains charger:
- run Samsung Members diagnostics next.
- Evidence to keep:
- Visual condition of the charging port under a light and test result with a second authorised charger.
Evidence: The battery of my Galaxy Tab device is not charging? What should I do? · What to do if your Samsung Galaxy Tab is not charging
Run Tablet diagnostics in the Samsung Members app
- Who:
- You, on the tablet.
- How:
- If the tablet still has battery power remaining, open the Samsung Members app, select the Support tab, tap Tablet diagnostics, and run the Battery status and Cable charging tests.
- Result that matters:
- Check the built-in diagnostic status for both the battery and wired charging circuit.
- If both Battery status and Cable charging pass inspection in Samsung Members:
- check Settings > Device care > Battery > Charging settings to ensure Fast charging is enabled.
- If Tablet diagnostics flags an issue with Cable charging or Battery status:
- proceed to a soft reboot and Safe mode test.
- Evidence to keep:
- Results shown for Battery status and Cable charging in Samsung Members Tablet diagnostics.
Evidence: The battery of my Galaxy Tab device is not charging? What should I do? · What to do if your Samsung Galaxy Tab is not charging
Perform a soft reboot and test charging in Safe mode
- Who:
- You, no tools needed.
- How:
- Press and hold the Power and Volume Down keys until the tablet restarts to reset temporary memory. Next, open the Quick setting panel, tap the Power off icon, long press the on-screen Power off button, and tap Safe mode to isolate third-party apps.
- Result that matters:
- Clear temporary memory glitches and isolate third-party applications.
- If the Galaxy Tab charges properly after the soft reboot or while running in Safe mode:
- a temporary software glitch or third-party app caused the issue.
- If charging still fails in Safe mode, or the charging port shows physical damage or complete blockage:
- book an official repair.
- Evidence to keep:
- Charging behaviour after the Power + Volume Down soft reboot and while in Safe mode.
Evidence: The battery of my Galaxy Tab device is not charging? What should I do? · What to do if your Samsung Galaxy Tab is not charging
Still not solved
If the error persists, stop here. See what the technician must do and show you.
Where this code applies
A code is meaningful only inside the right product and version context.
Primary scope
- System
- Phones and tablets
- Brand
- Samsung
- Product type
- Android phones and tablets
Known code variants
- Battery icon shows a red cross
- Cruz roja en el icono de batería
- Galaxy Tab is not charging
- Galaxy Tab no está cargando
- Red X on battery icon
- X roja en batería Galaxy Tab
What it means
This status indicator belongs to the Galaxy Tab wired power management system. Samsung documents that it is not possible to charge a Galaxy Tab via a PC using a USB cable, and that the battery icon displays a red cross whenever the tablet is connected to a computer USB port. Seeing a red cross or no charge increase alone never proves that the internal battery or mainboard has failed: using a standard phone travel charger instead of a Galaxy Tab mains charger, a worn cable, or dust near the charging terminals causes the exact same behaviour.
Warnings and stop conditions
- Highsource verified
Immediately stop using any adaptor or charging cable that shows cracks or exposed wires, and avoid non-authorised travel or standard chargers that can prevent proper charging or damage the Galaxy Tab.
Evidence: The battery of my Galaxy Tab device is not charging? What should I do? · What to do if your Samsung Galaxy Tab is not charging
- Highsource verified
Never charge the tablet when moisture is present in the USB port or charger because it can damage internal circuits; wipe it with a soft clean cloth and leave it in a well-ventilated area to dry completely first.
Evidence: The battery of my Galaxy Tab device is not charging? What should I do? · What to do if your Samsung Galaxy Tab is not charging
Symptoms and causes
Probable causes · in order
- Connecting the Galaxy Tab to a PC or laptop via a USB cable instead of a wall outletCommon
Samsung states that a Galaxy Tab cannot be charged from a PC USB port and will display a red cross on the battery icon until you switch to the supplied mains charger.
Evidence: The battery of my Galaxy Tab device is not charging? What should I do? · What to do if your Samsung Galaxy Tab is not charging
- Incompatible travel or standard chargers, unauthorised adaptors, or damaged charging cablesCommon
Products not designed specifically for the Galaxy Tab, or cables and adaptors with cracks, exposed wires, or a loose fit in the port, prevent proper charging.
Evidence: The battery of my Galaxy Tab device is not charging? What should I do? · What to do if your Samsung Galaxy Tab is not charging
- Dust, lint, or foreign debris accumulated near the metal terminals inside the charging portPossible
Debris lodged inside the charging port stops the USB connector from making solid contact with the charging terminals of the tablet.
Evidence: The battery of my Galaxy Tab device is not charging? What should I do? · What to do if your Samsung Galaxy Tab is not charging
- Temporary software memory glitch or third-party app interference affecting chargingLess common
A temporary system glitch or a downloaded third-party app can disrupt charging behaviour until the tablet is soft rebooted or started in Safe mode.
Evidence: The battery of my Galaxy Tab device is not charging? What should I do? · What to do if your Samsung Galaxy Tab is not charging
Virtual technician
Does Red cross on battery icon still appear after these checks?
Answer a few questions to narrow down the likely cause and the safest next action. Guidance only - it never replaces a professional.
Sources and technical references
- 1
The battery of my Galaxy Tab device is not charging? What should I do?
Samsung · 2026 · official_doc
- 2
What to do if your Samsung Galaxy Tab is not charging
Samsung · 2024 · official_doc
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