How to Fix A Vape Pen That Won't Charge or Hit (& Why It's Not Working)

This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Bailey Cho. Bailey Cho is an Editing Fellow at wikiHow, based in Dallas, TX. She has over 2 years of editorial experience, with work published in student journals and lifestyle publications. Bailey graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a B.A. in Advertising and a Minor in Business.

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If your vape pen stops hitting after a charge (or it just won’t charge at all), it might be a sign of a clogged cartridge, incompatible charger, or poorly screwed on component. Fortunately, these issues can be fixed in a few simple steps, so you don’t have to throw out your device and buy a replacement. In this article, we’ll go over the reasons why your vape or dab pen is malfunctioning, including how to repair it at home!

Things You Should Know

If your vape pen isn’t charging, lift the connection plate on the vape battery or charger with a paperclip, or remove any debris inside the charging port with a toothpick.
If your vape pen is charging but not hitting, make sure the voltage and temperature settings match the cart requirements, and retwist the cartridge onto the battery so it’s finger-tight.
If you still can’t take a hit, dampen a cotton swab in rubbing alcohol and clean the surface of the connection plate on the vape battery.

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If Your Vape Pen Isn’t Charging

Reassemble your vape pen and look for a red light to confirm that it’s charging. If not, check the connection plate in the USB charger that your vape plugs into. Lift the plate with a paperclip so it sits right above the surrounding threads in the charger, then plug in your vape. [2] X Research source

If you use a damp cotton swab, blot away excess alcohol with a clean paper towel, and be sure to let your vape pen dry completely before charging it.

To avoid frying your battery (and potentially starting a fire), stay away from any kinds of chargers that claim to juice up your vape quickly.

If your pen still won’t charge, it might mean the battery is damaged. At this point, there’s not much you can do, and you may have to purchase a new battery or pen.

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If Your Vape Pen Is Charging But Not Hitting

If your pen is draw-activated and doesn’t fire when you take a hit, it might mean there’s a clog. If that’s the case, breathe in through the mouthpiece gently to preheat the cart and melt any clogged oil.

When you twist the cartridge back on, think of it like tightening a nut onto a bolt with your fingers (instead of a wrench). It should be firmly connected but not too tight to where it’s difficult to untwist.

If you reach the max range but still aren’t getting any vapor, there might be an issue with the components of your pen, such as a clogged cartridge or damaged coil.
If your battery has a button, pressing it 2-3 times will usually adjust the temperature—the light should flash green for low, blue for medium, and red for high. If your pen has a digital screen, use the arrow keys to adjust the settings. [10] X Research source

Alternatively, fix a clogged cart by blowing into the cartridge to clear out debris under the mouthpiece. Or, warm up the cartridge by holding your pen about 6 inches (15 cm) away from a hair dryer and heating it for 15-30 seconds. [12] X Research source
If you’re using a disposable vape pen, warm up the cartridge with the hair dryer, then stand it upright so gravity pulls the oil down, away from the mouthpiece.
Check the battery for any residue, too. Using a low-quality cartridge or a cartridge that isn’t designed for your specific vape can cause oil to leak onto the battery. If this happens, it’s time to purchase a new pen. [13] X Research source

At this point, reassemble your vape pen, and be sure not to twist the cartridge on too tight to avoid pushing the connection plate down. The plate should make proper contact with the bottom of the cartridge so you can hit your vape.
This troubleshooting tip works well with any vape cartridges that have 510 thread batteries, such as Kandypens, Ooze, O2VAPE, Vessel, and Yocan.

If your vape has a burning smell or taste, it could mean the coil isn’t able to heat up to the right temperature to create any vapor. This usually happens if you don’t use your vape for a while, or if the oil inside the cartridge thickens and builds up around the heating coil in the inner chamber. [16] X Research source

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How to Fix a Dab Pen

Screwing the cart too tight can prevent it from working properly, making it seem like there’s a clog or blockage.

If your dab pen has a digital screen, use the arrow keys to raise or lower the temperature. If it has a button, press it 2-3 times to adjust the temperature—the light should flash green for low, blue for medium, and red for high. [19] X Research source

Alternatively, unscrew the mouthpiece from the cartridge and drop it into a bowl of boiling water. This will melt away the oil so you can take a hit.
Since THC oils are much thicker than the oil cartridges found in standard vape pens, it’s pretty common for dab pens to get clogged.

Some dab pens have a preheat setting if you press the button 2-3 times.
If your pen has a button, try holding it down for a few seconds before you inhale to warm up and melt the oil.

Gently screw the cartridge back onto the battery until it’s finger-tight, then check if you can take a hit.

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