Nvidia Shield Not Charging [Quick Ways to Fix]

You’ve been trying to charge your Nvidia Shield controller for the past hour, but the device won’t charge. You even applied every fix you could think of, all to no avail.

Sounds like you? Then, you should keep reading, as you are going to learn how to solve the problem in this post.

If your Nvidia Shield controller isn’t charging, you can quickly troubleshoot it by refreshing the device’s connection. Power cycling and updating the Shield controller may also fix the issue.

For more details on how to overcome this issue, keep reading.

Table of Contents

How to Fix Nvidia Shield Charging Problems

Refresh Your Nvidia Shield Connection

One of the most common reasons the Nvidia Shield Controller fails to charge is a malfunction in the system.

A quick way to resolve this issue is to refresh the controller’s connection to the Shield TV.

Here’s how to do that:

Unplug your controller from the Shield TV.
Press and hold the Nvidia logo button on the controller for 20 seconds.
The controller will disconnect from the TV.
Press the logo button again.
This time, hold it for only three seconds.
The controller should turn back on.
Your Shield TV will display a list of prompts on the screen.
Follow these prompts to reconnect your controller to the TV.
Now, plug back the cable attached to the controller back into the TV.

Check if your Nvidia Shield controller is charging now. If it isn’t, move on to the next step.

Restart the Controller

Another way to fix charging issues in your Nvidia Shield controller is to reboot the system. Rebooting your controller may remove the bugs affecting the system’s performance.

Follow these steps to reboot your Nvidia Shield controller:

Disconnect the USB cable from the controller.
Press the Home, Back, and Shield buttons simultaneously.
Hold these buttons together for 15 seconds.
The LED on the controller will blink, and the device will go off.
Next, press and hold the Shield button for three seconds.
This will activate pairing mode.
Re-insert the USB cable into the controller to pair it with the TV.

If the controller doesn’t charge after this, move on to the next tip.

Delete the Bluetooth Cache on Your Nvidia Shield

Nvidia Shield TV pairs with the controller through Bluetooth. So, when you connect your controller to the TV, the system stores the data in its Bluetooth memory.

Over time, the Bluetooth cache will get overloaded. An overloaded memory exposes the Shield TV and Controller to bugs, thus causing the devices to develop functional issues. One of such issues is the failure of the Shield controller to charge.

The solution to this problem is to clear the Bluetooth cache on the Shield TV.

Take the following steps to clear your Bluetooth cache:

Tap on the Settings icon on the home screen.
Choose Apps.
Then, click on Bluetooth.
Next, select Clear Cache to offload the memory.

Reboot your Shield TV by unplugging and reconnecting the device to its power source. After restarting your TV, wait for the Shield controller to start charging. If it doesn’t charge, continue to the next tip.

Update Your Shield TV and Controller

If the firmware on your Shield TV or controller is outdated, it can cause serious issues in the system. In fact, a charging problem is one of the least dangerous complications that could occur due to outdated firmware.

If you want your Shield TV and controller to maintain optimal performance, you must update them regularly.

Take these steps to update your Shield TV:

Tap the Settings tab on your Home screen.
Click on Device Preferences.
Then, choose About.
Select System Upgrade.

Once you’ve updated your TV, you can move on to updating your Shield controller.

Follow this guide to update your Shield controller:

Open the Settings tab on the TV.
Scroll to Remote and Accessories.
Tap SHIELD accessories.
Then, select Shield Controller.
Now, click on Update Firmware.

Now, reboot your TV and check if the controller is charging. If the controller doesn’t charge, continue to the next step.

Related: How to Troubleshoot ‘Nvidia Shield Not Turning On’ Issue.

Disable Network Debugging Settings

The Network Debugging setting on the Shield TV is another likely culprit behind your Shield controller’s failure to charge. Several Shield users have claimed that turning off this setting fixes the charging issues in their controllers.

So, you might want to try the tip.

The Network Debugging Setting is supposed to be turned off by default. But you might have accidentally enabled it. In that case, you’ll need to disable the setting.

The guide below will show you how to turn off Network Debugging settings on your Shield TV:

Open the Settings menu.
Select Device Preferences.
Then, click on Developer Options.
If you don’t find the Developer Options tab, it means you haven’t enabled Network Debugging settings.
However, if you see the Developer Options tab, tap on it.
Then, scroll to Network Debugging.
Turn off the setting.

If the Shield controller still doesn’t charge, check out the next tip.

Replace the Controller’s Batteries

Your Shield controller might not charge because its batteries are damaged. As such, you’ll need to replace the batteries.

Follow these steps to replace the batteries in the Shield Controller:

Search for a round button around the edges of the controller.
Use a tiny pin to press the button.
This will pull out the battery tray in the remote.
Remove the tray from the controller to reveal two CR2032 3-volt batteries.
Turn over the tray.
Then, poke behind the batteries to remove them from the tray.
Inspect the batteries for damage.
If you find any dents on them, you should change them.
Get two new CR2032 batteries and insert them into the battery tray.
Place the battery tray back into the controller.

After replacing the controller’s batteries, try charging the controller again. If the device doesn’t charge, continue to the next tip.

Inspect Your USB Cable

When the Nvidia Shield controller isn’t charging, we often assume that it is caused by a software issue. This isn’t always the case. Sometimes, it might be the visible parts, like the USB cable and USB ports, that are responsible for the problem.

While troubleshooting your Shield controller, make sure to inspect the USB cable linking the controller to the TV. Study the body of the cable for damaged insulation and loose wiring.

You should also use the cable to charge another device to see if it will work.

If the USB cable works, try the next tip.

Test Your USB Ports

If your Nvidia Shield controller isn’t charging, chances are the USB port on the controller or the Shield TV isn’t working.

To eliminate this possibility, you’ll need to test the USB ports on both devices.

Here’s how to test the USB ports:

Unplug the USB cable from the Shield TV.
Leave the cable attached to the controller.
Next, plug the other end of the cable into another USB port, such as the port on your laptop.
Place your fingers on the charging cable.
If you feel a rumble around the cable, your controller is charging.
In that case, the USB port on the TV might be problematic.
However, if the controller fails to charge, disconnect the entire USB cable from the controller.
Now, plug the cable into the USB port on your TV.
Insert the second end of the USB cable into your phone.
If the phone charges, the USB port on the controller is defective.

If you discover any of the ports are faulty, ask a technician to fix them. Otherwise, move on to the next step.

Factory Reset Your Shield TV

If your Nvidia Shield controller doesn’t charge after you’ve tried all the tips above, you’ll need to factory reset your Shield TV.

A factory reset is necessary at this point because there might still be some bugs in the system. Factory resets are the strongest methods for removing bugs from the system.

Please note that factory resetting your TV will delete all the settings and apps on the device. So, you should only factory reset your TV as a last resort.

Take the following steps to factory reset your Shield TV:

Open the Settings tab.
Click on Storage & Reset.
Tap Erase everything.

After resetting your Shield TV, restart the device. Then, pair it up with your Shield Controller.

Your Shield Controller should start charging now.

Wrapping Up

Follow the tips in this article thoroughly to get the best results. However, if your Shield controller doesn’t charge after you’ve applied all the tips, contact the Shield Customer Support service.