Charging an iPhone is a time consuming task, but what’s worse is when you connect your iPhone to the charger and then later find that it’s not charged at all. Though the “iPhone won’t charge issue” seems to be very annoying and confusing, there are actually a bunch of simple things you can do to fix the problem. So, let’s check out why your iPhone is not charging, as well as all the solutions you can try.
What are the Possible Reasons Why the iPhone is Not Charging?
There are four usual suspects you need to watch out for when you are unable to charge your iPhone.
- What are the Possible Reasons Why the iPhone is Not Charging?Clean the Lightning PortMake Sure Your Charger is Not DamagedKeep Liquid Damage in MindEnsure That Your Case is CompatibleDoes the Charging Stop at 80%? Disable Optimized Battery ChargingHard Reset Your iPhoneGetting “Accessory May Not Be Supported” Error Message? Check MFi CompatibilityReset All SettingsUpdate SoftwareRestore Your iPhone As New
Apart from these major culprits, incompatible cases, rare software bugs, and even liquid damage could also be responsible for the charging issue on your iPhone. We are going to take into account each possible cause and resolve the problem using viable solutions accordingly.
Before troubleshooting the software or hardware-related charging issues, you should ensure that your iPhone’s Lightning port is not clogged with dirt and debris. If it’s been a while since you cleaned the Lightning port of your iOS device, the port is likely to be packed with pocket lint which could be preventing the connector from making a strong and stable connection.
To give some needed cushion to the cleaning process, it would also be a good idea to twist a little bit of cotton on the tip of your toothpick. Be sure to be extra cautious while cleaning so that you don’t accidentally damage the charging pins.
Once your iPhone has restarted, plug it into a power source to check if the charging has begun. If it has, you’ve got the better of the issue.
If your iPhone is not charging even after you have cleaned the Lightning port, make sure your charger is not damaged. Take a close look at the area near the connector. If it is disjointed or appears to be frayed out, use another Lightning cable.
Not many folks would be aware of the fact that liquid damage can also cause the charging issue on the iPhone. It is because liquid damage tends to short out the connections located in the charging port which hinders charging. So, if you dropped your iOS device in water, make sure to first dry it out before plugging in the charger.
Bear in mind that even a little bit of water inside the port can cause the connections to short which could not only damage the charging capability but also lead to more terrible problems.
Some cases lack precise cutouts for ports and buttons. As a result, it becomes inconvenient to adjust the buttons or plug a charger into the port. If the connector is unable to make a strong connection, try removing the case.
Does the Charging Stop at 80%? Disable Optimized Battery Charging
iPhone keeps a track of your daily charging routine and automatically delays charging past 80% in certain situations. This is a well-thought-out feature designed to improve the lifespan of the battery. However, if you would rather have complete control over the charging of your device, you can choose to disable the optimized battery charging feature.
Hard Reset Your iPhone
If your iPhone still won’t charge, it’s time to give it a hard reset. For those uninitiated, hard reset (also known as force restart) gets rid of random cache and temporary which often results in fixing common issues with iPhones.
- On iPhone 8 or later: Press the volume up button. Then, press the volume down button. Next, press and hold the side button until the screen goes black and the Apple logo comes up on the screen. On iPhone 7/7 Plus: Press and hold the side button and the volume down button simultaneously until the Apple logo shows up on the screen. On iPhone 6s/6s Plus or earlier: Hold down the side or top button and the home button at once until you see the Apple logo on the screen.
Note:
Getting “Accessory May Not Be Supported” Error Message? Check MFi Compatibility
If you are getting the “Accessory May Not Be Supported” error repeatedly, there is a high chance that the charger is not MFi (Made for iPhone and iPad) certified. And it’s this incompatibility that is causing the charging issue on your iPhone.
Factory reset is a pretty trusted catch-all fix. Especially when you are up against complex issues, this one has a role to play. So, if your iPhone is still refusing to charge, do not fail to try it out.
Update Software
Considering how buggy modern versions of iOS (including iOS 15) are, you should never rule out the possibility of a rare bug that might be causing the charging issue. Hence, try updating the software on your iPhone.
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone -> General -> Software Update. Now, download and install the latest version of iOS.
Restore Your iPhone As New
Restoring often comes to the rescue when basic tips fail to resolve complex issues. Hence, if none of the tricks has worked in fixing the charging issue on your iPhone, try restoring the iPhone as new – the so-called nuclear solution.
