For many people, vaping is one of life’s great pleasures – until it goes wrong that is, and then you need to try to work out what the problem is and what you can do about it.

Vapes have different ways of communicating errors or failures, and one of the most common is through a light that emits three blinks – so to help you understand what’s going on, in this post, we look at the meaning of a vape pen blinking 3 times and how to fix it.

No standardized system

Before we start looking at what a vape pen blinking three times might mean, it’s important to point out that there is no standardized system between brands or models, so there is no single answer to this question.

In recent years, the popularity of vaping has exploded, and as a result, many vape manufacturers have sprung up, offering vaping devices in an almost bewildering array of shapes and sizes and styles.

Vapes can be incredibly simple to use, like many disposable vapes, or they can be much more complicated, like some of the top-end mods, aimed at more experienced or dedicated vapers.

Vapes also incorporate a variety different control systems and displays that can range from a single-colored LED that conveys all the basic information you need to a full touchscreen display giving you a much more complete readout of all the parameters.

This means that without knowing the specific model of the vape pen we’re talking about, we can’t give a definitive answer to what’s causing it to blink three times.

However, what we can do is give some common reasons vapes display this behavior – as well as some guidelines for identifying the problem and advice about what to do once you know what the problem is.

So now let’s jump right in and get started.

Different reasons for a vape to blink 3 times and what to do about it

There are many reasons why a vape pen might blink three times. Here are some of the main causes:

1. The vape has been switched on correctly

With some vape pens, you need to press the “on” button several times in quick succession, after which, it will blink three times to let you know it has been successfully switched on.

If this is the case, there’s nothing wrong with your vape and you can now use it to vape normally.

To find out if this applies to your vape, check the user’s manual that came with it for further details.

2. Low battery

In some vapes, a blinking light may indicate that the battery is low or empty and needs to be recharged.

This is not a serious problem, and all it means is that you need to recharge your vape before you can use it again.

Again, the best thing to do is to check your user’s manual where you will find explanations of what different types of blinking mean.

Once the vape is fully charged, the light will probably give you a different signal. For example, a red light blinking three times might mean the battery is empty while a permanent green light might mean it’s fully charged.

Your user’s manual will tell you about the different signals to expect in different circumstances.

3. Connection issue

Sometimes, a succession of three blinks may tell you there is a connection issue. This is more likely to be the case if you think your battery is fully charged but then when you go to take a puff, instead of a mouthful of vapor, you get nothing.

To check this, remove the battery from the vape and check the connection point. Is there any dirt, grime or any other gunk in there like dried vape juice that may have leaked?

If there is, you can clean it out using a cotton bud and a drop of rubbing alcohol.

The connection points may also have become flattened or bent out of shape, in which case you will need to lift them up again using something like a cocktail stick or a small flathead screwdriver.

You can try doing this on both the battery and the cartridge, taking special care not to damage either. You can then reassemble your vape and test it to see if the problem has been resolved.

If not, the problem likely lies elsewhere.

4. There is a short circuit

If you damage your vape or it comes into contact with water, it may result in a short circuit, which may also cause it to blink three times as a warning and a safety measure – and if you know you’ve dropped it or it’s been exposed to water, this is the logical answer.

If you have a mod vape, it may be possible to identify which part is broken and replace just that rather than replacing the whole thing. However, if you have a disposable vape, especially a more budget-friendly option, it’s probably best just to buy a new one.

That said, if you choose a high-quality disposable like the Katana BP 10000 from Spiritbar, a stylish and ergonomic vape inspired by the legendary Japanese katana sword, you shouldn’t encounter any problems like this unless you seriously mistreat it.

5. The battery is overheating

A battery overheating in a vape pen can be a serious issue since it can cause burns and may even result in the battery overheating, so if you see your vape blinking three times, it could be a warning about this.

This problem will be easy to diagnose since the battery will feel much warmer than usual and may even become uncomfortably hot to touch.

If this happens, you should stop using the vape immediately, turn it off, remove the battery if you can and then leave it in a safe place away from flammable materials to cool down.

In most cases, it will be unsafe to use the battery again, so unless you are absolutely certain what caused the issue and know how to fix it, you should safely discard this battery and buy a new one.

6. Expired battery

If you try to take a puff but get nothing other than three blinks, it could simply mean your battery has come to the end of its life and needs to be replaced.

You can check this by trying to charge it with another charger and also by placing it in another vape to eliminate the possibility that the problem lies elsewhere – but if not, you’ll just have to put your hand in your pocket and spend the money on a new one.

7. Your puffs are too long

Most vapes are designed to limit the length of puff you can take to protect their internal circuitry and components, and in some models, three blinks may be the sign that your puffs are too long – around 10 seconds is the normal cutoff.

If you just took an extra-long puff and saw three blinks, this is the likely reason – and the solution is to take shorter puffs from now on.

8. You held the power button down for too long

With some models, three blinks can mean that you’ve held the power button down for too long when turning the vape on, so it’s not a big problem and just tells you that you only need to hold it down for a shorter time.

Again, if you think this could be the case, check your user’s manual for details to see what the three blinks could mean.

General tips for isolating problems

If you aren’t sure what the problem is that’s causing the three blinks and can’t find the details in your user’s manual, you can usually isolate any issues by checking things logically and methodically.

Start by trying a new charger since this will eliminate the possibility that the charger is at fault, then try the battery with a different cart or try the cart with a different battery to try to identify which component isn’t working.

By working through things in this way, you will eventually be able to work out where the problem lies.

1. Tips for ensuring your vape continues to work properly

Finally, here are a few suggestions for ensuring the problems you meet with your vaping equipment are kept to a minimum.

2. Keep your vape well-cleaned and properly maintained

Always keep your vape well-cleaned and properly maintained to ensure no issues arise. Taking it apart and cleaning it about once a week should be sufficient.

3. Only use compatible chargers

Only use a charger you know is compatible with your battery since using other chargers – for example, those from smartphones or tablets – may damage the battery or significantly reduce its life.

4. Don’t twist components together too tightly

When assembling your vape, don’t twist the components together too hard.

You might think that creating a good, solid seal is best – but if you tighten it up too much, it can damage the battery and the coil.

Check the user’s manual for the most accurate info

Depending on the brand and model, three blinks can mean many different things, and the best option is to check your user’s manual to find out what’s going on.

However, if you can’t do this, you may still be able to identify the problem by checking the components one by one, and this will help you work out what, if anything, can be done to resolve the issue.

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