Vibrator Won't Start? It Might Be the Travel Lock

The vibrator is charged. You're in bed. You've pressed the button three times, and you're one more press away from saying, “Are you fucking kidding me?”

It might be locked. A travel lock stops a vibrator switching on when its buttons get knocked in a bag or drawer. While the lock is on, the usual power button won't start it. The battery can be full and the toy can be perfectly fine.

That's annoying when you're trying to have a wank. It's bloody useful when you're trying to carry a quiet overnight bag into somebody else's house.

Rule out the lock before charging it again

If you locked the toy before putting it away, unlock it before you assume it's flat. Easy to remember now. Less easy when you haven't used that particular vibrator for a month and your last sensible packing decision has completely slipped your mind.

Some locked toys briefly flash or pulse when you press a button; others stay silent. Not every vibrator has a travel lock, either, so silence on its own doesn't tell you what's wrong.

Try unlocking it before plugging it in again. Otherwise, you can spend the next hour charging a toy that was ready for a wank before you were.

How to unlock a We-Vibe Nova 2

On a Nova 2, hold the plus and minus buttons together for three seconds. A short pulse confirms the change. The same combination locks and unlocks it.

Connecting it to the charger also unlocks it. If you've charged it after locking it for a trip, lock it again before packing. Otherwise, you can arrive with a flat vibrator and a bag that's had a much better journey than you.

That button combination is for the Nova 2. Other toys use different controls. Save the steps for yours as a note or screenshot once you've found them, so you can get the answer quickly next time.

Yes, this is an unsexy bit of preparation. So is kneeling beside the bed, holding a vibrator under the lamp and swearing at a button you can barely see. Pick the shorter interruption.

Test the lock before it goes in your bag

Switch the toy off, turn on the lock, then give the power button a normal press. It should stay off. Practise unlocking it too, so you know the difference between a locked toy and one that won't start.

Do this at home. Discovering you've forgotten the controls while a mate asks why your bag is vibrating adds an audience you probably didn't have in mind.

Then put the toy in a clean, protective pouch or case, away from anything pressing on the buttons. The lock prevents accidental switching-on; the case keeps it from getting knocked about and covered in handbag fluff.

Our sex-toy storage guide covers keeping it clean and easy to find. For a longer trip, the guide to travelling with sex toys handles the other packing questions.

Unlocked it and still getting nothing?

Now try the charging and battery checks in our guide to a vibrator that won't charge. Once you've released the lock, repeating the same button combination isn't going to fix a separate charging problem.

Don't prise open a sealed toy or charge one that's damaged. If the basic checks get you nowhere, tell the retailer what you've already tried. It'll save both of you starting with “have you charged it?” while you quietly lose your shit.

If unlocking was all it needed, excellent. Put the phone down, turn the lamp off and get back into bed. You've done quite enough troubleshooting with your pants off for one night.