Your iPhone won’t charge? Here are 11 working fixes

Is your iPhone not charging? Don’t freak out just yet! Let’s see if we can get your battery charging again.

It has been a long and busy day. You get home with a nearly dead phone battery and finally plug it in, only to find out the iPhone isn’t charging anymore! It’s normal to freak out for a bit, but don’t lose hope just yet.

There is nothing new about the problem of iPhone not charging as it has existed on almost all iPhone models. The issue has affected many iPhone models, including iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6S, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X, iPhone XR, iPhone XS, XS Max, iPhone 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max, iPhone 12, 12 mini, 12 Pro, 12 Pro Max, iPhone 13, 13 mini, 13 Pro, 13 Pro Max, iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max and iPhone SE. This troubleshooting guide will show you what to do if your iPhone is not charging.

First and foremost, let’s figure out the possible causes of the iPhone not charging issue. Once that’s done, we will move on and detail each solution.

Why is iPhone not charging?

Most iPhone charging problems are brought about by a faulty socket, cable, adapter, or even the charging port itself. Thankfully, Troubleshooting these problems is pretty easy. Work your way through these eleven fixes to get your iPhone charging again.

How to fix iPhone not charging issue

1. Is your charging cable in good condition?

An iPhone not charging could be due to many reasons, but the cable is usually the biggest offender. Especially if it’s an accessory you’ve had for a long time, possibly since the iPhone was purchased. Our cables go through plenty of torture. They go with you to many places, not to mention we can often step or trip on them, they often get tangled up, we throw them in bags carelessly, and so on.

Inspect your charging cable thoroughly and see if there are any evident signs of damage. Any rips, bends, cuts, or general damage will be a good reason for cables not functioning correctly. Also, try to charge another iOS device with it and see if it works. If it does, the issue might be the device. You can also try using another cable to see if it will charge your iPhone battery.

If you find out a damaged cable is the cause of your iPhone charging problem, throw it away and get a replacement. Just make sure that the new charging cable is MFi (Made for iPhone certified.

Uncertified or fake iPhone chargers tend to charge comparatively slow which often leads to overheating problems. And with the lack of trusted safeguards against threats like short-circuits, overcurrent, and overcharging, the uncertified chargers could also damage your device. So, make sure your charging cable has MFi certification.

2. How about the charging adapter?

Of course, the charging adapter is just as important as the cable. Go ahead and put it through the paces. Check if it has any physical damage. Cracks or bent outlets are obvious red flags. Likewise, try using it with other iOS devices and switching it with another brick to see if this is the problem.

3. Check your iPhone’s charging port

If your cable and charger are working perfectly with other iOS devices, it’s time to start inspecting your iPhone. A common culprit is the charging port. For starters, go ahead and check if there is any dirt or debris in the port. Something as simple as a dirty port can cause charging issues on iPhone. You can try cleaning the charging port with a brush or compressed air.

Have you noticed the lightening port feeling loose lately? Ports can get worn out with excessive usage. You could also find signs of corrosion in there. Sadly, there isn’t much you can do about this, other than replacing the iPhone or trying to have the charging port replaced.

4. Test a wireless charger

Given that your iPhone supports wireless charging, and you have a wireless charger, this is an easy way to test if the iPhone charging problem is related to the phone or charging accessories. Just try to charge your iPhone with a wireless charger. This could also be a temporary solution to keep your phone working until you figure out the problem and get it fixed. You might have a bigger battery-related issue if your iPhone isn’t charging.

5. Try a different power outlet

Plug something else into the same outlet you’re trying to charge your iPhone with and see if it works. Sometimes wall sockets malfunction, or a section of your home might have electric problems. Additionally, some power sources can be weak. If you find issues with your outlet, try other outlets in the house.

Those trying to charge using a USB port in a computer or power strip might not be getting the juice the iPhone needs to charge correctly. Move to a regular outlet and see if this gets rid of your charging woes.

6. Turn your iPhone off or force restart

This is a magical fix for all things tech, and it works most of the time. Sometimes a simple restart will get all your phone’s gears in place and have it charging properly. Turning off your phone completely might also help your iPhone battery charge better. Any heavy usage or background processes can affect charging performance. Turning your phone off will leave all resources clear so your device can focus solely on charging. To restart your iPhone, follow the steps below:

1. Press and hold on to the Power button and either of the volume buttons.
2. Drag the power off slider from left to right to turn off your iPhone.

Alternatively, you can follow the steps below to Power off your iPhone:

1. Open Settings.
2. Go into General.
3. Select Shut Down.

To force restart your iPhone, follow the steps below:

1. Quickly press and release the volume up button.
2. Press and quickly release the volume down button.
3. Press and hold the side button until the Apple logo appears on the screen.
4. Release the Side button.

7. Did you completely deplete your iPhone’s battery?

Your phone needs at least a bit of power to continue operating correctly. Devices actually turn off a bit before the battery reaches zero, just so they can have some energy to manage things next time you turn them on, or even while turned off, charging. It’s common to run into problems when you deplete batteries completely. Luckily, those in this position are the luckiest of the bunch, as it’s not really a serious problem to deal with.

You’ll have to be more patient and leave the iPhone plugged in for a longer time. Eventually, the iPhone will wake itself back up and start receiving a charge.

8. iPhone not charging past 80%?

If you notice your iPhone stops charging at 80%, that’s actually a feature called optimized battery charging that helps reduce battery aging that’s at work. But it is possible to turn off the feature.

1. Head over to the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. Tap Battery.
3. Tap Battery Health & Charging.
4. Turn off Optimized Battery Charging as per your needs.

9. Check for iOS updates

If your iPhone is not charging, a simple, yet effective solution might be to check for iOS update. Of course, this is given you have some power to go through the upgrading process. Just follow the steps below:

1. Go to Settings.
2. Tap General.
3. Select Software Update.
4. If an update is available, follow the onscreen instructions to upgrade your iPhone.

10. Did your iPhone drop in water?

Water and electrics don’t mix and even water-resistant phones need special care to keep them watertight. If your iPhone has gotten wet and you’re now wondering why it won’t charge, then it’s highly likely that water is the culprit.

You shouldn’t charge your phone at all if there’s a possibility of water damage. First, you have to make sure your phone’s internals are completely dry.

There are various methods to save a phone if it dropped in water. You can blow hot air into it with a hairdryer, dump it in a bowl of rice, or try other methods. You will, though, have to wait at least a day before plugging your phone in again.

After 24 hours of drying off, try plugging your phone in and see what happens. Once the connections are dry you may find that it starts charging again.

11. iPhone not charging due to hardware problems?

There isn’t much you can do if your iPhone is not charging because of hardware problems. Contact Apple Support or an authorized service center to repair any issues with the charging port, Battery or other hardware problems. You might need to get a replacement if a repair isn’t possible.

Successfully fixed iPhone not charging issue

I hope your iPhone charging problem is now behind your back. Next time your iPhone stops charging, start working through the usual suspects, such as inspecting the charging cable, charging adapter, wall socket, restarting your iPhone, updating iOS, etc. More extreme measures include checking for hardware issues, and contacting Apple Support.