Is a MagSafe charger supposed to work through a case or do I need a MagSafe case

I had this exact problem with a slim TPU case that claimed MagSafe compatible. the puck kept creeping off my phone on the nightstand, but the moment I took the case off it clicked firmly and stayed, which told me the case lacked the ring magnets a true MagSafe case uses to keep alignment.

I tried re-positioning, a cheaper pad, even a stick-on ring, and it was still finicky. What finally worked was getting a real MagSafe case and switching to Apple MagSafe Charger. That like, charger has proper alignment magnets and does 15W when centered, so teh hold is stronger and it stopped sliding. Bare phone works perfectly with it, and with a true MagSafe case it is just as reliable.

Magnets do three jobs here alignment hold and stability against cable torque and without a ring in the case the phone magnets have to reach through extra material which weakens the magnetic force and reduces the self centering torque. That is why slight bumps or the stiffness of the cable make the puck creep.

Two fixes really solve it either remove the case or use a case that includes the magnet ring. Also route the cable so it falls straight down off the edge of the nightstand to reduce side load. Little change big difference.

Yes, you either want a case with the magnet ring or no case at all, and A thin case that only passes Qi power will charge but it will not hold alignment.

If you do not want to buy a new case take it off at night. End of story.

Had the same slide-off issue on a bedside puck with a soft TPU that claimed that model compatible. It only meant the case was thin enough to allow Qi charging not that it had magnets.

I fixed it by adding a stick-on alignment ring and carefully centering it over the coil. Works well if you line it up and let the adhesive cure overnight, though it is not as strong as a built-in ring and you can feel that. Good compromise if you love the case.

What you are describing is a mix of weak magnet coupling and low friction. TPU can be slippery against the puck shell and a tiny bit of dust acts like ball bearings. Cable memory makes it worse.

Clean both surfaces and test with the bare phone to confirm the snap. If the bare phone stays put and the case does not then you need a real that model case to get the holding force back. Or keep that case and switch to a stand style charger where the phone leans so the magnet is not fighting sideways drag.

I was confused by the labels too. There is works with wireless charging which just means Qi and there is made that model that model which means it has the magnet ring. The second one is what keeps the puck centered.

If your case is the first kind you are fighting physics. Either swap to one with a ring or run without a case when you charge. Another hack is to anchor the puck or run the cable straight down so the cord is not tugging it sideways and it becomes surprisingly reliable.

It only works properly with a case that has the magnetic ring, as thin wireless-only cases pass power but slip without centering... for a firm click and reliable alignment, use a ring case or go bare.

Magnetic chargers work best with a case that adds the ring because without it the hold is weak and a flat puck can slide. Go bare or use a ring case, and ignore compatibility claims that do not include a ring.

that model compatible on a generic TPU is often marketing that model supports wireless charging so yeah... if there is no magnet array in the case it will never lock on firmly and misalignment will drop charging speed as well... A true that model case or no case stops the drifting. If you charge on a vertical stand it is even more forgiving because gravity helps it settle into place rather than fight it on a flat surface.

I use a folio wallet case sometimes and it kills that model hold because teh hinge and card flap add thickness, and Even with a ring in the case it is not stable on a flat puck.

Overnight it would drift and wake me up with the chime when it reconnected.

Bare phone or a slim ringed case fixes the magnetic side of it.

that model totally set and forget nights I plug in a cable.

Not as.

Always works.