One of the drawbacks of using a simple vape pen like a 510-thread battery or a disposable vape is that a device with only a single status light can’t always do the best job of letting you know what’s going on when there’s a problem. What does it mean when your vape pen blinks 10 times? What if it blinks three times? In this guide, we’re going to help you find the answer.
Before we proceed with the troubleshooting advice in this guide, it’s important to note that what your vape pen does when it encounters an error is controlled by the device’s firmware. Vape manufacturers develop the firmware for their own devices, and the fact that one device blinks a certain number of times or blinks in a certain color doesn’t necessarily mean that a different device from another company will behave in exactly the same way. It’s usually not too hard to narrow down the cause of the problem, though, because a blinking vape pen almost always has one of these three problems.
- The device either has a short circuit or isn’t detecting the connected coil at all. This type of issue should only ever happen with a vape pen or pod system that has a removable tank, cartridge or pod. Since the coil in a disposable vape isn’t removable, you shouldn’t experience this issue with a disposable vape unless the device has been damaged or dropped in water. Learn more about how to fix a disposable vape that isn’t working.
- The device’s battery is dead. Since you typically need to recharge your vaping device just about every day, this is the most common reason why a vape pen blinks. If you’re using a disposable vape without a USB port, you need to dispose of your device as this point. With all other types of vapes, you can recharge your device by connecting it to your computer with a USB cable.
- You’re puffing on your device too long when you vape. Virtually all vaping devices have automatic timers that limit the length of each puff to a certain number of seconds. The puff limiter helps to ensure that the device won’t overheat during use. If your vape pen blinks and stops working during a long puff, you’ve most likely exceeded the puff limiter and will need to take shorter puffs to prevent the issue from happening in the future.
With that general information out of the way, let’s discuss what might be happening with your vape pen based on the number of times it’s blinking.
Vape Pen Blinking 15 Times: How to Fix
If a vape pen blinks 15 times, it usually means that the battery is dead. If your device has a USB port, you can charge it in just two steps.
- Connect the vape pen to your computer. If the device’s battery is dead, the light should turn on to signify that the battery is charging. Depending on the design of the device, the light will usually pulse during charging, or it’ll illuminate red.
- Wait for the battery to charge. Depending on the capacity of the battery, charging a vape pen usually takes under an hour. The device’s light will let you know when the charge cycle is finished. The light may change from red to green or from pulsing to solid. It may also turn completely off.
If your vape pen doesn’t light up when you connect the USB cable, it either means that the battery is fully charged already or that it isn’t charging. Here’s what you should do if your vape pen isn’t charging.
- Try charging the device with a different USB cable. USB cables develop internal faults very easily, and that may have happened if you’ve been using the same cable to charge your device for a while. Most of the time, replacing the cable will fix a vape pen that isn’t charging.
- Connect the device to your computer. You should never charge a vape pen with a wall charger unless the vape pen’s manufacturer has approved that charger. Mobile phone chargers use currents with much higher amperages and aren’t safe to use with vape pens.
- Clean your vape pen. If your vape uses a USB port for charging, use a toothpick to remove dirt and lint from the port. If the charger twists into your vape’s threading, clean the threading with a cotton swab moistened slightly with rubbing alcohol.
Vape Pen Blinking 10 Times: How to Fix
If your vape pen blinks 10 times when you try to use it, the problem is usually that the vape pen either has a short circuit or isn’t detecting the connected atomizer coil. To fix your device, try these three things.
- Remove your device’s tank, pod or cartridge. Look at your device’s threading or chamber. If it’s wet, dry it fully with a paper towel. You may need to dry the bottom of the tank or pod as well. After confirming that everything is completely dry, reassemble your device and try vaping again.
- If your device has a replaceable atomizer coil, make sure that the coil is installed correctly and screwed or pushed all the way in. Sometimes, an atomizer coil for a pod system will have a flat edge on its base to ensure correct alignment. Make sure that the flat edge of the coil lines up with the flat edge on the bottom of the pod. If you’re using a glass vape tank, try disassembling and reassembling the tank to ensure that the parts are correctly aligned.
- Replace the coil, cartridge or pod if your vape pen is still blinking 10 times after you’ve followed all of the above steps. It could be that the coil you’re using is causing a short circuit due to damage or a defect.
Although a vape pen usually blinks 10 times because of a problem with the coil, it may also mean that your device has overheated. Most vape pens have built-in temperature sensors to prevent overheating, and your vape pen should shut down and blink if its internal temperature is too high. Don’t store your vape pen in a hot car or use it in direct sunlight.
Vape Pen Blinking 3 Times: How to Fix
If your vape pen blinks three times while you’re in the middle of a puff, it usually means that you’ve exceeded the device’s puff limiter and need to take shorter puffs. This is normal behavior and isn’t a cause for concern. All vaping devices have puff length limiters, although the timing of the limiter can vary between different devices.
Vape Pen Blinking Blue: How to Fix
If your vape pen is blinking blue – and it previously blinked a different color such as green when you used it – it means that your device’s status light changes color based on the battery’s charge level. For example, the light may flash green if the charge level is 60 percent or higher, blue if the charge level is between 30-60 percent and red if the charge level is below 30 percent. This is normal behavior, and it simply means that you’ll need to charge your device soon.
What Does It Mean When a Disposable Vape Blinks?
If a disposable vape blinks, it shouldn’t be due to a short circuit unless the device has experienced damage from being dropped on a hard surface or immersed in water. If your disposable vape blinks after being damaged, you should stop using the device.
If you’re using a disposable vape that isn’t damaged, a blinking light means one of two things.
- The battery is dead. If the device has a USB port, you can charge it by connecting it to your computer as we’ve described above. If it doesn’t have a USB port, the battery isn’t rechargeable. In this case, it’s time to recycle your device and start using a new one.
- You’re exceeding the built-in puff limiter. Like any other type of vaping device, a disposable vape has a puff limiter to prevent overheating. If your disposable vape blinks during long puffs, you’ll need to take shorter puffs.
Are You Using a Vape Mod? Check the Screen for an Error Message
Are you using a vape mod with a built-in display? In that case, you might find it a little easier to troubleshoot your device because when a vape mod doesn’t work, the screen should display an error message. For example, messages like “Check Atomizer,” “Short Circuit” and “Ohms Too Low” indicate a problem with the installed atomizer coil. A message like “Low Voltage” or “Battery Low” means that you need to charge the battery.
Your vape mod’s instruction manual should have a list of the different error messages that your device can display. You can consult the manual to find out what the message on your device’s screen means. If you find the information in the manual unhelpful for fixing the problem, you can use the troubleshooting steps on this page because they apply to all types of vapes.