Vape Not Turning On? Here’s What to Do

Last Updated on 5 August 2025

Do you have a vape that isn’t turning on? Vaping devices are complex gadgets that can misbehave in a wide variety of different ways, but a vape that isn’t turning on is one of the most difficult types of problems to troubleshoot because it’s hard to figure out what to do if your device doesn’t seem to be responding at all. Don’t panic. Before you rush to your favorite vape shop to grab a new device, there are several troubleshooting steps that you should try first. Here’s how to fix a vape that isn’t turning on.

Press the Fire Button Five Times

Does your vape have a manual fire button? If it does, try pressing the button five times before doing any more intensive troubleshooting. It could simply be that the device is locked or turned off. If you’re unable to turn the device on with five button presses, check the instruction manual to confirm that’s the key sequence for turning your device on and off. Five presses is the standard sequence for almost all vapes, but a few exceptions do exist.

Charge the Battery

If your vape doesn’t respond at all when you press the button five times – or when you inhale, if you’re using a device with an automatic puff sensor – the next step is to try charging the battery. When you connect your vape to your computer using a USB cable, the device should light up to indicate that the battery is charging. If that happens, your vape is probably working properly but simply has a dead battery. Wait for the battery to charge fully and try using the vape again.

If your vape doesn’t light up when you connect the charging cable, that’s the true problem that you need to troubleshoot. Here’s what you should do if your vape isn’t charging.

Try charging your device with a different cable. USB cables often develop reliability issues when they’re handled roughly, and that’s probably what’s happened with your cable. Using a new cable almost always resolves charging issues with vaping devices.
Connect your vape to a different USB port. You’ll usually get the best performance if you use your computer to charge a vaping device, but you can also use a wall charger as long as it has the correct voltage and amperage for your vape. A wall charger with an output of five volts and one amp will usually work.
Clean your vape’s charging port. Is it full of dust or lint from traveling everywhere in your pocket? You can remove those contaminants with a toothpick.

Check for a Locking Switch

Did you know that some vaping devices have physical switches for locking and unlocking? Many devices from Geekvape have this feature. There are also quite a few disposable vapes with on-off functions integrated into their airflow sliders. If there’s a switch or slider anywhere on your vape, try moving it. The device might turn on.

Look for Leaked E-Liquid

Are you using a vape with an automatic puff sensor? If so, it’s important to ensure that your device’s airflow path is clear and that power can transfer smoothly from the device to the tank or pod. Here’s how to find and troubleshoot a leak with your vaping device.

Remove the tank or pod and check for e-liquid under it. If you find vape juice, remove it with a paper towel. Make sure that the bottom of your tank or pod is also clean and dry. Try using your device again. If it works, you’re all set.
If your device doesn’t work, e-liquid has probably entered the airflow channel. Without smooth airflow, your device’s puff sensor will have difficulty detecting when you inhale. To fix this, turn your device upside down. Hold a paper towel over the top of the device, where the tank or pod would normally be. Find the air intake hole and blow firmly through it. Is your paper towel damp now? Repeat the process until no more e-liquid comes out. Make sure that the top of your device is dry and try vaping again.

Check for a Stuck Puff Sensor

If your vape has an automatic puff sensor, it’s possible for the sensor to get stuck – especially if your device has ever leaked. An airflow sensor is a simple moving part that swings or flexes when air moves through the device, and it can stick in place if vape juice gets on it.

To troubleshoot a stuck puff sensor, try inhaling firmly through your vape to get the sensor moving. If that doesn’t work, blow hard through the device with the tank or pod removed. If the sensor is stuck, either puffing or blowing firmly should fix the problem.

Don’t forget that some vapes actually support dual activation and have fire buttons in addition to puff sensors. If your vape has a puff sensor and doesn’t work when you inhale through it, it may still work when you use the button.

Check for Removable Battery Damage

Are you using a vape with a removable battery? If so – and especially if you sometimes remove the battery for charging in an external charger – you should take the battery out and check for damage if your vape isn’t turning on.

Check the wrapper on the outside of the battery to see if it’s peeling or torn. If the wrapper is damaged, it’s possible that the battery is preventing your vape from turning on because it’s touching metal and causing an internal short circuit. Because a short circuit is potentially dangerous, you should never use a battery with a damaged outer wrapper. Either replace the wrapper – the people at a local vape shop or hobby shop might be able to help with this – or replace the battery.
Check the battery to confirm that it still has the original cylindrical shape. Any sign of physical deformity – a dent or bulge, for instance – indicates damage to the battery’s internal structure. Internal damage means that the battery has undergone permanent chemical changes, and you’ll need to replace it because it’s no longer safe to use.