Last Updated on April 1, 2024 by Dave Farquhar
If a plug falls out of an outlet after you plug it in, that’s not how it’s supposed to work. A plug is supposed to fit firmly in an outlet so that it doesn’t fall out on its own. You shouldn’t have to exert very much force to remove it, but you are supposed to need to exert a small amount. If your plug falls out of an outlet, here’s how to fix it.
The temporary fix
There is a temporary fix I don’t recommend. But in a pinch, you can splay the prongs slightly so that they fit more tightly in the outlet. The reason I don’t recommend this is depending on the design of the plug, you may damage it. You may be able to get away with it on a traditional wired plug, but don’t try it on an AC adapter.
The other problem with this quick fix is that it assumes there is something inside the outlet for the plug to contact. When this condition exists, there may not be enough contact in the outlet anyway, even if you splay the plug.
The correct fix when a plug falls out of the outlet: replace the outlet
The only long-term fix when a plug falls out of the outlet is to replace the outlet with a new one that isn’t worn out. The problem occurs in frequently used outlets, especially the outlet you plug your vacuum cleaner into in each room. But it does generally take years for the problem to develop.
Replacing an outlet can be intimidating at first. But even if you’ve never done it before, it’s a fairly straightforward electrical project. If you take your time and watch some YouTube videos, you can learn how to replace an output pretty easily. And if there is some new technology on the market that makes replacing an outlet much easier than it used to be. The trickiest part for most people is getting the wires to stay on the terminal screws as you tighten them. But there are some new outlets that allow you to raise a lever, insert the wire, and then close the lever. They cost more, but installation goes much faster and easier. The screw terminals on traditional outlets take longer to attach.
Replacing an outlet
Replacing an outlet first requires shutting off the power at your panel. A circuit tracer makes it easier to find the right breaker. With the breaker shut off, next it’s a matter of removing three screws, removing between three and five wires, then attaching the wires to a new outlet and not mixing up the color coding. The last time I did it, it took 30 minutes. Part of the reason it took that long was I was showing my son how to do it. Pausing at each step to explain probably took half the time. I probably lost another 5 minutes because I didn’t have enough light in the room and needed to get a flashlight to identify which side of the outlet had brass screws and which side had white metal screws.
Even if this is a project you aren’t comfortable tackling yourself, it’s not something that requires an electrician. A less-expensive handyman can absolutely replace an outlet.
David Farquhar is a computer security professional, entrepreneur, and author. He started his career as a part-time computer technician in 1994, worked his way up to system administrator by 1997, and has specialized in vulnerability management since 2013. He invests in real estate on the side and his hobbies include O gauge trains, baseball cards, and retro computers and video games. A University of Missouri graduate, he holds CISSP and Security+ certifications. He lives in St. Louis with his family.
I was somehow expecting the solution to replace the outlet. I find US style plugs and outlets very dangerous, especially because I am used to German ones, quite sturdy and reliable.
A funny thing is I almost got my hand on bare prongs in US. This never happened in Europe with German or UK plugs.
UK and German plugs are definitely better. Our plugs for 220-volt outlets are better than the ones for our normal wall outlets but those are only for heavy appliances. I totally believe you when you say you almost got your hand on bare prongs here in the States. I’ve lived here all my life and have the occasional close call. It’s not hard to do. I remember being in third grade and one of my classmates telling a story about getting shocked plugging something in. The teacher said, “And it shook your hand for you, didn’t it!” and laughed. I think everyone here has a story like that.