If a Pixel Tablet will not charge or turn on, Google's tablet article gives a strict order: hold the power button for 5 to 7 seconds, restart, check the USB-C port for debris, then test the battery by plugging into a wall outlet with a working USB-C cable and a power adapter of at least 15W and waiting a minute. If a battery icon appears, the tablet is charging but too drained to power on; if a percentage appears, it is off and charging. On the dock, the checks are different: the dock must be plugged in, given several seconds to boot, and the tablet must sit securely with nothing between its pins and the dock's face.
Differential
Likely causes of “Google Pixel Tablet will not charge or charges slowly”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
An adapter under 15W
What separates it It charges slowly or shows a Check charging accessory notice
How to confirm Google's article says to use adapters and cables that support 15W USB Power Delivery
- 2
A dock that has no power
What separates it The tablet does not charge on the dock but does by cable
How to confirm Unplug the dock, wait, replug and listen for the boot chime, as Google's steps describe
- 3
A tablet not seated on the dock, or dirty pins
What separates it The charging indicator on the top right of the screen does not appear
How to confirm Re-dock it and clear anything between the pins and the dock face
- 4
Debris in the USB-C port
What separates it There is a loose plug or intermittent charging because of debris in the USB-C port
How to confirm Tap the tablet port-down against your hand as Google suggests, then try again
- 5
A fully drained battery
What separates it A blank screen for many minutes on a good charger
How to confirm Leave it a minute; a battery icon means it is charging but too low to start
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- Pixel Tablet, the Android version and whether it charges by cable, on the dock, or neither
- The adapter, cable and outlet used, and their wattage
- What appears on the screen: a battery icon, a percentage, a Check charging accessory notice or nothing
- Whether a case or accessory is covering the pins
Try in this order
0 of 7 completedHold the power button
ReversibleHold it for 5 to 7 seconds; Google says this starts a tablet that will not turn on.
Restart
ReversibleSwipe down from the top, tap the Power icon, then tap Restart, which gives the phone a clean start without holding any buttons.
Check the port
ReversibleLook for debris and tap the tablet against your hand port-down. Check the plug is not loose.
Test with a wall outlet
ReversibleUse a working USB-C cable and a power adapter of at least 15W and wait one minute.
Read the icon
ReversibleA battery icon means it is charging but too drained; a percentage means it is off and charging, so press power.
Test the dock
ReversibleUndock, unplug the dock, replug it, wait ten seconds or for the boot chime, then dock again and look for the charging indicator.
Change the outlet and accessories
ReversibleChange the outlet and accessories, by trying another outlet and checking that a case or accessory is not covering the pins.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Charging
- USB-C Power Delivery at up to 15W by cable, or 15W on the Charging Speaker Dock, per Wikipedia; Google's article names 15W as the minimum adapter.
- Dock
- Only the Charging Speaker Dock docks the tablet. It has no USB-C connector and needs its own power supply, per Google's FAQ.
- Tools and supplies
- A 15W USB-C adapter and cable, a flashlight for the port and a dry cloth for the dock pins. Nothing metal goes into the port.
- Repair cost
- iFixit parts per 9to5Google: USB-C port $24.99, battery $59.99, screen $200. A repairer's labor is extra.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If it will not charge by cable or dock after the steps in Google's article, contact Google
- !If the USB-C port is loose or looks burned, melted or corroded, book a repair; iFixit lists the port at $24.99 as a part
- !If the tablet is hot or the back lifts, unplug it and have it inspected
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Power button, restart, USB-C port, battery charge, accessories and the dock.
Detach, reattach and change the dock's outlet.
USB cable or dock, USB 2.0 support and USB-A adapters.
Pixel Tablet battery, dock charging, chip, RAM, storage, Wi-Fi 6, Android version and update policy.
IFixit part prices for the Pixel Tablet: screen $200, battery $59.99, USB-C port $24.99.
Exact questions
Common questions
What does a Check charging accessory notice mean?+
Google says the tablet shows it when a USB charging accessory does not work with the Pixel Tablet. Try a different cable or a 15W USB Power Delivery adapter.
How do I know the dock is powered?+
Google says wait several seconds after plugging the dock in, then look for the boot chime, and check the charging indicator at the top right of the tablet screen once it is docked.
Does the case matter on the dock?+
Google's FAQ says you can dock and charge the tablet without removing the Pixel Tablet Case, but a third-party case or accessory that covers the pins can block charging.
What charger does the Pixel Tablet need?+
Google's article says to use power adapters and cables that support 15W USB Power Delivery. Wikipedia also lists the dock at 15W.
Can I charge it with an old USB-A adapter?+
Google's charging article says a USB-C to USB-A adapter works but charges more slowly than USB-C.
Why is the dock not charging my tablet?+
Check the dock has power, the cord is fully in, the tablet is seated and nothing blocks the pins, then test the dock's power as Google describes.
Why is the screen black on the charger?+
Google says to wait a minute: a battery icon means it is charging but too drained to power on.
Do I get a cable in the box with the dock?+
Google says if you bought the tablet with a dock you need to buy a USB-C cable separately to charge it off the dock.
What is Hub Mode?+
Google's FAQ says the tablet goes into Hub Mode when it is locked and attached to a Charging Speaker Dock.
Can a case block charging?+
Google says to check that cases or battery packs do not cover the pins and sensors or press against the buttons.
How much is a replacement battery or port?+
iFixit sells the battery at $59.99 and the USB-C port at $24.99 as parts, per 9to5Google. A repairer's labor is extra.