7 Reasons Your Brand New Disposable Vape Is Not Working

Out of the box and already out of breath?

Cloud nine feels far when your new disposable won’t cloud one!

Disposables are huge for a reason. They're super convenient, portable, and easier to use. 

Hence, a recent survey found 55.6% of vapers use them.

That excitement of opening a fresh one is the best. You’re ready for that smooth hit. You open the box and try to take a drag. 

But then, nothing happens. Zip. 

This is frustrating, we know. 

So, what caused it? Why is your brand-new disposable vape not working? The main causes are often simple.

• It’s just a dud.
• The battery is dead.
• The air holes are blocked.
• You’re not puffing right.
• It’s too hot/cold.
• The juice is stuck.
• The bubbles are trapped.

Disposable Vape Troubleshooting Table

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Reason 1: Faulty Unit

Sometimes, you just get a rotten lemon. 

Hard truth. But it happens. Even with advanced manufacturing, no production line is perfect. 

Vape companies make countless devices a year. STIG (a vape brand) alone produces 4.5-6 million devices in China monthly. And the country hosts about 1,000 factories. So, you can do the math here. 

Among them, a tiny percentage will have a flaw. 

You didn’t do anything wrong. It’s your bad luck. So, what makes these units faulty? 

• A wire connecting the battery and the coil may have come loose during shipping. 
• The battery could be a dud. 
• The small chip may have a glitch.

These are the internal issues you can’t see. They lead to the disposable vape not firing problem!

How to spot it? 

The disposable vape shows no sign of life. No light. No gurgle. No vapor. 

Solutions

Give it a gentle shake. A loose connection can temporarily fix itself with a little movement. Don’t shake it like a Polaroid picture.

Reach out to the retailer you bought the vape from. A reputable store should understand the case. They’ll usually test it and replace it for free if it has truly died on arrival. 

Make sure to keep the receipt. It makes the process smoother. 

If you bought it online, check the seller’s return policy for defective goods. If there’s none, you may have to buy a new one. 

Reason 2: Dead or Weak Battery

Sat on the shelf for too long. 

Every battery has a slow leak. We call it self-discharge. This means a battery slowly loses its charge, resulting in energy loss. 

It typically happens because of 

• Chemical reactions and 
• Parasitic currents

Even new, unused batteries gradually lose charge for the same reasons. As per the stats, 

“New, unused lithium-ion batteries with primary systems lose around 0.5% monthly. It can go up to 4%.“

Now, think about the journey of your vape. 

The device was made in a factory, probably shipped by a boat or ship. Then, it sat in a warehouse. After that, it went to a distributor. Then, to your local store’s stockroom. 

This whole process can take many, many months! 

If it was on the shelf for a long time, the battery may have drained to zero. This can lead to vape battery not working problems, like no hits. 

Besides, a completely drained lithium battery can be damaged. It may refuse to take a charge again. 

This is why an old stock vape is more likely to have battery issues.

How to spot it?

The disposable vape may flash its light a few times when you try to use it. It’s a common low-battery warning. 

Or, it may produce a very weak, unsatisfying vapor for one or two puffs before dying completely.

Solutions

Rechargeable Disposable Vape: Check for a charging port. Several new disposables are actually rechargeable. 

Look at the bottom of the device for a small USB-C or Micro-USB port. Charge it for about 1-2 hours. Try it again. It may just need a quick boost.

Non-Rechargeable Disposable Vape: Your only real option is to take it back to the retailer or seller for an exchange. 

Explain that the battery was dead– out of the package.

Reason 3: Airflow Issues

Can’t breathe? Means it can’t produce vapor.

A disposable vape is the simplest machine. It needs air to flow through it to work. When you inhale, you pull air over the sensor. That sensor tells the battery to fire, which heats juice and creates clouds. 

If the air can’t get in, the whole system fails. 

The most common culprit can be blockage. Not from the debris or leaks (because new devices are less likely to have them). 

Rather, it could be the stickers. 

Almost all the disposables come with a protective sticker that covers the airflow holes. This blocks the small air intake holes. So, when taking a drag with that, the new vape won't puff!

If that’s not the case, then your fingers perhaps are at fault. They might be covering holes when taking a drag. 

How to spot it?

Puffing will feel like you’re sucking on a sealed bottle. The draw is extremely tight and difficult. No vapor comes out.

Solutions

Find the small air holes. 

Ensure your fingers don’t cover them. Hold the device lightly, like a pencil. Not in a tight fist.

Peel off any stickers. Some devices have a clear, almost invisible tab. Others may have colored stickers. You need to pull them off. 

Puff correctly. Don’t suck with the force of a black hole. A slow, steady, and gentle pull is enough to activate the sensor.

Reason 4: Improper Activation

You’re not talking its language.

Disposable vapes come in 2 types: draw-activated and button-activated. Know which one you have.

Draw-activated is the most common. It has an airflow sensor inside. You simply inhale on the mouthpiece. It automatically turns on. No buttons. 

Button-activated is less common now. But some brands still use them. They need you to press a small button while you inhale to make it work.

The problem happens when you get a button-activated model and don’t know it. 

You just inhale and wonder, “Why is the disposable vape not hitting?”

The reason is you’re not using the button. Hence, the new device doesn’t work. 

How to spot it? 

Check out your vape. Do you see a small, separate button? If you do, it’s a button-activated device. 

Solutions

Read the packaging. The box will almost always say “Draw-Activated” or “Button-Fire” on it. 

If it doesn’t, scour the internet. Check the description regarding the disposable from the brand’s website, retailer’s website, or forums. 

Now, let’s say you got a button-activated device. In some cases, you may have to press the button 3-5 times quickly. 

This is the standard way to turn most button vapes on and off. The device light should flash. Then, hold the button down while you inhale.

If it’s draw-activated, try different puffs. Sometimes the first puff needs to be a bit firmer and longer. This can “wake up” the device from its factory sleep mode.

Reason 5: E-Liquid Not Flowing Properly

The juice is stuck.

Almost all the disposable vapes have a cotton that comes with the heating element. This cotton is like a sponge. It soaks up the liquid.

When you take a puff, the coil heats that wet sponge to make vapor.

But if the vape sits too long, that juice can get thick and sink to the bottom. The part of the sponge right on the coil gets dry, while the rest still stays wet.

So when you heat it up, you're burning a dry spot. This either gives you a nasty burnt taste or no vapor at all. That's called a "dry hit."

Leakage can also cause this problem. 

If you leave the vape lying on its side or upside down, the liquid can leak out. It makes a mess inside and can break the battery. Result: it won't work at all.

How to spot it?

You may get a horrible, burnt plastic taste. Or, you may see the juice leaking from the mouthpiece. 

Sometimes, you’ll hear a gurgling sound. This means the liquid is where it shouldn’t be.

Solutions

Tap it gently. Hold the vape like a pen. Tap the mouthpiece against your palm or a table. This helps push the juice toward the coil and re-prime the cotton.

Let it sit upright. Keep the vape standing up on a table for 5-10 minutes. Gravity will help pull the liquid down into the coil assembly.

Blow gently into the mouthpiece. If it’s gurgling, try blowing softly into it. Use a paper towel under it to catch any excess juice. This can sometimes clear a flooded coil.

Reason 6: Too Cold or Too Hot Environment

Not a fan of extreme weather.

Vapes are super-sensitive to temperature. Heat and cold. Both can affect the chemicals inside the juice and the battery performance.

Cold Weather: The juice becomes more viscous during this time. This thick liquid can’t wick properly onto the coil. The battery also drains much faster in the cold. Its chemical reactions slow down. So, it provides less power.

Hot Weather: Extreme heat is worse. It can make the e-liquid too thin. And this causes it to leak out of the cotton. The battery isn’t safe either. High temperatures reduce the battery’s overall lifespan and capacity. 

How to spot it?

Your new vape was working fine indoors. You step outside into freezing weather or scorching summer, and suddenly it stops producing good vapor. 

Solutions

Keep it at room temperature. Around 60 to 70°F. That’s the ideal temp range to store the device. 

If it’s cold, warm it up with your hands for a few minutes. Put it in an inside pocket close to your body heat.

If it’s hot, move it to a cooler, shaded spot. Like your room with the AC on. Never leave it in direct sunlight.

Reason 8: Trapped Air Bubbles

A tiny pocket of air can block the cloud show.

New vapes can also have trapped air bubbles. A small pocket of air gets stuck right near the coil inside. This can happen 

• During the factory filling process or 
• From the rough movement during transport

To create the vapor, the juice inside your disposable needs to wet the cotton wick around the coil. 

If there are bubbles, they can block the liquid from soaking the wick. 

And when you take a puff, the coil will heat up, but burn the dry cotton. 

How to spot it

You may see a large air bubble that doesn’t move. The hits are inconsistent. You get a harsh, burnt taste immediately.

Solutions

Hold the vape firmly. Flick the side of it with your finger. Do this a few times. This helps dislodge the stuck bubble.

Tap the mouthpiece end gently against your palm. Shake the bubble loose. That way, it floats to the top.

Carefully turn the vape upside down. Then right side up again. Sometimes, moving the liquid can clear the blockage. Do it slowly to avoid leaks.

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How to Maintain a New Disposable Vape

Store Upright

Keep your vape standing upright to prevent leaks.

Avoid Excessive Shaking

Shaking can cause e-liquid to flood the coil, leading to burnt hits.

Keep Direct Sunlight At Bay

Heat can degrade e-liquid and damage internal components.

When to Replace Your Disposable Vape

• No Vapor Production
• Burnt Taste
• Leaking
• Battery Issues
• Coil Issue
  

 

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FAQs

Why is my disposable vape not working?

It could be a dead battery. A faulty unit. Or a sticker still covering the air holes. Check these things first. They’re the common reasons why your disposable vapes aren’t working. 

How to fix a disposable vape?

Take a puff without covering the air holes. Check for a sticker over them. Try charging it if the disposable vape has a port. Tap it if bubbles are the issue. Otherwise, return it. 

Why won’t my vape turn on?

The battery may be dead or faulty. Or the device may need button activation. Some arrive defective. Try charging or replacing.

What are the common brand-new vape issues?

Dead battery, faulty unit, airflow blockage, trapped bubbles, dry cotton, extreme temperatures, or user error with button-activation.

How to reset a disposable vape?

Most disposable vapes cannot reset. Try gentle taps. Flick for bubbles. Recharge if it’s rechargeable. Otherwise, replace it.

Why is my disposable vape light on but no smoke?

The coil isn’t heating properly. Airflow is blocked. Juice isn’t wicking. Or trapped bubbles prevent vapor. Clear the blocks, flick, take a strong puff, or replace.