Why is My Vape Pen Blinking? 8 Quick-fire Reasons & Fixes

I’m sure you’ve been there—sitting outside at the end of a long day, your lungs itching for that first hit and then, bam, a blinking light. With your vaping session ruined, you wonder, why is my vape pen blinking?

As a fellow vaping connoisseur, I know there are few things as frustrating as those awful blinking lights. Yet, hopefully, just checking a few things like improper installation and cartridge placement will help you get back to pumping clouds and chasing flavor.

Why Does My Vape Have an LED Light?

Most manufacturers use the LED indicator light behind your vape’s main button to give you any warnings or signals that could interfere with your vaping experience, especially if the device doesn’t have a digital display.

While the meaning of these warnings can vary depending on the manufacturer or device, there are a few common causes that result in blinking vape pens.

8 Reasons Why Vape Pens Blink

1. Low or Dying Battery

The most common reason for a flashing vape pen light is to indicate the battery life is about to end. When there is not enough power coming from the vape pen battery, your vape will give a blinking light (a red light usually) to let you know you need to charge it.

To see if this is the case, leave your battery charging until the light stays on (or the lights turn green), indicating a full battery. 

Also, some pens blink to indicate the amount of battery. For instance, a vape pen blinking blue often means you’re at medium battery power, and the device is in medium mode power output. 

A vape pen blinking green usually indicates that the battery is fully charged and in high mode power output. A blinking green light also usually means the charging process is complete. 

Meanwhile, a vape pen blinking red often means you have a low battery, and the pen will switch to low mode power output, especially when the vape pen blinks while you are taking a drag. The pen will turn off once the battery capacity reaches about 3.3V. This automatic shutdown is called low voltage protection. 

A loose battery connection may also cause your vape pen’s light to blink, and the device will automatically shut down. 

2. Fire Button Locked

Some devices on the market allow you to lock the hit button to prevent your vape pen from accidentally firing while it’s in your pocket or bag.

To test if this may be the issue with your vape, press the hit button three times in quick succession, then try another hit. Some vapes require you to push it five times to unlock it. 

Take a look at your manual to see if your vape has a lock function and how you can deactivate it.

3. Tank too Tight, or too Loose

The connection between your battery mod and tank or vape cartridge can sometimes be a little bit tricky. If your tank has been screwed on too tightly or not tightly enough, it will have a poor connection and will stop functioning properly. The same goes for THC cartridges. 

Try screwing your tank on firmly, then gradually loosening it bit by bit. Between each turn, test the hit button to see if your pen fires.

4. Proper Cleaning and Assembly

In some cases, the only issue is that your vape pen needs a quick clean and reassemble. If any liquid has gotten on the connectors or any threading is skewed, you may get a connection problem. 

With clean hands, try taking apart the various parts of your vape pen and wiping them with a dry cloth or cotton swab. Then, reassemble it, make sure everything is firmly connected, and try to have a hit.

Also, check the charger to make sure there is no debris blocking the connection. 

5. Hit Button Stuck

Unfortunately, like most electronics, vape devices have some weaker components, mainly the firing button. Because of general wear and tear or some e-liquid leaked underneath, your power button may become stuck. 

If this is the case, your best bet would be to take it to your local vape shop, although it may be time to consider a new pen.

You could also get a white light if you hold down the power button too long. If this happens, wait a few minutes before taking another hit. 

6. Coil Shorting

If you’re building your own coils, or even if you’re buying stock coils, there’s a chance that they are causing a short circuit in your device.

If the resistance is too low or you have a damaged coil, you’ll get an error message in the form of flashing lights. Try rebuilding your coils or returning the faulty stock coil to see if this fixes your problem.

7. 510 Pin Dropped

If you drop your pen, the impact may dislodge some of the smaller components inside your device. The more common of these problems is a connection issue between the battery mod and the tank caused by the 510 pin moving out of place.  

If the 510 pin has dropped or become stuck in the ‘On’ position, your vape won’t fire, and the LED lights will most likely flash or blink red. If your local vape shop staff don’t do repairs, it might be time for a new mod.

8. Safety Features

Finally, vape pens these days come equipped with an array of safety features. That means your vape pen may be blinking to indicate a specific warning.

Signals like these are in place to let you know of any shorts, battery faults, or damage that your device may have. Take a look at your manual, or ask your local vape shop staff about the safety features your device has and what the warnings could mean.

Also, be aware that different lights mean certain things depending on the device you have. A flashing blue light can often mean that there isn’t enough e-juice. A green light, whether flashing or solid, usually means everything is good to go. 

Wrap Up

If your indicator light continues to blink during your vaping session, the user manual will give you tips and info for your specific device so you can troubleshoot the issue more accurately. Your manual will also help you with other functions like the voltage setting, switching to dab mode, and the temperature setting. 

Further, as experienced vapers, the staff at your local vape shop will have you up and going again in no time. Don’t hesitate to give them a visit and ask for some help.