Should I connect a phone to a charger?¶

Connecting a phone to a charger may preserve power, but it can also change the evidential state.

Evidential caution: that charging is always harmless. Many charging ports and cables also carry data, and the phone may react when connected.

What this means¶

Before charging, record the current battery level, screen state, connectivity, open application and any existing cable.

Consider what power loss would mean. The phone may lock, restart, lose volatile evidence or re-enable encryption.

Consider what charging may cause. It may wake the screen, create a USB connection, display a trust prompt, mount storage or trigger synchronisation.

Avoid connecting the phone to a general-purpose computer.

Charging may also change how the phone communicates, particularly if it is connected to a vehicle, docking station or managed workstation.

Where the phone is unlocked, encrypted or central to a serious investigation, seek specialist guidance before introducing a new connection.

Document the time charging began, who connected it and every visible change.

What to check or do next¶

• Use an appropriate power-only method where available and approved, but do not improvise specialist equipment.
• Record the charger, cable, adapter and power source used.
• If the phone is damaged, wet, overheating or swollen, do not charge it without appropriate safety advice.
• If a prompt appears, photograph it before responding. Do not press “trust”, “allow” or a similar option without understanding the effect.
• Record whether the device remained isolated while charging and whether any new connection indicator appeared.