What Does This Error Mean?

A phone case blocking wireless charging almost always contains metal — a magnetic mount plate, credit card holder, or metal ring on the back. Remove any metal attachments from the case, or switch to a non-metal wireless-charging-compatible case.

Affected Models

Any Qi or MagSafe wireless charger
Apple MagSafe charger
Anker Qi2 charger

Common Causes

Magnetic car mount plate or ring adhered inside the phone case blocking the coil
Built-in credit card or NFC card slot in the case adding metal near the charging area
Case thickness over 3–4 mm reducing inductive coupling below the charging threshold
Metal kickstand or pop socket ring on the back of the case triggering FOD protection
Battery case with its own circuitry blocking the wireless charging handshake

How to Fix It

Remove metal attachments from the case.

Peel off any magnetic car mount plate or ring sticker from the back of the case. Also remove NFC card stickers and metal pop socket bases. Even a small metal ring behind the case creates enough interference to trigger FOD protection and prevent wireless charging.
Test charging without the case.

Remove the phone case entirely and place the bare phone on the wireless charger. If it charges without the case but not with it, the case itself is the cause. Identify whether the issue is case material (metal) or case thickness (too thick for coil coupling).
Choose a case under 3 mm thick for wireless charging.

Inductive power transfer degrades sharply with distance. For reliable wireless charging, the total gap between the phone back and charger pad should be under 3 mm. Leather folios, rugged cases, and wallet cases are typically too thick for full-speed wireless charging.
Look for the wireless charging compatible label.

Quality phone cases sold alongside wireless chargers are often labeled as Wireless Charging Compatible or Qi Compatible. This means they are made from plastic, TPU, or silicone — not metal — and are thin enough not to impede coil coupling. Avoid wallet cases with card slots positioned on the back near the charging coil.
Use MagSafe-compatible cases for iPhones.

Apple iPhones use MagSafe for 15W wireless charging — this requires the case to include the MagSafe magnet array. A regular Qi case will charge an iPhone at 7.5W maximum, not 15W. For full MagSafe speed, use a case certified as MagSafe Compatible, not just Qi compatible.

When to Call a Professional

Wireless charging compatibility is a case materials and placement issue — no hardware repair is needed. If a certified compatible case still causes charging issues, check the phone's charging coil for damage.