How to Charge a Vibrator? PRO TIPS from a Sex Toy Tester!

Vibrators are great fun, but just like human partners, they occasionally need to rest and recharge. This is generally not a complicated process, but again, like human partners, everyone is just a little bit different. We are here to walk you through the process so that you can get back to buzzy bliss.

Understanding Your Vibrator

You’ll want to get to know the business end of your vibrator. As we mentioned above, most vibrators are powered by either disposable batteries or rechargeable internal batteries. Some vibes are corded and plug into the wall, but those are less common and also pretty self-explanatory.

Battery-Operated Boyfriends

Locate the battery compartment, which is usually on the base or bottom side of the vibrator. Bullet vibrators may have a twist-off cap. Open the compartment carefully. It may be closed with screws, in which case you will need to be careful not to strip the very small screws. Eyeglass repair kits usually have screwdrivers small enough to work well. Use your phone to snap a photo of the batteries so that you can align the replacements correctly.

Remove the batteries and dispose of them properly (alkaline batteries can usually go in household trash, but NiCad and lithium batteries are considered hazardous waste). Wipe the compartment clean with a soft cloth. Insert new batteries and replace the compartment lid.

Rechargeable Types

Most higher-end vibrators are rechargeable. Rechargeable vibrators do cost more up front, but they are less expensive and more sustainable to operate. The most common types of connections are a barrel port, a USB-C or micro-USB plug, or a magnet.

As with battery-operated vibrators, you’ll first need to locate the charging port. It will often be near the control buttons, and it may have a charging icon or a protective cover. Barrel plugs on silicone vibrator bodies can be especially difficult to locate! When in doubt, check the user manual or the manufacturer’s website.

Your charging cable will either plug into a USB-A slot or into a wall outlet. And of course, if your cable has a USB connector but you’d prefer to charge more discreetly than plugging it into your PC, you can always use an adapter to plug it into a wall outlet. Wall outlets also usually charge more quickly.

Connect the charging cable to your vibrator. Barrel ports and USB connectors plug into their designated slots. Magnetic connectors attach to the matching magnets on your vibrator. Then plug the charging cable into the power source (USB or wall outlet).

Most vibrators will light up to let you know that they are charging. If it doesn’t, you may need to re-align the connectors. It should also let you know when it’s done charging – the light may change from blinking to solid, for instance. Again, check your user manual or the manufacturer’s website to learn how to decode the signals that your toy is sending.

Rechargeable batteries can only store so much energy, so disconnect your vibrator once it is fully charged. Keeping it plugged in will not make the run time longer, and there is a (small) chance that this could damage the battery or shorten its lifespan.

Our Favorites

We’ve explained how to keep your vibrator(s) ready, willing, and able. It’s helpful to charge them after every use so that they’ll be good to go whenever you are. You can make it a habit to charge them after cleaning them.

Some of our — and hopefully your — favorite vibrators have their own charging routines. We’ll go over those as well.

Roses at the Ready

Every woman loves roses, and especially the clit-sucking rose toy. But this vibrator isn’t shaped like other vibrators, and this means that it charges a little differently. We have written about it extensively, but we’ll hit the high points here.

More than most toys, the rose toy wants to look pretty, and a charging port can be un-aesthetic. This also means that it’s hard to find! Its port may be at the base of the rose, or the rose may sit on a base that contains the charging port.

Once you’ve located the elusive charging port, just proceed as we described above. Connect the charging cable, plug it into the power source, make sure that it lights up, and let it do its thing!

Always Ready for Anal

Both men and women can enjoy anal play, so we want to be sure that our anal vibrators are ready whenever either partner is in the mood! As with the rose toy, finding the charging port can be the most challenging part of maintaining this kind of vibrator. Many anal vibrators do not have handles like wand vibrators or G-spot vibrators, so there is no universally accepted location for the charging port (but it is usually near the control buttons).

You’ll charge an anal vibrator the same way that you charge your other toys. Plug the cable into the vibrator (or charging dock), power it up, and let it charge completely. The user manual or manufacturer’s website may give you an idea how long a full charge will take, but this is somewhat dependent on your cable and adapter.

Go-Go-G-Spot

G-spot vibrators usually have handles, which means that the charging ports or battery compartments are often easier to find. It just makes sense to have them in the handle!

Open the charging port or battery compartment and follow the instructions that we provided above. If you are replacing batteries, make sure to replace all the batteries at the same time for premium performance. These vibrators usually have powerful motors so they may take a little longer to charge, but the indicator lights should let you know when it is done.

Tongue Toys

The charging port for these types is most likely going to be located near the control buttons. You’ll open it up (if necessary), connect the cable, and power it up. Be sure to disconnect the charging cable when the toy is fully powered.

Loading Your Bullet

Of all the vibrators that we talk about here, bullets are probably the most likely to be powered by disposable batteries. This makes them very portable toys, which is great for travel or even stashing in your purse just in case the need arises!

If your bullet takes batteries, it will probably have a cap at the bottom that unscrews. Open the compartment and replace the battery or batteries. If it is rechargeable, you’ll need to find the charging port (which may also be at the bottom), plug in the cable, connect it to a power source, and monitor the indicator lights so that you know when it’s done.

Loving Lovense Toys

These are some of our favorite toys, and we have compiled a specialized guide here. Lovense toys charge magnetically, which is very nice because there are no holes or plugs where the toy could possibly become contaminated.

You’ll start by attaching the magnetic charger to the toy. Then plug the cable into a USB port, or you can use a wall outlet with a power adapter. The indicator light will come on if the connection is good; if it isn’t, you can unplug the cable and try again. Make sure that the magnets feel securely attached. Most Lovense toys charge fully in one to two hours.

Clitty-Clitty-Bang-Bang

The rose toy that we talked about above is only one of the myriad of clit-sucker toys on the market. They come in all shapes and sizes, but one thing that they all have in common is that they all need to be charged!

Because there is such variety in these vibrators, you’ll have to search for the charging port (or check the user manual or manufacturer’s website). They may have barrel ports, USB, or magnetic connectors. If possible, use the original charging cable that came with your vibrator to ensure compatibility.

Who Doesn’t Love a Wand?

Wand vibrators are classics for a reason. They are simple to use, and they are also usually simple to charge (although some wands use disposable batteries instead of rechargeable ones).

The motors and power source for wand vibrators are almost always located in the handle. You’ll replace the batteries or connect the charging cable the same way that you do with other toys. If you are charging the wand vibrator, wait for the indicator light to come on so that you know it’s actually charging.

Toy Troubleshooting

We’ve explained pretty thoroughly how to charge your toys, but just in case you encounter complications, here are some steps that you can take.

• Check the connection. If it’s a barrel port, make sure that the barrel is as far in as it can safely go. If it’s a USB-C/micro-USB, do the same. If it is a magnetic connector, try detaching and reattaching so that the magnets are firmly attached. In every case, if the connector is not precisely aligned, the vibrator may not charge correctly.
• Check the cable and power source. Examine the charging cable carefully. If it is kinked or frayed, it may not let you charge; more importantly, it could be dangerous! If the connections and the cable look good and the toy is still not charging, try plugging another device into the port or outlet to check if it is actually putting out power.
• Check the (disposable) batteries. If you have replaced the batteries and your vibrator is not powering on, be sure that the batteries are aligned correctly. Wipe down the battery compartment and connectors with a clean, soft cloth. If neither of those works, you can try a new set of batteries.

If you have tried all of the above and your vibrator still will not work, check your user manual. You can also contact the manufacturer. If your toy is still under warranty, they may want you to send it to them so that they can troubleshoot (and they will replace it if they cannot fix it). Even if it is out of warranty, they may be able to walk you through further troubleshooting or have some ideas that might help.

Happy vibing!

Tim

Tim is our male sex toy expert, and he has reviewed close to a hundred products. He also worked as an English teacher in Japan throughout his twenties, where he gained extensive knowledge of Japanese sex toys and Shibari. He has been featured in Vice.com, among other things.
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