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This guide is for general troubleshooting only. EVcourse is not affiliated with ChargePoint. For account issues or charger-specific faults, contact ChargePoint support directly.

Troubleshooting

ChargePoint Charger Not Working?

Updated March 2026

You are standing at a ChargePoint station and things are not going as planned. The app says the charger is available but it is clearly broken, your session stopped at 80% for no obvious reason, or the RFID reader is ignoring your card. ChargePoint is a US-based network expanding across Europe, and some of their stations are operated by local CPOs using ChargePoint hardware. Here is how to sort out the most common problems.

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ChargePoint Quick Reference

Max power
350 kW
Connectors
CCS2
Payment
app, RFID
Type
Charge Point Operator

Showing 6 of 6 issues

App shows "Available" but the charger is physically broken

The ChargePoint app shows a green status for a charger, but when you arrive, the unit is visibly damaged, has a blank screen, or displays an out-of-service message. This happens because ChargePoint's availability status depends on the charger reporting its own state, and a broken charger sometimes cannot report that it is broken.

Symptoms

  • App shows the charger as available with a green icon
  • Charger screen is blank, cracked, or showing an error message on site
  • The connector is physically damaged or the cable is severed
  • Other drivers at the station confirm the charger has been broken for days

How to Fix It

  1. 1

    Check the other chargers at the same station

    ChargePoint stations often have multiple units. If one is broken, another unit nearby may work fine. Use the app to see all connectors at the location.

  2. 2

    Report the broken charger in the ChargePoint app

    Open the station detail in the ChargePoint app, find the specific charger, and report the issue. Select the most accurate problem description. This updates the status for other drivers and alerts the station operator.

  3. 3

    Check recent driver reports in the app

    The ChargePoint app sometimes shows recent check-ins or reports from other drivers. Before driving to a station, scroll down on the station detail page to see if anyone has reported issues recently.

  4. 4

    Find the nearest alternative station

    In the ChargePoint app, tap "Find nearby" or zoom out on the map. Filter for DC fast chargers if you need speed. You can also check Google Maps or A Better Route Planner for non-ChargePoint alternatives.

RFID tap not registering

You tap your ChargePoint card on the reader and nothing happens. No beep, no screen change, no session. The RFID readers on ChargePoint stations can be finicky, especially on older European units.

Symptoms

  • Tapping the RFID card produces no response from the charger
  • The charger beeps but then shows "Authentication failed"
  • The card works at some ChargePoint stations but not this one
  • The RFID reader area is hard to locate on the charger

How to Fix It

  1. 1

    Find the correct RFID reader location

    On ChargePoint stations, the RFID reader is sometimes in an unexpected spot. Look for a small RFID symbol, usually on the front face of the charger or near the screen. On some European units, it is on the side panel.

  2. 2

    Hold the card flat and steady for three seconds

    Do not tap and pull away quickly. Press the card flat against the reader area and hold it still for a full three seconds. Some readers need this extra time.

  3. 3

    Remove your card from any wallet or phone case

    If your ChargePoint card is in a wallet with other RFID cards or near your phone, interference can prevent the reader from detecting it. Hold the card alone against the reader.

  4. 4

    Start the session from the ChargePoint app instead

    Open the ChargePoint app, find the station, select the specific charger, and tap "Start." This sends a start command over the network and does not rely on the physical RFID reader at all.

  5. 5

    Check if your card is activated

    New ChargePoint RFID cards need to be activated in the ChargePoint app or on the website. Go to Account, then Cards, and verify your card is listed and active.

Session auto-terminates at 80%

Your charging session stops automatically when your battery reaches around 80%, even though you did not set a limit and wanted to charge further. Some ChargePoint stations, particularly those operated by local CPOs, have a configuration that ends sessions at 80% to free up the charger for the next driver.

Symptoms

  • Charging stops at exactly 80% state of charge
  • The ChargePoint app shows the session as "Complete" at 80%
  • No error message on the charger, it simply stops
  • Your car is still ready to accept more charge

How to Fix It

  1. 1

    Check if this is a station policy

    Some station operators set an 80% cutoff on DC fast chargers to maximize charger availability. This is not a fault. Check the station detail in the ChargePoint app or look for signage at the station explaining time or charge limits.

  2. 2

    Start a new session

    After the session ends at 80%, you can often start a new session on the same charger to continue charging. Unplug, wait 10 seconds, plug back in, and authenticate again.

  3. 3

    Check your car's own charge limit

    Some EVs have a default charge limit set to 80% in the car's settings. Check your car's infotainment system under charging settings. If the limit is set to 80%, the car itself is stopping the session, not ChargePoint.

  4. 4

    Switch to a different station if you need to charge above 80%

    If the 80% cutoff is a station policy and you need more charge, find a station without this restriction. AC chargers at destinations are usually a better choice for topping up above 80% because DC charging is very slow above that level anyway.

Waitlist feature not working

ChargePoint offers a waitlist feature that is supposed to notify you when a busy charger becomes available. In practice, the notifications are unreliable, especially at European stations.

Symptoms

  • You joined the waitlist but never received a notification
  • The notification arrived long after the charger became available
  • The waitlist button is not available for some stations
  • You received a notification but the charger was already taken by someone else

How to Fix It

  1. 1

    Enable push notifications for the ChargePoint app

    Go to your phone's notification settings and make sure ChargePoint notifications are allowed. On iOS, check Settings, then Notifications, then ChargePoint. On Android, check App Info, then Notifications.

  2. 2

    Stay within a reasonable distance of the station

    The waitlist is most useful when you are nearby, at a shop or restaurant within a few minutes of the charger. By the time you drive 15 minutes back to a station, the charger may already be taken again.

  3. 3

    Do not rely solely on the waitlist

    Treat the waitlist as a nice-to-have, not a guarantee. Check the app manually every few minutes for availability updates, or look for an alternative station while you wait.

  4. 4

    Check if the station supports the waitlist feature

    Not all ChargePoint stations have the waitlist enabled, particularly CPO-operated stations using ChargePoint hardware. If you do not see a waitlist option on the station page, the feature is not available there.

App interface confusing for European users

ChargePoint's app was designed primarily for the US market. European users sometimes encounter US-centric defaults, unfamiliar terminology, or features that do not apply in Europe.

Symptoms

  • App defaults to miles instead of kilometers
  • Pricing displayed in unexpected formats or currencies
  • Filter options include connector types not used in Europe, like NACS
  • Station details reference US-specific payment methods or loyalty programs
  • Map loads centered on the US instead of your actual location

How to Fix It

  1. 1

    Set your region and units in the app settings

    Open the ChargePoint app, go to Account or Settings, and look for region, language, or unit preferences. Set distance to kilometers and currency to your local currency.

  2. 2

    Filter for CCS2 connectors

    When searching for stations, use the filter to show only CCS2 (the European DC fast charging standard). This hides US-only connector types from your results.

  3. 3

    Check the station detail for European pricing

    Tap on a station to see the pricing breakdown. European ChargePoint stations typically show pricing in EUR, SEK, NOK, or GBP per kWh, sometimes with an additional per-minute fee after a certain duration.

  4. 4

    Ignore US-specific features

    Features like ChargePoint Home integration or certain fleet management tools are designed for the US market. If something in the app does not seem relevant, it probably is not meant for European users.

CPO-operated station behaves differently than expected

Some stations use ChargePoint hardware and appear in the ChargePoint app, but they are owned and operated by a local charge point operator. These stations may have different pricing, access rules, or session limits than ChargePoint-owned stations.

Symptoms

  • Pricing at the station does not match what you expected from ChargePoint
  • Your ChargePoint account works but the session has unexpected restrictions
  • The charger looks like ChargePoint but has another company's branding on it
  • Customer support refers you to a different company for this station

How to Fix It

  1. 1

    Check who operates the station

    In the ChargePoint app, the station detail page usually shows the operator or network name. If it says something other than ChargePoint, the station is CPO-operated and may have its own rules.

  2. 2

    Read the pricing and terms on the station detail page

    CPO-operated stations set their own pricing. Check the ChargePoint app for the exact per-kWh rate and any time-based fees or session limits before you plug in.

  3. 3

    Try the CPO's own app if ChargePoint authentication fails

    Some CPO stations accept ChargePoint cards but work more reliably with the operator's own app or RFID card. Look for the operator's name on the charger and download their app.

  4. 4

    Contact the station operator for site-specific issues

    For problems like broken hardware, pricing errors, or access restrictions at a CPO-operated station, contact the operator directly. Their contact information is usually on the charger or in the station detail in the ChargePoint app.

ChargePoint App Tips

  • Create your ChargePoint account and add a payment method before your first session. The account setup includes email verification, which you do not want to deal with at a charger.
  • Use the ChargePoint app's map filters to show only available DC fast chargers with CCS2. This cuts through the clutter, especially in areas with many ChargePoint AC stations.
  • If the app cannot find your location, check that location services are enabled for ChargePoint. The app needs GPS access to show nearby stations and to start sessions at some chargers.
  • Save your most-used stations as favorites in the ChargePoint app. This gives you quick access to availability status without searching each time.
  • Check the app for session details during charging. ChargePoint shows real-time power delivery (kW), energy delivered (kWh), session duration, and estimated cost. This helps you decide when to unplug.

Payment Troubleshooting

  • ChargePoint does not support contactless bank card payment at most European stations. You need either a ChargePoint RFID card or the ChargePoint app to start a session.
  • If you charge through a roaming provider (Plugsurfing, Hubject, or similar), pricing may differ from what the ChargePoint app shows. The roaming provider sets their own markup.
  • ChargePoint's pricing in Europe varies widely between stations. Some charge per kWh only, others add a per-minute fee after a certain session duration. Always check the station detail before plugging in.
  • If your payment method is declined in the ChargePoint app, try adding a different card. Some European bank cards, particularly those requiring 3D Secure verification, can fail during the in-app payment flow.
  • Receipts for ChargePoint sessions are available in the app under your charging activity. You can also request them via email from the session detail page.

When to Contact ChargePoint Support

If the charger is physically damaged, your session was billed incorrectly, or you cannot start a session after trying both the app and RFID card, contact ChargePoint support. In the ChargePoint app, go to the Help section to access live chat or submit a request. You can also call the support number displayed on the charger itself. For CPO-operated stations (stations that use ChargePoint hardware but are run by another company), ChargePoint support may redirect you to the station operator. Have the station name, charger ID, and a description of the problem ready when you contact them.

You can also report charger issues through the ChargePoint app. Reporting helps them fix problems faster.

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