Before you begin. This procedure is general reference information, not professional advice. Equipment varies by manufacturer, model, and year. Always follow the documentation supplied with your equipment — where it differs from this page, follow the manufacturer. Verify that you have the tools, the working conditions, and the ability to do this task safely. If anything is unclear, if the equipment is damaged, or if the task exceeds your experience, stop and use a qualified professional. You are responsible for your own safety and for the outcome. This site accepts no liability for any loss, damage, or injury arising from the use of this information.
Specifications marked unverified could not be traced to a manufacturer source. Do not rely on them — obtain the value from your equipment documentation.
Summary
A charger or a charging cable does not announce that it has failed. This page walks through the physical signs you can check yourself, with no meter and no tool: damage to the plug or the cable, unusual heat, a buzzing sound, a smell of hot plastic, how firmly the plug sits in the outlet, and whether the charger carries a genuine certification mark. It covers a USB wall charger, its cable, and the power brick for a phone, a tablet or a laptop. Apple, Google and Samsung each publish a version of the same instruction: a charger or a cable that shows one of these signs gets stopped and replaced, not repaired.
This page does not print a wattage, a voltage, or a current figure, because that number is specific to your own charger and is printed on it. What it gives you instead is how to read your own label, how to tell an accredited certification mark from an absent one, and how to check the model against the public recall list the Consumer Product Safety Commission keeps. If you find a sign of damage, the answer is always the same: stop, disconnect it, and get a replacement from the manufacturer.
Safety
DO NOT USE A CHARGER OR A CABLE WITH A SIGN OF DAMAGE.
Apple states that a damaged charger or a damaged cable can cause a fire, a shock, or an injury.
Necessary equipment
| Item | Note |
|---|---|
| Bright light or torch optional | Use this to examine the cable and the connector for damage. |
| Pen and paper | Record the manufacturer name and the model number for the recall check. |
Examine it while it charges the device
Estimated 2 min
- Connect the charger and the cable to the device in the usual way.<1mReport a problem with step 1, Examine it while it charges the device
DISCONNECT THE CHARGER FROM THE OUTLET IF THE CHARGER OR THE DEVICE FEELS HOT.
A hot charger can burn your skin.
- Touch the cable at several points along its full length.<1mReport a problem with step 2, Examine it while it charges the device
- Google tells owners to disconnect a hot charger and let it cool.
DISCONNECT THE CHARGER FROM THE OUTLET IF YOU HEAR A BUZZ OR SMELL HOT PLASTIC.
A buzz or a smell like this can mean a risk of fire.
- Listen for a buzz or a crackle near the charger.<1mReport a problem with step 3, Examine it while it charges the device
- Smell the air near the charger for hot plastic.<1mReport a problem with step 4, Examine it while it charges the device
- CPSC gives a buzz and an odor of hot plastic as warning signs.
- Examine the fit of the plug in the electrical outlet.<1mReport a problem with step 5, Examine it while it charges the device
- CPSC gives a loose plug as a sign of extra heat and a fire.
- Disconnect the charger from the electrical outlet.<1mReport a problem with step 6, Examine it while it charges the device
- Disconnect the cable from the device.<1mReport a problem with step 7, Examine it while it charges the device
Examine the charger and the cable
Estimated 2 min
Source: Important safety information for iPhone · tier 1 · accessed 2026-08-04
Source: Safety & Regulatory Guide for 30W USB-C Charger · tier 1 · accessed 2026-08-04
Source: Issues with wired charging · tier 1 · accessed 2026-08-04
Source: Tips to Help Charge Medical Devices Safely and Avoid Overheating · tier 1 · accessed 2026-08-04
No tier-1 source was found for this value. Take it from the documentation supplied with your equipment.
- Examine the body of the charger for a crack or a split.<1mReport a problem with step 1, Examine the charger and the cable
- Google gives a damaged charger as a cause of extra heat or an injury.
- Examine the plug and the prongs for damage or a bend.<1mReport a problem with step 2, Examine the charger and the cable
- Apple and Google both give a damaged plug as a reason to stop.
- Examine the cable along its full length for a cut or a split in the cover.<1mReport a problem with step 3, Examine the charger and the cable
- Apple, Google, Samsung and USFA each give a damaged cable as a reason to stop.
DO NOT TOUCH AN EXPOSED WIRE ON A DAMAGED CABLE.
A bare wire can give you an electric shock.
- Examine the cable for a wire that shows through the cover.<1mReport a problem with step 4, Examine the charger and the cable
- Samsung gives an exposed wire as a reason to stop at once.
- Examine each connector at the ends of the cable for a crack or corrosion.<1mReport a problem with step 5, Examine the charger and the cable
- Connect the cable to the device.<1mReport a problem with step 6, Examine the charger and the cable
- Examine the fit of the connector.<1mReport a problem with step 7, Examine the charger and the cable
- Samsung states that a charging cable must fit snugly and not feel loose.
- Disconnect the cable from the device.<1mReport a problem with step 8, Examine the charger and the cable
Examine the certification mark
Estimated 2 min to 3 min
Source: OSHA's Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) Program - Frequently Asked Questions · tier 1 · accessed 2026-08-04
Source: Current List of NRTLs · tier 1 · accessed 2026-08-04
Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Launches Crackdown on Fake Safety Labels Used to Push Dangerous Foreign Products into U.S. Homes · tier 1 · accessed 2026-08-04
DO NOT USE A CHARGER WITH NO LABORATORY MARK.
Apple states that such a charger can fail to meet a safety standard and can cause death or injury.
- Examine the body of the charger for a certification mark.<1mReport a problem with step 1, Examine the certification mark
- OSHA states that this kind of mark means an approved laboratory tested the product against a safety standard.
- Find the name of the laboratory printed next to the mark.<1mReport a problem with step 2, Examine the certification mark
- UL and Intertek are two examples on OSHA's own current list.
- Make sure the charger carries a mark from the current list.<1mReport a problem with step 3, Examine the certification mark
- Treat a charger with no mark, or a mark you cannot read, as unmarked.
- Open the manufacturer's page for your device.<1mReport a problem with step 4, Examine the certification mark
- Compare the charger with the page.<1mReport a problem with step 5, Examine the certification mark
- Samsung tells owners to look for the words Samsung Authorized on a charger.
- FDA gives a third-party charger as a cause of much higher power and a fire risk.
Do a check of the model against the recall list
Estimated 2 min to 3 min
- Find the manufacturer name and the model number on the charger.<1mReport a problem with step 1, Do a check of the model against the recall list
- The label with this information is often on the underside of the charger.
- Record the manufacturer name and the model number.<1mReport a problem with step 2, Do a check of the model against the recall list
- Open the recall list at cpsc.gov.<1mReport a problem with step 3, Do a check of the model against the recall list
- CPSC keeps this list and adds each new recall to it.
- Do a search of the list for the manufacturer name.<1mReport a problem with step 4, Do a check of the model against the recall list
- Compare the model number in each result with your own model number.<1mReport a problem with step 5, Do a check of the model against the recall list
Decide whether to continue
Estimated under a minute
- If you found a sign of damage, stop use of the charger or the cable.<1mReport a problem with step 1, Decide whether to continue
- If the model number matches a recall notice, follow the instructions in the notice.<1mReport a problem with step 2, Decide whether to continue
- If you found no sign, and the mark and the recall check are clear, continue to use it.<1mReport a problem with step 3, Decide whether to continue
- Examine the charger and the cable again after a fall or contact with liquid.<1mReport a problem with step 4, Decide whether to continue
Terminology
This page uses one term for each item and holds it throughout, as ASD-STE100 requires. Equipment sellers and other guides use the names below for the same parts.
- charger
- Also called: wall charger, charging brick, power adapter, charging block, plug, power brick
- charging cable
- Also called: charger cable, usb cable, charging cord, phone cord, lightning cable, usb-c cable
- certification mark
- Also called: UL mark, UL sticker, safety mark, approval mark, safety stamp, UL listed
- product recall
- Also called: recalled charger, recall notice, safety recall, charger recall
- Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory
- Also called: NRTL, testing lab, safety testing lab, accredited lab
When to use a professional
This procedure ends in a decision, not a repair. Replace a charger or a cable with a sign of damage. Do not open a charger. Do not repair a cable or a charger yourself.
Contact the manufacturer of the charger for a replacement part. A charger or a cable inside its warranty period can often get a free replacement. Follow the instructions in a recall notice rather than the steps on this page.
Report a fire, a shock, or a burn from a charger to CPSC at SaferProducts.gov. A report like this can help CPSC find a wider problem with a product.
Common questions
Is my phone charger safe to use?
It is safe if it has no sign of damage, if it does not overheat, buzz or smell of hot plastic in normal use, and if it carries a genuine certification mark from an accredited testing laboratory. Apple, Google and Samsung all publish the same underlying rule: a charger or a cable with a cracked case, a bent plug, a frayed cover or an exposed wire should be stopped and replaced, not kept in use. This page walks through each check in order. None of it needs a meter — every sign is something you can see, feel, hear or smell.
My charging cable is frayed near the connector. Is that actually dangerous?
Yes. Apple, Google and Samsung each single out a frayed or a cracked cable as a reason to stop using it, and Samsung is explicit that an exposed wire means you stop at once. A frayed cover can expose the wire underneath, and touching that wire while the cable carries a charge can give you an electric shock. It is also one of the most common causes of a scorched or melted connector, which is the exact damage the FDA's own charging-safety guidance tells people to look for.
My charger gets warm when I use it. Is that normal, or a fault?
Some warmth is normal. Apple's own safety documentation says that even within its temperature limits, a power adapter can stay warm for long periods, and that sustained skin contact with a warm charger can still be uncomfortable, which is why it tells owners to avoid prolonged contact and to keep a charger in a well-ventilated spot. What is not normal is a charger that becomes too hot to hold, a charger that buzzes, or a smell of hot plastic — Google's own instruction is to disconnect a charger that becomes too hot and let it cool before using it again.
Are cheap or off-brand chargers actually more dangerous than the one the manufacturer sells?
Often, yes, and this is one of the few points every source in this record agrees on. Apple states plainly that a third-party adapter that does not meet applicable safety standards can pose a risk of death or injury. The FDA's own guidance on charging accessories says a third-party charger can allow much higher power than the device needs, raising the risk of overheating, a spark, or a fire. Neither source is saying every off-brand charger is dangerous — only that a charger without a genuine safety certification has not been shown to be safe, which is exactly why the certification mark check on this page matters.
How can I tell if a charger's UL mark (or similar mark) is real and not fake?
Start with what the mark actually promises: OSHA states that a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory mark means an accredited lab tested the product against a safety standard, and that a properly certified product carries the lab's own registered mark. OSHA keeps a current public list of the labs it recognizes — UL, Intertek (the ETL mark), CSA Group, TUV Rheinland and TUV SUD are on it, among others — so you can check the name printed next to the mark against that list. CPSC opened a national effort in May 2026 against counterfeit certification marks precisely because a copied mark on an uncertified product is now a real, tracked problem, and it states plainly that selling a product with a fake mark is illegal. A charger with no mark at all, or a mark you cannot read, gets treated the same way as one that failed the check.
How do I know if my charger or cable has been recalled?
Find the manufacturer name and the model number printed on the charger, then search the Consumer Product Safety Commission's own recall list at cpsc.gov. CPSC adds every new recall it announces to that same list, so one search covers the full history. Compare the model number in any result against the one on your charger; a recall for one model does not cover a different one. If you get a match, follow the remedy the recall notice describes instead of the rest of this page.
Related procedures
- How to find and record the model and serial number of every appliance in the house
- How to check if something you own has been recalled
- How to get lint out of a phone charging port safely when it won't charge or the cable keeps falling out
- What to do when you drop your phone in water, and why rice is the wrong answer
- Identify a lost power adapter from the equipment's own marking, and match a replacement
Sources
Every specification on this page is traced to one of these sources. Tier 1 is a manufacturer document, a published standard, or a government safety authority. See Standards for the full tiering rule.
- Tier 1Important safety information for iPhone
- Tier 1Safety & Regulatory Guide for 30W USB-C Charger
- Tier 1Issues with wired charging
- Tier 1Tips to Help Charge Medical Devices Safely and Avoid Overheating
- Tier 1OSHA's Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) Program
- Tier 1OSHA's Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) Program - Frequently Asked Questions
- Tier 1Current List of NRTLs
- Tier 1May is National Electrical Safety Month (NSN-06-3)
- Tier 1U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Launches Crackdown on Fake Safety Labels Used to Push Dangerous Foreign Products into U.S. Homes
- Tier 1Appliance and Electrical Fire Safety
- Tier 1Home Electrical Safety Checklist: Keeping You and Your Family Safe, Room-by-Room (CPSC Pub 513)
- Tier 1Recalls & Product Safety Warnings
Revision history
Current version 1 · updated 2026-08-04 · next review due 2027-08-04
- v1 · 2026-08-04First draft, doc_type diagnostic. Built from nine tier-1 sources read in full on 2026-08-04: Apple's 'Important safety information for iPhone', Google's 'Safety & Regulatory Guide for 30W USB-C Charger', Samsung's 'Issues with wired charging' (samsung.com/sg, last updated 24 Mar 2023), FDA's 'Tips to Help Charge Medical Devices Safely and Avoid Overheating' (content current as of 27 Apr 2026), OSHA's NRTL program page, its FAQ, and its current list of NRTLs, CPSC's undated NSN-06-3 electrical-safety-month leaflet (age disclosed in the source entry), and CPSC's 6 May 2026 release on counterfeit certification marks — plus three already-registered sources (usfa-appliance-electrical-fire-safety, cpsc-home-electrical-safety-checklist, cpsc-recalls-index). No manufacturer page was used to learn that this topic has demand; the backlog entry recorded the topic from a keyword sweep before any competitor page was opened, and none was opened while drafting. PRINTS NO WATTAGE, VOLTAGE OR CURRENT FIGURE, by design: the one unverified specification is written as an instruction to read the reader's own label rather than a guessed number. NO CONFLICT was found between the tier-1 sources used; Apple, Google, Samsung and FDA agree on the underlying rule (stop and replace a damaged charger or cable), so no conflict_note was manufactured. Sources are staged in data/sources-additions-decide-whether-a-charger-or-cable-is-still-safe.json.
Corrections to this page are listed in the public corrections log. Reports that are credible and not yet verified are listed in the public errata register, and an open one renders above the step it concerns.
Comments and corrections
Found an error? A correction with a manufacturer source is applied and logged publicly. You can also write to corrections@fixchecklist.com.
Every step above carries its own report control, which tags the report with that step so a correction reaches the right place. For anything about the procedure as a whole — the order of the sections, a step that is missing, something that did not match your equipment — use this: report something about this whole procedure.