If you are experiencing a charger that is constantly making noises, you are most likely questioning yourself on “Why is my phone charger making a high pitched buzzing noise?”
You’re not alone in this situation because many people around the world have reported experiencing this irritating issue in a variety of devices, such as laptops, cell phones, tablets, and more.
While it may seem like an urgent cause of concern, I assure you that we will go over what could be causing the issue, when it is ok and not ok to hear a noise from your charger, and what you can do to solve and prevent this problem from occurring again in the future.
For those that are experiencing this issue and are working in an educational setting, I would personally recommend purchasing a laptop charging cart or Chromebook cart for your school classroom.
This will reduce the stress of any overheating or noise coming from multiple chargers because you will only have one charging cart to worry about. If this sounds like something you would be interested in learning more information about, take a look at my article here.
Why Is My Phone Charger Making a High Pitched Buzzing Noise
There are a variety of reasons why a charger would be making a high pitched buzzing noise. Below, I will explain why this may be happening and when it is ok and not ok for you to hear noises from your charger.
When It Is Ok for a Charger to Make Noises
Most of the time a charger will make noise because a mini transformer is operating at high frequency (more than 50hz) levels inside the charger. This occurs mainly when your phone battery percentage is very low, which causes the charger to work extra hard and take up more power current. The power current passes through the transformer to charge your device. This can be compared to a roadside transformer which constantly produces a humming noise.
The reason for this is because the magnetic sheet steel is extending itself when magnetized. The changes in the magnetics create a vibration. Therefore, you can blame the transformer in your phone for this aggravating issue. It is much smaller than the roadside ones, so the noise sounds more high-pitched and piercing to the ears. Once your battery becomes more charged (around 80 percent), you may notice that the noise becomes more faint and less noticeable. This is because the charger is not working as hard and the amount of current passing through is decreased.
Your charger is also doing a lot of converting from the power outlet. For example, it is converting AC voltage to DC voltage which consists of a high amount of frequencies going through your charger. With this high amount of conversion and frequencies, you are likely to hear buzzing noises amplifying from your charger.
For a quick video answering your question of “Why is my phone charger making a high pitched buzzing noise,” watch DynacraftWheels’ YouTube video. In the video, she gives a short response in answering your question directly.
As the lady in the video states, it is usually normal for your charger to make noise while it is charging. However, there are circumstances where it is not normal. We will now go more in-depth into when it is ok and not ok for a charger to make noise.
When It Is Not Ok for a Charger to Make Noises
Majority of the time users are just dealing with a noisy charger and do not have much to worry about, but sometimes the issue of a high pitched buzzing noise is a cause of concern. It can even mean that your charger is prone to becoming a fire hazard. The following are a few normal and abnormal problems that could be causing this strange noise from your phone or other device:
1. Electricity Problem
An electricity problem is the first thing you should look out for. This is because any electronic device that makes an odd buzzing noise usually has an improper electrical issue. Make sure that the buzzing noise is indeed coming from your charger and not your wall outlet. If it is your wall outlet, I would recommend calling an electrician as soon as possible because your home is likely at risk of a fire, electrocution, or other dangerous events.
2. Varying Magnetic Fields
When the magnetic sheet steel inside a charger is extending itself, it is common for it to create a vibration. This vibration may make a high pitched noise due to the changes in the magnetics. When this happens, there is usually nothing to worry about.
3. Transformer Problem
Like the roadside transformers, the small transformers inside your chargers make vibration noises also. This should only occur when your phone is dead or has very low battery. Once it gets up to almost charged, the buzzing noise should come to a halt. This issue is typically not a big deal and should not be a cause of worry.
4. Short Circuit
A short circuit in the wall outlet or phone charger is very dangerous. This is when a current flows through an unintended electrical line. In result of a short circuit, an electrical leakage could occur and a fire could erupt.
5. Loose Components
Sometimes chargers become old, worn out, and even broken. It is normal for the components to eventually become loose or break. Unfortunately, they are not created to last forever. A few of the component names are diodes, capacitor, transformer, and rectifier. When any of these components become loose or even break, you most likely will begin hearing a strange noise. My advice is to not keep using this charger and simply buy a new one.
6. Low Quality or Off-Brand Charger
It is best to only use the charger that came with your specific device when you purchased it. If you lose or break that charger, you should buy another name brand charger from the same company as your device. By purchasing a cheap unreliable charger, you are risking yourself to issues because these chargers are not made well or tested on your device like the name brand ones.
7. Damaged Charger
Your charger may simply be damaged, worn out, or defective. You can easily fix this issue by throwing your charger out and purchasing a new one. If the issue continues, it is most likely not your charger.
8. Outlet Problem
A wall outlet that is buzzing is not a good sign. You should contact an expert immediately because your home could catch on fire, you could electrocute yourself, or other dangerous scenarios could occur. This is a scary issue, and you should not waste any time getting in contact with a repair person.
9. Fast Charging
Fast chargers use and convert more power within a quicker time period than a regular paced charger. When using a fast charger, the current or voltages increase tremendously. This causes more force to shift the magnetic fields which can amplify sound waves. When the current reaches a certain level, the sound waves that you hear can become really loud.
10. Charger with Fans
A lot of wireless chargers are equipped with fans. This is because a wireless charger produces more heat than a wired charger. When the charger becomes too hot, it can cause a big problem if the device cannot cool off. A fan is implemented into chargers to keep the charger cool and to prevent overheating. Sometimes, the fan will make noise and it is typically nothing to worry about.
As you can see, there are many reasons that could be causing the high pitched buzzing noise in your device’s charger. My first suggestion would be to replace your charger with a good, name brand charger and see if the problem persists. If the noise continues, you should begin looking at your wall outlet or device to see if they are causing the problem. This may require a professional becoming involved as they are knowledgeable and skillful in these types of situations.
How to Make Your Charger’s Life Longer
If you are constantly charging your phone, you may need advice on how to increase your charger’s life. Below, I will provide a few tips on how to extend the life of your charger.
- Be gentle with it. Do not pull it out of the wall roughly, and do not let it get tangled when on-the-go.
- Do not use your device while it is charging. It is not meant to be used while charging. That causes it to work harder while listening to your commands and powering up your device.
- Purchase a high-quality charger cable from a name brand, reputable company. As much as we use our chargers in our daily lives, it will be worth it to have a really nice charger that is longer lasting and less breakable.
- Use a pen spring to keep the cable in place. This is a neat tactic that will help keep the cable from moving in many directions which could lead to breaks or cracks.
Another way to make your charger’s life last longer is to find a way to make your device’s battery last longer. By doing this, you will lessen the amount of times that you need to charge your device. To learn more about the best ways to get longer battery life, view Zollotech’s YouTube video. Throughout the video, he will show you how to get more out of your cell phone’s battery life
This video is important because your goal should be to maximize your cellular device’s battery life. By following his instructions, your battery will last longer even after years of use.
Conclusion
I hope this article solved your important question of “why is my phone charger making a high pitched buzzing noise?” as well as helped you locate and fix the issue. Although a buzzing charger most likely can be repaired, it is best to not spend a lot of money and just buy a new one.
Most of the issues come from the age of the charger and how long it has been used. If it is an old charger, it is automatically time for a new one. Even if you prefer to not spend more money on a charger, it is better to do that than worry about what could be causing this odd noise and how much damage could occur. Remain on the safe side and eliminate any possible consequences and risks.
If you are a teacher or professor and experiencing this problem in your classroom, my advice is to buy a tablet charging station. Some of these charging stations are compatible with different devices such as iPads, cell phones, tablets, and more.
However, the main purpose is to make it easier for individuals to charge multiple devices all at once without the stress of managing multiple charging cords, outlets, and devices. They will all be stored in one station.
Want to learn more about phone chargers? Check out our guide to the different types of chargers.
Have any more questions? Let us know by leaving a comment below.
