How to Fix iPhone Not Charging: 10 Easy Fixes That Work
Introduction: Why your iPhone might not charge
If your iPhone won’t charge when you need it, panic is normal. Learn how to fix iPhone not charging with 10 easy fixes, starting with quick checks in minutes.
Common causes at a glance: dirty Lightning port, frayed or uncertified cable, faulty power adapter or outlet, software glitches after an iOS update, degraded battery health, or liquid damage. Try a different Apple certified cable and alternate wall socket before anything else.
We’ll go step by step, from cable swaps and port cleaning, to software resets and battery diagnostics. Back up your data before fixes, and get professional help when needed.
Quick checks to try first
Before anything technical, run these quick no tools checks. First, restart your iPhone. If it is very unresponsive, force restart: on iPhone 8 and later press volume up, press volume down, then hold the side button until the Apple logo appears. Second, check the battery percent and Low Power Mode in Control Center or the Battery widget; if it is near zero, give it a few minutes on a known good charger. Third, try a different outlet, or plug into a laptop USB port; wall sockets can fail. Fourth, swap cables and adapters if available, and remove any case that could pinch the Lightning port. Finally, look into the charging port for visible debris or bent pins, and try again. These steps fix many common charging issues.
Inspect and test your Lightning cable and charger
Start by inspecting the Lightning cable closely. Look for frayed insulation near the connector, exposed wires, bent or pushed in pins, or brown discoloration on the metal. These are common signs the cable or charger brick is failing. Shine a light inside the iPhone port too, to check for lint or debris that can block contact.
Next, do a simple swap test. Plug the cable into a different Apple wall adapter, a laptop USB port, or a friend’s charger. Then try a different Lightning cable with your charger. If one combination charges reliably, you found the faulty part. If nothing works, the issue may be the phone.
Always use Apple certified accessories. MFi certified cables and chargers are tested to work correctly with iPhone, and they reduce the risk of damage. If a cheap cable fixes it intermittently, replace it with a certified one.
Clean the Lightning port safely
Turn the iPhone off and remove any case first. Use a bright flashlight and, if available, a magnifier to inspect the Lightning port for lint, dust, or debris. Tools to use: a wooden toothpick or plastic dental pick, a soft anti static brush, and short bursts of canned air from a distance. Step by step: gently insert the toothpick along the port edge and sweep out lint with light outward strokes, do not force or twist. Brush the contacts with the anti static brush. If using canned air, hold the can upright and use brief bursts at an angle. Avoid needles, pins, or metal objects that can bend pins. If you see bent contacts, corrosion, liquid residue, or feel any resistance, stop and get professional service. These safe steps often fix iPhone not charging issues caused by debris.
Force restart and soft reset to clear glitches
If your iPhone is not charging, start with a force restart or a soft reset, they fix software glitches fast. For iPhone 8 and later, press and quickly release Volume Up, press and quickly release Volume Down, then press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears. For iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, press and hold Volume Down and the Side button together until the logo appears. For iPhone 6s and earlier, press and hold Home and the Side or Top button together until you see the logo.
For a soft reset, power off via Settings, General, Shut Down, wait 10 seconds, then turn it on. These steps restart the charging controller and background services, often restoring normal charging behavior. After restarting, plug in a known good cable and charger, watch for the lightning bolt or increasing percent.
Update iOS and check software settings
Outdated iOS and certain settings can stop your iPhone from charging properly, so start with software. Go to Settings, General, Software Update, download and install any available updates. New releases often fix charging bugs.
Next, tweak battery settings that slow charging on purpose. In Settings, Battery, Battery Health & Charging, turn off Optimized Battery Charging if you need a faster top up. Also disable Background App Refresh for heavy apps via Settings, General, Background App Refresh, since apps running in the background can draw power while you charge.
If your iPhone refuses to charge while locked, enable USB Accessories under Settings, Face ID & Passcode, to allow charging through some cables. Finally, reboot after changes, and try a fresh charge with the original cable and adapter.
Test with wireless charging or a different device
If you have a wireless charger, try it next, especially on iPhone 8 and newer. Remove any thick case, center the phone on the pad, and try MagSafe if you have one. If the device powers up on wireless, the Lightning port is probably the problem.
Next, plug the same cable and charger into a different device, for example an iPad, Android phone, or a laptop USB port. If those devices charge fine, the problem is with your iPhone. If nothing charges, swap the cable and wall adapter, and replace the faulty part. This quickly isolates the cause when troubleshooting how to fix iPhone not charging.
Advanced fix: Restore or DFU mode
Use a full restore when software corruption prevents charging recognition, after trying cables and resets, or if the iPhone is stuck on the Apple logo. Use DFU mode as a last resort, it reloads the firmware and OS and can fix deep software failures that a normal restore does not.
Before you start, back up to iCloud or to your computer, because restoring erases everything. Also update iTunes or Finder on your Mac or PC.
Steps, recovery mode first
- Connect iPhone to computer, open Finder or iTunes.
- For iPhone 8 and later, press Volume Up, press Volume Down, then hold Side until recovery screen appears. For iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, hold Side and Volume Down together. For iPhone 6s and earlier, hold Home and Side.
- Choose Restore in Finder or iTunes, follow prompts.
DFU mode, model specific
- Connect to computer, screen should be black.
- iPhone 8 and later: quick Volume Up, quick Volume Down, hold Side until black, then hold Side and Volume Down for 5 seconds, release Side and keep holding Volume Down until computer detects device.
- iPhone 7: hold Side and Volume Down for 10 seconds, release Side and keep holding Volume Down until detected.
- iPhone 6s and earlier: hold Home and Side for 8 seconds, release Side and keep holding Home until detected.
If DFU fails, stop and see Apple, this can indicate hardware charging issues.
When to contact Apple or replace the battery
If you tried every step in this guide on how to fix iPhone not charging and the problem persists, it may be a hardware issue. Check Settings, Battery, Battery Health. If Maximum Capacity is under 80 percent, or you see a message about reduced performance, replace the battery. Other clear signs are a swollen case, frequent unexpected shutdowns, or the phone only powers on while plugged in. Stop using the device if the battery is swollen, and take it to Apple or an authorized service provider.
Warranty options matter, AppleCare and the one year limited warranty cover battery defects, and Apple will replace batteries under 80 percent free of charge while covered. Backup your data before any repair, and get a written estimate for out of warranty service.
Prevention tips and final insights
Small habits prevent most charging problems. Clean the Lightning port with a soft brush, remove cases when wireless charging, avoid liquid exposure, and buy Apple certified cables. Update iOS regularly, because software bugs can stop charging. Check Battery Health in Settings before assuming hardware failure.
Quick recap of what actually fixes iPhones that won’t charge: restart or force restart, swap the cable and charger, clean the port, update iOS, and check battery health or seek a battery replacement. These five moves solve the majority of real world cases.
Next step checklist, do these in order
Restart the iPhone, try a different outlet.
Inspect and clean the port, try a known good Lightning cable.
Swap the power adapter or use a USB port on a computer.
Update iOS, check Settings > Battery > Battery Health.
If none work, book an Apple Store or certified repair.
