[Q] NFC/Wireless Charging not working - Nexus 5 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

On my Nexus 5 the wireless charging and NFC suddenly stopped working..
Everthing worked properly until yesterday but suddenly my NFC tags have not been recognized and i just tried my wireless charging pad and it is also not working..
I expect a hardware problem because all the nfc-based apps are working if nfc is turned on and aren't working if nfc is turned off.. Is it a problem with the NFC/wireless charging pad or with the pcb? I guess i have to replace one of the parts but which - is there any way to find out which one? When i lay it onto the wireless charger the indication led of the charger doesn't change the color and also doesn't seem to recognize the phone, so i guess it's the charging pad which is located in the backcover?
Everything else is working properly..
Is there anything i can do about it or do i have to change any component?

Back cover, I'm pointing at you ...
matthiaswtf6 said:
On my Nexus 5 the wireless charging and NFC suddenly stopped working..
Everthing worked properly until yesterday but suddenly my NFC tags have not been recognized and i just tried my wireless charging pad and it is also not working..
I expect a hardware problem because all the nfc-based apps are working if nfc is turned on and aren't working if nfc is turned off.. Is it a problem with the NFC/wireless charging pad or with the pcb? I guess i have to replace one of the parts but which - is there any way to find out which one? When i lay it onto the wireless charger the indication led of the charger doesn't change the color and also doesn't seem to recognize the phone, so i guess it's the charging pad which is located in the backcover?
Everything else is working properly..
Is there anything i can do about it or do i have to change any component?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My Nexus 5 has developed the same issue with both wireless charging and NFC. Previously I've had no issue with Qi chargers or NFC, now both have stopped working.
If I gently press the back cover of the phone, in the centre just under the camera it will often work again, sometimes only for a short time before failing again.
Have a look at the iFixit teardown, you can see how the back cover housing the antenna interfaces to the logic boards via a number of contacts. I believe that there is a slight flex in the back cover that causes this contact to become poor, causing NFC and wireless charging to fail.
I have the white version of the phone, wondering it the different types of plastic used on the different color version of the Nexus 5 plays a role in the rigidity of the rear cover.
Curious if anyone else experiences the "fix" of pressing the rear cover and which color N5 you have.

I had the same problem, which lead me to this thread. Based on SunburntChicken's post, I started pressing the back of the phone around the camera. Right in the middle of the phone at about the camera level, there is some give. When I pressed a bit harder, it clicked and now NFC and wireless charging is working again on my N5.

pineapplato said:
I had the same problem, which lead me to this thread. Based on SunburntChicken's post, I started pressing the back of the phone around the camera. Right in the middle of the phone at about the camera level, there is some give. When I pressed a bit harder, it clicked and now NFC and wireless charging is working again on my N5.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
THANKS!
This worked for me, i switched my Backcover and QI and NFc didn't work anymore, now I pressed hard on the back and it maked a click, now everything is fine again!

pineapplato said:
I had the same problem, which lead me to this thread. Based on SunburntChicken's post, I started pressing the back of the phone around the camera. Right in the middle of the phone at about the camera level, there is some give. When I pressed a bit harder, it clicked and now NFC and wireless charging is working again on my N5.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This. If you remove the back plate you may need to do this to regain NFC and Qi charging.

pineapplato said:
I had the same problem, which lead me to this thread. Based on SunburntChicken's post, I started pressing the back of the phone around the camera. Right in the middle of the phone at about the camera level, there is some give. When I pressed a bit harder, it clicked and now NFC and wireless charging is working again on my N5.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This worked for me as well!

I'm having a similar problem with my Nexus5.
Up until yesterday both Qi charging and NFC was working, but yesterday the Qi charging became sporadic (switching off after 10 minutes, then 30 seconds, and finally not recognising the charger at all). I tried three different chargers with the same results.
NFC is almost broken. I can't beam to a friends Nexus5, but I can read some NFC tags, if I hold it very steady and in the top left corner of the phone (near the camera).
I've pushed as hard as I dare on the cover, but not heard (nor felt) any clicks. Suddenly, however, Qi charging works again. NFC is still equally patchy...
It's tempting to open it up and clean out the connectors properly, but I'm worried that I might break more than I fix...

I'm also having trouble with NFC (haven't tried wireless charging yet) - as mentioned, putting pressure on the back will make it work, but only as long as I keep the pressure on. Can you fix it with card stock, like the GPS contacts? I tried pressing hard on the back cover, but there was no click, and as far as I know my back cover has never been opened.

Thanks for the info - the charging on mine has started failing recently (very annoying to put a low battery phone on the charger at night, see the light come on and it start charging, but then it quit sometime during the night so you wake up to a completely dead phone!)
I squeezed on mine, but no clicks. Also didn't start charging. Guess I'll have to pop the back off and check the contacts. I don't have any NFC tags here to work to test with and see if both are out, but I can check when I get home.

When I got home I pried off my back cover. Looking at the contacts for the QI, they're VERY worn and basically the contact point is worn through to the plastic below:
IMG_8266.jpg by mostlytechnic, on Flickr
I bent the spring contacts on the phone side a little so they made fresh contact and now it's working great again. If it starts failing again, I'll probably just replace the back cover.

pineapplato said:
I had the same problem, which lead me to this thread. Based on SunburntChicken's post, I started pressing the back of the phone around the camera. Right in the middle of the phone at about the camera level, there is some give. When I pressed a bit harder, it clicked and now NFC and wireless charging is working again on my N5.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks a lot, it work, I change my backplate to a white one and all of the sudden NFC didn't work, been changing ROMS several times. And then this thread came along.
Thanks a lot.:good:

After my fix, it worked for a few days but then started failing again. I assume the springs just bent back to their normal position. But I called the google and since it's less than a year old (and bought from the play store) they're replacing the phone.

pineapplato said:
I had the same problem, which lead me to this thread. Based on SunburntChicken's post, I started pressing the back of the phone around the camera. Right in the middle of the phone at about the camera level, there is some give. When I pressed a bit harder, it clicked and now NFC and wireless charging is working again on my N5.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This also worked for me! Thanks

pineapplato said:
I had the same problem, which lead me to this thread. Based on SunburntChicken's post, I started pressing the back of the phone around the camera. Right in the middle of the phone at about the camera level, there is some give. When I pressed a bit harder, it clicked and now NFC and wireless charging is working again on my N5.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can confirm, it worked for me as well!

Thanks. Bought a replacement cover from eBay. Was about to return it as faulty as NFC and QI charging wasn't working. Clicked the back cover in as described, and it it all works again.
Many thanks to the OP for this.

Same Here
My N5 has never been opened or dropped but started not charging via Qi as well. Pressing on the back just below and to the right of the "s" has got it working again for me. There was no click though so I don't think the snap lock has come away. Just too much flex in the back cover.

Is anyone having issues with wireless charging only when the phone is on? My phone charges fine on my nokia charger only if the phone is off. While booting it also sees the charger but as soon as it says "Android" it decides it doesn't want to charge wireless anymore.

just had the same problem
without seeing this thread, i figured out the fix was pressing the back until i heard the click.
I posted the fix (with a photo) on my blog but it seems that the info was already here
Here is a link if anyone is still interested (it will show the area you need to press for the click):
http://me-ol-blog.blogspot.com/2015/08/faulty-wireless-charging-on-nexus-5.html

Google replaced my phone just under a year ago for this problem. Now the replacement has just started doing the same thing. Qi is barely working. My current plan is to buy a new back cover to fix it and then sell the phone when the new Nexus phones come out soon... was probably going to do that part anyway

I guess I just need your help... I have tried everything: pressing on that spot, replacing the back cover, cleaning the qi and NFC contacts... It all just helps for a few days, and then my N5 refuses to be charged by qi again.
Is there anything else I could try? Could it be a software issue (I'm using Terminus ROM)?

Related

Weird fault with Note 10.1. Help!

Hi guys, newbie here, and im in desperate need of your help!
So I decided to buy an Note 10.1 and yesterday I received it. Straight away (after turning on) I noticed this rather irritating noise (like a notification sound but not one that is the ringtones options on the tablet) that the tablet made when I held it with one hand well, at first I thought it was a motion gesture since whenever I hold it with one hand (the right hand) it switches to the previous app if your in an app, or previous Web page when surfing the net. So I searched the options 100 times, and nothing to toggle off.
Anyway it bugged me more and more and I couldn't figure it out, then by chance i just pushed slightly on the back of the tablet and the notification noise goes off. Push again, it happens again. I decided that it could be a loose connection being made and remade every time I decompress the right side back panel (I can play it like a piano). So I took the back panel off (a pain in the ****) and noticed a ribbon cable that runs directly where I push the back panel (the S pen sensor cable). It was plugged in correctly, but wasn't taped to the battery like the 2 fatter ribbon cables.
So, I taped it down thinking that me pushing the back panel was moving it and creating a loose connection. I thought I had solved it. Booted it back up, no sound!!!!! Reinstalled the back panel, booted again and BOOM, the sound returns.......
Gutted.
Not sure what to do next, it definitely sounds as if something is disconnecting and reconnecting like a USB on a PC, im getting the sound but no notification or error. I have no idea why this would make an app switch to the previous app or webpage when on net.
Any help would be much appreciated.
Well, it seems I have solved the issue. Since this is a new account, I can't post youtube videos. So I'll leave those out for the time being.
Firstly, heres a video showing the fault. As you can see, I've narrowed it down to the docking station/charger connector.
The ribbon cable was seemingly depressed causing it to disconnect briefly before reconnecting when released. Probably the down side of having a flimsy plastic case.
Solve the issue I removed the ribbon cable and taped a small amount of foam right at the mouth of the connector, making the whole connection sturdier and harder to depress with the cover on, which can be seen here.
Hopefully this helps anyone who finds themselves with a similar issue.
joey8 said:
Well, it seems I have solved the issue. Since this is a new account, I can't post youtube videos. So I'll leave those out for the time being.
Firstly, heres a video showing the fault. As you can see, I've narrowed it down to the docking station/charger connector.
The ribbon cable was seemingly depressed causing it to disconnect briefly before reconnecting when released. Probably the down side of having a flimsy plastic case.
Solve the issue I removed the ribbon cable and taped a small amount of foam right at the mouth of the connector, making the whole connection sturdier and harder to depress with the cover on, which can be seen here.
Hopefully this helps anyone who finds themselves with a similar issue.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that woulda went straight back to the store
Yep, if the problem isn't fixed there's no way it'll get fixed under warranty now...
If the device is less than a week old, in Oz, the shop is supposed to replace the device immediately. This doesn't mean they won't try the old "It'll take 2 weeks to fix" and "It has to be sent back for repairs" schtick....
shaun298 said:
that woulda went straight back to the store
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I got it from Ebay, although it was listed as new/unused.

[Q] Wireless charging no longer working (properly) after backplate removal

<sigh>
I'm usually not the type to open devices up, I'm always afraid of breaking things, I'm more of a software hacking kinda guy. So I took the back plate off my Nexus 5 in order to get exact measurements of the location of the metal dots on the inside, so I could rig up a magnetic wireless charger for the car (as is described in one of the other threads here).
I never even got far enough to start buying magnets and what-not, after putting the backplate back on and powering up the phone again, I no longer can charge wirelessly "normally". If I push down on the phone so it gets just that extra millimeter closer to the charging pad, voila, it starts charging again. If I remove my hand (let the phone sit normally on the pad), charging stops.
I took the back plate off a couple more times since then to try and figure out what is going on here, I did make sure to have the phone powered off each time, and I also unplugged/replugged in the battery just to see if that might help, but nothing. It still keeps doing this.
Anyone else ever experience this? Any ideas to fix it? There's not much to the innards after taking the backplate off that can be screwed up, so I'm kind of at a loss at what is causing this..
*edit* No cases involved, its a stock phone, not rooted, no mods, no nothing, basic nexus 5 32gb out of the box. Wireless charging worked flawlessly before removal of backplate, now it requires extra pressure pushing down on the phone after removal of the backplate.
Thanks!
-Chris

[Q] Screen stops working intermittently, seems to be hardware related, help?

So I've been having a ton of issues with my phone lately, to the point I can't use it anymore. I'll list them in case they may show what the problem is. First, the charging port went out. I swapped out for a new flex cable on ebay and all was well again. Next the speaker stopped working unless I would squeeze the bottom of the phone, and then stopped working completely (Not sure if this was the speaker itself or if it was making poor contact with the new flex cable.).
Up next, and the worst problem of all, is the screen stopped working intermittently. I seemed to be able to get it working better when I would squeeze the phone, which seemed strange to me. This kept happening until it stopped working altogether!
So, thinking it was the flex cable, I just swapped it for another new one from a different seller, and it still isn't working. If I reboot the phone the screen works perfectly fine unless I put light pressure on the back of the above the "s" in nexus, then the screen shuts off and won't come back on again until I restart the phone again. As soon as I reboot the phone the screen works great again until I tap that spot.
I'm a bit at a loss to what I should be looking for, or what I need to replace? Is there some sort of short? Is a connection poorly made? It's a brand new flex cable and the old one seemed to be doing the same, and I've double checked the connections and they seem to be fine.
If you have any ideas, I'm all ears, just about to tear apart the phone to check where it might be making shorts around that area! Thanks everyone!
Seemed to be an issue with the flex cable connecter to the motherboard. When I added pressure to the connector the screen would work, as I let off pressure the screen quit. I ended up adding a few layers of electrical tape to the back of the connector so when I put the backplate housing and cover back on it would add some pressure. Seems to be working great now (knock on wood).
DallasW said:
Seemed to be an issue with the flex cable connecter to the motherboard. When I added pressure to the connector the screen would work, as I let off pressure the screen quit. I ended up adding a few layers of electrical tape to the back of the connector so when I put the backplate housing and cover back on it would add some pressure. Seems to be working great now (knock on wood).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thats a common experience you had. The connection between the USB cable and the motherboard for some reason can go bad. I suspect overheating may be the primary cause. The careful placement of double stick electrica tape appears to help fix this problem. I had to do it myself. The speaker not working can be caused by poor connection to the USB flex cable. There is an excellent youtube by "LE55ONS" on the disassembly/assembley which shows everything in great detail. It's worth a look.
Glad you got everything working
Blacksmith5 in Plano TX

Battery Problem, possible motherboard damage ?

Hi all
I have had my nexus 5 for a while now and just as i was flying overseas some strange things happened.
First the vibration stopped working which i knew was a loose connection on the back of the phone. Holding that area down would get it working again. Then the touch display stopped working. The LCD worked but could not touch anything to unlock the phone. I disassembled the phone and assembled it again and strangely it worked again although i didnt see anything obvious. Then is happened again...
I disassembled the phone and played around with it for a while and noticed if pressed down on the connection where the flex cable connects to the motherboard it would work again. but when i would release the pressure it would be funny again. I did this a number of times until eventually the whole LCD/blacklight should shut off. Now i can rarely get it to display anything. The phone is working because the LED light would flash and i can hear the messaged coming through. I just cannot see anything.
I replaced the flex cable with a new one and still the same issue. I replaced the LCD + digitizer + frame and still the same issue. I guess its the motherboard. Can i fix this ??
Now for some more issues:
I bought a broken Nexus 5 while overseas and i swapped the motherboard out and everything works! So it as definitely the motherboard. However, the second motherboard is having issued the the battery. I have every indication the battery is charging. However the battery percentages is stuck on 40%. It would flicker around 39% 40% instantly and when looking at the battery graph on the phone it is noisy, it is not a constant line. The percentage is not a true indication of the battery charge. I cannot get the phone to turn on just by the battery itself no matter how long i charge it for. I have swapped batteries out and i still get the same issue. I have swapped flex cables and still the same issue. Could it be that the second motherboard is also damaged??
I used the amphere app for a while while i had some power and it shows 100mA while charging but a voltage of 0V! When I unplug the cable it will shutoff. Sometimes i cannot even boot it up while charging.
Amphere showing 1%
h**ps://drive.google.com/open?id=0B9KF5ld-Rlu_VWY2eHA5VXE4R3M
What is wrong with these two motherboards?! I do not see anything obvious on the board itself.
I now see the new Nexus 5X is out but i am hesitant in buying it...This is the first phone i have had major issues with.
PS, i gave the latest updated
Thanks for your help guys. I will provide whatever information i can.
It sounds like your 1st phone is having the same problem I have with mine, which is described here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/google-nexus-5/help/main-board-socket-flex-cable-super-t3217281
Use a magnifying glass to see if any pins on the socket are broken. I still don't know if it's fixable.
ourandroid said:
It sounds like your 1st phone is having the same problem I have with mine, which is described here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/google-nexus-5/help/main-board-socket-flex-cable-super-t3217281
Use a magnifying glass to see if any pins on the socket are broken. I still don't know if it's fixable.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks for that. I believe this is the same problem also.
Although i cannot find any abnormal pins...
Macro shots of suspect connection:
https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B9KF5ld-Rlu_S2hwUDhlQUJlN2c&usp=sharing

Keyboard dock issues - katkiss 6.0.1

O happy day- got a keyboard dock. Happiness was short lived; after allowing the dock to charge overnight, I was unable to get either of my tf300's to work with it. The tablets will recognize it as a charging device (you can see the 2 battery icons on the status bar) but that's it- no track pad or keyboard functions. I haven't tried to see if usb is active, though. I've attempted the troubleshooting steps I've seen online, like cold booting a tablet while connected to the dock, all to no avail...
Anyhow, obviously there's no warranty in play here, so I was curious if anyone had any know-how on servicing the dock? I read on Tom's Hardware that the dock needs to be glued somehow after disassembly, so i'd like to consider that "last resort", but if that is what it's going to take, that's okay. Anybody have any suggestions?
monogwai said:
O happy day- got a keyboard dock. Happiness was short lived; after allowing the dock to charge overnight, I was unable to get either of my tf300's to work with it. The tablets will recognize it as a charging device (you can see the 2 battery icons on the status bar) but that's it- no track pad or keyboard functions. I haven't tried to see if usb is active, though. I've attempted the troubleshooting steps I've seen online, like cold booting a tablet while connected to the dock, all to no avail...
Anyhow, obviously there's no warranty in play here, so I was curious if anyone had any know-how on servicing the dock? I read on Tom's Hardware that the dock needs to be glued somehow after disassembly, so i'd like to consider that "last resort", but if that is what it's going to take, that's okay. Anybody have any suggestions?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, here's a status update... I've gone ahead and opened the dock, and nothing really looked out of place, so I went ahead and reattached the various cables and screwed the sucker back together. I now have the keyboard working. The trackpad, however, still is not working. I took it apart a second time and verified that the cables for the trackpad were plugged all the way in (where the black line on the ribbon cables are flush with the connectors on the boards), and still no go. Anybody have any experience with a non-functional trackpad?
monogwai said:
Well, here's a status update... I've gone ahead and opened the dock, and nothing really looked out of place, so I went ahead and reattached the various cables and screwed the sucker back together. I now have the keyboard working. The trackpad, however, still is not working. I took it apart a second time and verified that the cables for the trackpad were plugged all the way in (where the black line on the ribbon cables are flush with the connectors on the boards), and still no go. Anybody have any experience with a non-functional trackpad?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh, wow! It didn't even take me an hour to break it again. Went and re-read threads on various forums, and people were having some luck with cold booting while docked. So I did, and yet again the keyboard ceased functioning. Despite having not even moved while reading/rebooting, I opened the dock once more. Of course, nothing appears to have changed, so I don't even know what to do at this point. The vendor has refunded my money, so at least I'm not out anything; it'd be really nice if I could somehow restore function, though.
I can get a replacement keypad/trackpad off eBay, but I'm concerned that my problem may be where the cables attach to the main board. Of course it could also be the ribbon cables themselves. Anyone know somewhere to get new cables at a reasonable price?
I've got the keyboard working again. Seems like once I plug it in to charge, the keyboard stops working and i have to go play with the cables to remedy that. that's only when charging with the tablet attached. haven't tried seeing what happens if i undock, then charge, then redock.
kinda surprised nobody's had any input... <shrugs>. and in regards to something i had said before, it seems i was a bit mistaken: i can order a replacement keypad, but not the trackpad. i'm wondering if i might need a new main board for this instead, though. would like to hear something out of someone who's replaced a board in the dock before i pull the trigger on one. anyone? anyone? Bueller?
new update:
had to set the dock to charge, and naturally, the keyboard didn't work. so i went and took it apart again. this time, though, I plugged the tablet in to the base prior to screwing everything back. I detached the cables from the mainboard, reseated, and checked-- no change. so I detached the mainboard cables again, and proceeded to reseat the cabling where the touchpad is. snapped the tablet back into place; lo and behold, I got a little circle on screen... hey! the trackpad's working!!! Excitedly, I screwed the screws under the trackpad button, and replaced the button, and proceeded to close the tablet so I could flip the dock over and replace the other screws/feet. Opened everything back up and unlocked the tablet and.............. <price is right tuba noise here> no trackpad. total freaking bummer.
I'm guessing now that maybe there's some kind of short somewhere. When I get to my destination this evening (or perhaps tomorrow, to be honest), I will further explore this new development. It's interesting at the very least. I do know the pad isn't totally dead in the water.
it's odd... charging causes the keyboard to stop functioning, and screws apparently cause the pad to stop functioning. very odd.
i've sat down and dismantled the entire thing. i decided to unplug the battery from the system board for a while thinking there might be some kind of situation where that could be helpful. let it sit probably 2 hours while i worked on something else. now i've reassembled, snapped it back together (but no screws yet), and the trackpad is working. has been working for the last hour, give or take. dock is down to 38% charge, so i'm trepidatious (is that even a word? lol) about which step to take next -- seeing what happens when i screw this thing back together, or try and see what happens when i attempt to charge it. i'll have to make some sort of decision, so once that happens, i'll post yet another update. hopefully a solve.
Problems with a dock? unplug that battery for a while!
I've rounded the last corner i think. i've got the charger plugged in to the dock as i sit here and type; trackpad still works too. all that's left is trying to screw it back together, so i'm gonna call this tenatively solved. because if i just can't have screws for some strange reason, i suppose i'm fine with that.
Still working... How does one go about marking something 'solved'? Ask a mod...?

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