You set your phone on the pad, and nothing happens, or it charges then stops. A case is the usual suspect, but the fix is almost always simple. Work through these causes in order.
Check for Metal and Cards
A metal ring holder, a metal kickstand plate, or credit cards in a wallet case will interrupt the charging field and can cause heat. Remove any cards from between the phone and the pad, and if your case has a metal mount plate, take the phone off the plate to charge. This solves most sudden charging failures.
Check the Thickness
Wireless charging reaches only about 3mm. A very thick rugged case with a heavy backplate can push past that limit. If a thick case is the issue, switch to a slimmer one or use a stronger magnetic charger. A magnetic charger like this magnetic power bank also helps by locking alignment.
Fix Alignment
On a flat pad, the coils must line up. If charging is intermittent, nudge the phone until it starts, or switch to a MagSafe or Qi2 charger that snaps into place automatically. Explore compatible chargers in the phone chargers collection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did charging stop after I added a metal ring? Metal between the phone and pad blocks the inductive field and can overheat. Charge with the phone off the metal plate, or use a case without a metal mount.
How thick is too thick? Beyond roughly 3mm of total gap, wireless charging can fail. Most standard cases are well within this; heavy armor cases with backplates are the risk.
Will a magnetic charger help? Yes. MagSafe and Qi2 magnetic chargers force perfect alignment, which fixes intermittent charging caused by misplacement on a flat pad.
Remove metal and cards, keep the case under about 3mm, and align the coils. One of those three fixes almost always restores wireless charging.