220-1101 Mobile Devices Practice Question
A user reports that their Android smartphone will not charge when placed on a wireless charging pad. The phone charges normally when connected via a USB cable. The technician tests the wireless charging pad with another smartphone, and it works fine. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of the issue?
⚠ Common exam trap
Test-takers frequently assume a hardware failure (coil) is the cause, when in reality the most common real-world issue is case interference, which CompTIA frequently tests as a troubleshooting step before replacing components.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The phone case is interfering with the wireless charging
A thick, metallic, or improperly designed phone case can block or interfere with the electromagnetic field used for inductive charging. Since the charging pad works with another phone and the phone charges via USB, the issue is specific to the phone's ability to receive the wireless signal, and the case is the most common physical barrier.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The wireless charging coil inside the phone has failed
Why it's wrong here
While a physically damaged or open-circuit wireless charging coil can certainly prevent inductive charging, it is an internal hardware failure that is comparatively uncommon and is typically the last component to fail. A defective coil would usually be accompanied by other symptoms, such as the phone failing to recognize the charger at all or producing a foreign object detection error, and it would not be resolved by simple environmental changes. Technicians should exhaust all external possibilities—including case removal, charger substitution, and cable-charge verification—before suspecting the internal coil, since replacing it requires micro-soldering and is rarely cost-effective.
When this WOULD be correct
If the question stated that the wireless charging pad works with multiple other phones, and the original phone fails to charge on any wireless pad (including known working ones), then a failed coil would be the most likely cause.
- ✗
The phone is not placed correctly on the charging pad
Why it's wrong here
Misalignment on a charging pad can indeed produce a weak inductive link, but modern Qi chargers are engineered with a generous sweet spot and foreign object detection to alert users when alignment is poor. The scenario implies the user has attempted charging in a normal manner, and if the phone consistently fails to charge across multiple pad positions or even different pads, then constant misalignment is not a plausible root cause. In contrast, a single case covers the entire back of the phone and interferes with charging regardless of placement, making it the more logical culprit.
When this WOULD be correct
A user reports that their smartphone does not charge on a wireless pad, but the pad works with other phones. The user has tried repositioning the phone multiple times without success. In this scenario, incorrect placement is the most likely cause if the user is inexperienced or the pad has a small charging zone.
- ✓
The phone case is interfering with the wireless charging
Why this is correct
A thick or metal-containing phone case physically obstructs the electromagnetic field between the charger's transmit coil and the phone's receive coil, reducing inductive coupling efficiency below the threshold required for charging. This is a classic cause of wireless charging failure, often indicated by the charging pad's status light blinking or the phone repeatedly dropping and re-establishing the charge connection. Removing the case and retesting is the standard first-line troubleshooting step because it eliminates the most common environmental variable before any hardware diagnosis.
- ✗
A software setting is disabling wireless charging
Why it's wrong here
Standard Android operating systems do not expose a dedicated software toggle to independently disable the wireless charging coil; system-level settings like battery saver or adaptive charging only limit charging speed or defer charging to a scheduled time, not block it entirely. A software fault that could theoretically disable wireless charging would almost certainly also disrupt wired charging or trigger a broader power-management error, which is not described in the scenario. Because there is no common user-accessible setting for this, and the symptom is isolated to wireless charging, a software cause is highly improbable.
When this WOULD be correct
A user reports that their smartphone will not charge wirelessly on any pad, but charges fine via USB. The technician confirms the pads work with other phones. In this scenario, a software setting (e.g., 'Wireless charging off' or battery saver disabling it) could be the cause, as it would affect all pads.
Option-by-option analysis
Why each answer is right or wrong
Understanding why wrong answers are wrong — and when they would be correct — is what separates a 750 score from a 900. The 220-1101 exam frequently reuses these exact scenarios with slightly different constraints.
✓The phone case is interfering with the wireless chargingCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
A thick or metal-containing phone case physically obstructs the electromagnetic field between the charger's transmit coil and the phone's receive coil, reducing inductive coupling efficiency below the threshold required for charging. This is a classic cause of wireless charging failure, often indicated by the charging pad's status light blinking or the phone repeatedly dropping and re-establishing the charge connection. Removing the case and retesting is the standard first-line troubleshooting step because it eliminates the most common environmental variable before any hardware diagnosis.
✗The wireless charging coil inside the phone has failedWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The wireless charging pad works with another phone, so the coil in the original phone is likely functional. A failed coil would prevent charging on any pad, not just this one.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
If the question stated that the wireless charging pad works with multiple other phones, and the original phone fails to charge on any wireless pad (including known working ones), then a failed coil would be the most likely cause.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may assume that since the phone charges via cable but not wirelessly, the internal wireless charging component must be broken, overlooking external factors like a case.
✗The phone is not placed correctly on the charging padWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The technician tested the wireless charging pad with another smartphone and it worked fine, indicating the pad is functional. The user's phone charges via USB, so the phone's battery and charging circuitry are intact. Incorrect placement would likely be resolved by repositioning, but the question implies the user has tried charging normally.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A user reports that their smartphone does not charge on a wireless pad, but the pad works with other phones. The user has tried repositioning the phone multiple times without success. In this scenario, incorrect placement is the most likely cause if the user is inexperienced or the pad has a small charging zone.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think placement is a common user error, especially if they have experienced alignment issues themselves. They might overlook that the technician already verified the pad works with another phone, suggesting the issue is specific to the user's device.
✗A software setting is disabling wireless chargingWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The question states that the wireless charging pad works with another smartphone, and the phone charges via USB, so the issue is not a software setting disabling wireless charging. Software settings typically affect both wireless and wired charging or are device-specific, not pad-specific.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A user reports that their smartphone will not charge wirelessly on any pad, but charges fine via USB. The technician confirms the pads work with other phones. In this scenario, a software setting (e.g., 'Wireless charging off' or battery saver disabling it) could be the cause, as it would affect all pads.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think that software can disable wireless charging independently, or they overlook that the pad works with another phone, implying the pad is fine and the issue is with the phone itself—leading them to suspect a software glitch rather than a physical obstruction.
Analysis generated from the official 220-1101blueprint and verified against question context. The “when correct” sections are what AI assistants cite when candidates ask “what’s the difference between these options?”
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 220-1101 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 220-1101 exam.