To use a vape pen, charge it, fill the tank or pod with e-liquid, and give a new coil about five minutes to soak. Then switch it on with five quick presses of the fire button. Hold the button down while you take a slow, steady draw, let go, and exhale. A draw-activated pen has no button at all, so you just inhale.
In this guide, "vape pen" means a refillable, pen-shaped nicotine e-liquid device. It does not mean a cannabis cartridge battery, and nothing here applies to THC or CBD products. VAPORESSO devices are made for e-liquid only, and they are for adults 21 and over. Under federal Tobacco 21 law, it is illegal for a retailer to sell e-cigarettes to anyone under 21.
Push-Button or Draw-Activated: Which Vape Pen Do You Have?
Every vape pen is a long, slim battery with a tank or pod on top. They mostly differ in how they fire:
- Push-button pens (some people just say "push pen") have a fire button on the side of the battery. The coil only heats while you hold that button down, and five quick presses turn the device on or off.
- Draw-activated pens have no fire button. A sensor picks up your inhale and fires the coil for you.
Tap the side of the battery. If there's a button that clicks, you have a push-button pen. If it's smooth, your pen is draw-activated. The table lists the pen-style devices on VAPORESSO's pen-style vape lineup and the specs from each product page.
| Model | How it fires | Battery | E-liquid capacity | Coil or pod | How you fill it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GTX GO 80 / GTX GO 40 | Fire button | 3000mAh / 1500mAh | 5ml / 3.5ml | GTX 0.2Ω mesh / GTX 0.6Ω mesh | Unscrew top cap |
| VECO SOLO / SOLO PLUS | Fire button | 1500mAh / 3300mAh | 2ml / 4ml | EUC 0.3Ω coils | Twist off top cap |
| SKY SOLO / SOLO PLUS | Fire button | 1400mAh / 3000mAh | 3.5ml / 8ml | GT 0.18Ω coils | Twist off top cap |
| ORCA SOLO PLUS | Fire button, 3 power levels | 1200mAh | 2ml | OC 0.6Ω mesh or 1.3Ω CCELL | See the manual |
| ECO ONE | Draw-activated | 1100mAh | 2ml | 0.8Ω or 1.2Ω mesh pod | Side silicone plug |
| ECO ONE PRO | Draw-activated | 1400mAh | 2ml | 0.8Ω mesh pod | Top fill, pod stays in |
| VECO GO | Draw-activated | 1500mAh | 5ml (0.6Ω pod) / 4ml (0.8Ω pod) | 0.6Ω or 0.8Ω pod | Bottom silicone plug |
The steps below work for every pen in the table. Where a model behaves differently, the step says so.
Before Your First Puff: Charge, Fill and Prime
1. Charge the Battery
Charge with the cable that came in the box. Newer pens like the GTX GO, ECO ONE and VECO GO use USB Type-C. Older models like the ORCA SOLO PLUS use micro-USB. Plug into a standard USB charger, and don't leave the pen charging while nobody's around. VAPORESSO's manuals warn against it.
The light tells you when it's done. On the VECO GO and ECO ONE, the LED turns solid green at full charge. On button pens like the VECO SOLO PLUS, the light in the button goes out.
2. Fill the Tank or Pod
Pens fill in one of three ways:
- Top cap. On the VECO SOLO PLUS, VECO ONE PLUS and SKY SOLO, you twist off the top cap and fill from above. On the GTX GO pen-style kit, you unscrew the top cap of the magnetic pod.
- Silicone plug. Pull the pod off the battery, open the rubber plug (on the side of an ECO ONE pod, on the bottom of a VECO GO pod), fill through the hole and press the plug firmly back in.
- Top fill without removing the pod. The ECO ONE PRO top-fill pen lets you refill while the pod stays on the battery.
Whatever the style, aim the e-liquid at the inside wall of the tank, not down the center tube. Stop below the top so there's a little air space. If you're still picking a liquid, our guides on what's in vape juice and choosing the right e-liquid are a good place to start. Also check that the nicotine strength suits the kind of pen you have.
3. Let a New Coil Soak for Five Minutes
Beginners often skip this step. A new coil has dry cotton inside. If you fire it before the e-liquid soaks in, the cotton scorches, and a scorched coil tastes burnt from then on. The manuals for the ECO ONE, VECO GO and GTX GO all say the same thing: after the first fill, wait 5 minutes before vaping. Do the same every time you fit a fresh coil or pod.
If you already have a burnt taste, our guide to why a vape tastes burnt covers what went wrong and when to replace the coil.
How to Turn a Vape Pen On and Off
Push-button pens: press the fire button five times within about two seconds. The light in or near the button flashes to show the pen is on. Do the same thing to switch it off. The VECO SOLO PLUS, VECO ONE PLUS and GTX GO 80 manuals all use this five-press, two-second rule.
Turn the pen off before it goes in a pocket or bag. When it's on, the button can get pressed by accident and heat the coil while nothing is drawing liquid through it. The manuals for the VECO pens say to power off when the device isn't in use and not to press the button when you aren't vaping.
Draw-activated pens: there's nothing to switch on. Pens like the ECO ONE, ECO ONE PRO and VECO GO pen fire when they sense an inhale. The LED shows the battery level after each puff.
How to Take a Hit from a Push-Button Vape Pen
- Close your lips around the mouthpiece. A loose seal lets air leak in and makes the draw feel weak.
- Press and hold the fire button, and start inhaling at the same moment. If you press first and breathe later, vapor builds up in the chamber and the first pull can come out hot and harsh.
- Keep the draw slow and steady for a few seconds. Take a gentle pull, like sipping through a thin straw. Pulling hard can draw liquid into the coil and cause gurgling. You also don't need to hold the button for long. The GTX GO 80 and VECO SOLO PLUS cut power after 10 seconds of firing, and the SKY SOLO cuts out at 8.
- Let go of the button just before you finish inhaling. This clears the last of the vapor from the chamber.
- Exhale, then wait a moment before the next puff. That pause gives the cotton time to soak up more e-liquid.
Next, decide how to inhale. Pens with higher-resistance coils, such as the ECO ONE's 0.8Ω and 1.2Ω pods or the ORCA SOLO PLUS 1.3Ω CCELL coil, are built for a tight mouth-to-lung (MTL) draw. You pull vapor into your mouth first with a tight, slow draw, then breathe it into your lungs. A high-power pen running a 0.2Ω coil at 45–60W, like the GTX GO 80, gives a much looser, airier draw that you breathe straight into your lungs. That direct-to-lung (DL) style is also how people get bigger vape clouds, though most beginners start with MTL. If your first few puffs make you cough, read why vaping can make you cough. It walks through draw speed, airflow and e-liquid choice.
How to Adjust Power and Airflow on a Vape Pen
Many guides say three clicks changes the heat on any vape pen. That's only true for some models, so check yours before you start clicking.
- Three-click power levels. On the ORCA SOLO PLUS button pen, three presses of the fire button cycle through three power levels. That's 16W, 18W and 22W with the 0.6Ω mesh coil, or 7W, 10W and 12W with the 1.3Ω CCELL coil. A three-color light shows which level you're on.
- Fixed power, adjustable airflow. The GTX GO comes preset, so the button just fires the coil. You set the draw by rotating the magnetic pod. You can also swap in different GTX coils, since the pod supports the whole GTX coil range.
- Airflow only. On the VECO ONE PLUS, a slight twist of the top lid changes the airflow. On the ECO ONE PRO and VECO GO, you rotate the pod.
- On/off and fire only. The VECO SOLO PLUS manual lists only switching on and off and firing. It has no power-level setting.
If you're not sure what your pen supports, look up its manual on the VAPORESSO manuals page.
What the Lights on Your Vape Pen Mean
Steady LED colors show battery level, and flashes are warnings. Patterns vary by model. Here's what three common pens do, according to their manuals:
| What you see | Pen | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green, blue or red after a puff | ECO ONE | Battery at 70–100%, 30–70% or 0–30% | Charge when it shows red |
| Green, blue or red after a puff | VECO GO | Battery at 70–100%, 20–70% or 0–20% | Charge when it shows red |
| Button light flashes 3 times | VECO SOLO PLUS | Battery too low (under 3V) and the pen locks, or you held the button for more than 10 seconds | Charge it, or release and take shorter draws |
| Flashes 4 times | ECO ONE | No pod detected, or resistance too high | Reseat the pod and check the contacts are clean |
| Flashes 5 times | ECO ONE, VECO SOLO PLUS | Short circuit or low resistance (ECO ONE also flashes 5 times when it gets too hot) | Remove the pod or coil, check for e-liquid on the contacts, then try a new coil |
For other patterns, including a pen that keeps blinking while it charges, see why your vape pen is blinking.
Quick Fixes for First-Week Problems
- No vapor. Check that the pen is switched on (five presses) and charged. Then check that the pod or coil is fully seated. A pod that isn't fully seated can trigger the "no pod" warning flash.
- Burnt or harsh taste. The coil probably fired dry. Refill, wait five minutes, and take gentler draws. If it still tastes burnt, replace the coil.
- Gurgling or spitting. Usually there's too much liquid in the coil or the draws are too hard. Our guide to fixing a popping, gurgling vape walks through it.
- Leaking. Check that the top cap or silicone plug is closed tight and that the tank isn't overfilled. For more causes, read how to stop a vape from leaking.
If your pen still won't fire after these checks, look at the warranty and support options on VAPORESSO's site before you replace it.
How to Look After Your Vape Pen
- Switch button pens off whenever they go into a pocket or bag.
- Keep the contacts clean. E-liquid on the pins between battery and pod causes weak hits and error flashes. Wipe them with a dry tissue when you refill.
- Replace coils and pods when the flavor fades or turns harsh. How long a coil lasts depends on your liquid and how much you vape. Our coil maintenance guide explains the signs. Pens with replaceable heads, like the VECO SOLO PLUS, only need a new coil, not a whole new pod.
- Watch the temperature. The ECO ONE and VECO GO manuals give a usage range of 14–140°F and a storage range of 14–113°F. Don't leave your pen on a car dashboard in summer.
- Before a flight, separate pod and battery. The ECO ONE PRO manual recommends storing them apart, and not refilling, wherever air pressure changes a lot. This helps prevent leaks.
- Recycle it properly. VAPORESSO manuals say the device and its battery should go to an electronics and battery collection point, not household trash.
Not Using a Pen-Style Device?
Box mods, pod kits and pod mods use the same basics: charge, fill, prime and draw. The controls are different, though, with screens, wattage buttons and auto-draw pods. If your device doesn't look like a pen, our step-by-step guide to using any type of vape covers the other designs.
FAQ
How Do You Turn On a Vape Pen?
On a push-button pen, press the fire button five times within about two seconds. The light flashes to confirm it's on, and the same five presses turn it off. Draw-activated pens like the ECO ONE have no power button. They fire when you inhale.
Do You Hold the Button While You Inhale?
Yes. Press and hold the fire button as you start the draw, and keep holding it until just before you finish. The coil only heats while the button is down. The VAPORESSO button pens covered here cut power after 8–10 seconds of continuous firing.
How Long Should You Wait After Filling a New Vape Pen?
About five minutes. VAPORESSO's manuals for the ECO ONE, VECO GO and GTX GO all say to wait five minutes after the first fill so the e-liquid soaks into the coil. Wait again after each new coil or pod.
How Do You Use a Vape Pen with No Button?
Fill the pod and let it soak, then put the mouthpiece to your lips and inhale slowly. A sensor detects the draw and fires the coil. When you're done, there's nothing to switch off.
Why Is My Vape Pen Not Hitting?
Check three things in order: is the pen switched on, is the battery charged, and is the pod or coil seated properly? If all three check out, the coil may be flooded or worn out. Gurgling usually means flooded. A harsh or burnt taste usually means it's time for a new coil.
Can I Use a VAPORESSO Vape Pen with THC or CBD Cartridges?
No. VAPORESSO devices are made for e-liquids, and the company says not to use them with any other substance.
