iPhone Cable Not Charging Phone
Last month, my friend Sarah called me in a panic because her iPhone not charging and she had an important work presentation the next morning. After years of troubleshooting these charging issues for family and friends, I’ve learned that when your phone’s dead and won’t power up, it’s usually something surprisingly simple you can fix yourself.
The cable, charging port, or software glitch is almost always the real culprit, not your actual device. I’ve seen people waste hundreds of dollars on unnecessary repairs when a genuine Apple Lightning cable or quick cleaning would have solved everything, and understanding these common issues can save you both time and money.
10 tips for troubleshooting and fixing an iPhone not charging when plugged in
1.Check Your Cable and Connection Points First
The charging cable breaks way more often than people realize, and after helping dozens of friends with this exact problem, I always start here. Take a close look at your cable – really examine it for fraying near the connectors, dark spots, or weird bends that signal internal damage. If you spot any visible damage like exposed wires, that’s probably your answer right there.
Grab a different cable and try that first, or plug into a different outlet or USB port to rule out electrical issues. I keep an official Apple brand cable handy because third-party alternatives often create more problems than they solve, and compatible MFi-certified options work much better than cheap knockoffs that can cause charging failures.
2.Clean That Charging Port and Force a Fresh Start
Your charging port is basically a lint magnet that collects dust, debris, and pocket lint every single day, creating obstructed connections between your cable and phone. Turn your iPhone off first, then take a soft toothpick or wooden tool (never a paperclip or metal object that could damage delicate pins) and gently remove any gunk you can see. You’d be surprised how much stuff comes out of that tiny opening, and this simple cleaning often fixes most connection problems instantly.
After cleaning, try a force restart to clear any software glitches that might prevent your iPhone from charging properly. For iPhone 8 or later models including iPhone 13, 14, 15, quickly press and release the Volume Up button, then Volume Down button, followed by pressing and holding the Side button until the Apple logo appears. This completely reboots your processor and often fixes minor iOS bugs that interfere with power delivery, battery health recognition, or wireless charging functionality on newer models that support Qi-certified wireless charger technology.
3.Clean your charging port
Dirt and debris can easily accumulate in your iPhone’s charging port, preventing a proper connection. Here’s how to clean it:
- Turn off your iPhone.
- Use a toothpick or a soft brush to gently remove any lint, dust, or debris from the charging port.
- Avoid using anything metal or sharp that could damage the port’s internal components.
4. Force restart your iPhone
Sometimes, a force restart can fix minor software glitches that might prevent your iPhone from charging. Here’s how to force restart different models:
- iPhone 8 or later (iPhone 13, 14, 15):
- Quickly press and release the Volume Up button, then the Volume Down button.
- Press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears.
iPhone 7 or 7 Plus:
- Press and hold both the Volume Down button and the Side button until the Apple logo appears.
iPhone 6s and earlier:
- Press and hold the Home button and the Side button (or Top button) simultaneously until the Apple logo appears.
5. Update your iOS
A software bug could prevent your iPhone from charging properly. Make sure you’re running the latest version of iOS:
- Go to Settings > General > Software Update.
- If an update is available, tap Download and Install.
6. Check for battery health issues
If your iPhone’s battery is severely degraded, it might not charge properly. You can check your battery health by going to:
- Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging.
- If the Maximum Capacity is below 80%, your battery may need replacement.
7. Try wireless charging
If your iPhone 8 or later supports wireless charging, try using a Qi-certified wireless charger to see if the issue lies with the Lightning port. If your iPhone charges wirelessly, the problem may be with the charging port or cable.
8. Check for liquid damage
If your iPhone was exposed to water or moisture, it might have suffered liquid damage. Check for signs of moisture around the charging port or use a flashlight to look inside. If you suspect water damage, you may need to contact Apple Support.
9. Restart your iPhone
Sometimes, a simple reboot is all your iPhone needs to wipe out any software glitches and get your iPhone back on track. Press and hold the power and volume buttons until the ‘Slide to Power Off’ option appears on your screen. Swipe the slider to the right to turn off your phone. Wait for a few minutes and then press and hold the power button to turn your iPhone back on again.
10. Clean your charging port
No matter where you keep your iPhone — pocket, purse, holster, backpack — its tiny charging port is a dust and debris magnet. Lint can accumulate in this small opening and obstruct the connection between your charging cable and your iPhone. Carefully clean out the charging port with a wooden toothpick or spray compressed air into the port to blow out the debris. Do not use a paperclip, as this could damage the delicate pins in the charging port. Also, avoid using liquids containing alcohol.
11. Check the Optimized Battery Charging feature
If you notice that your iPhone stopped charging at 80%, no need to stress out. Since iOS 13, there has been a feature aimed at prolonging battery life, and it is named Optimized Battery Charging. Check it in Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging.
12. Try charging your iPhone wirelessly
If you have an iPhone 8 or newer model, you should be able to charge your phone wirelessly. To connect your iPhone to a wireless charger, follow these steps:
- Connect your charger to a power source.
- Set the charger on a level surface or other location recommended by the manufacturer.
- Place your iPhone on the charger with the display facing up. It should take a few seconds for your iPhone to start charging.
13. Make sure your iPhone’s software is up to date
While not a common issue, sometimes outdated software can interfere with your iPhone’s ability to handle basic tasks like charging when it’s plugged in. To rule out this issue, ensure that your iPhone runs the latest iOS operating system version.
- Open your iPhone and navigate to Settings.
- Tap ‘General’ and then go to Software Update.
- If Automatic Updates are toggled on, you will see a message below telling you which iOS version you are using and whether it is up-to-date.
- If updates are toggled off, tap Automatic Updates, and when the next screen appears, toggle on ‘Download iOS Updates’ and ‘Install iOS Updates.’
- Once your iPhone has been updated, plug it in and wait for it to charge.
- Perform a hard reset on your iPhone
You can try a hard reset if your iPhone still won’t charge. This is a little more involved than simply turning your iPhone off and restarting it. A hard reset completely reboots your processor and takes a bit longer than a simple reset.
14. Reset your iPhone’s settings
You’ve tried restarting and rebooting your iPhone, but it still won’t charge when you plug it in. The last step before calling in a professional is to reset your iPhone’s settings. Yes, this will erase your iPhone’s personalized settings, but all of your data (photos, apps, videos, and music) will remain unchanged. Here’s how to reset your iPhone settings:
How to reset your iPhone : Soft reset, hard reboot, and factory reset
1. Press and quickly release the volume up button.
2. Press and quickly release the volume down button.
3. Press and hold the side button.
4. When the Apple logo appears, release the side button.
5. After your iPhone has finished restarting, try charging it again.
For iOS versions older than iOS 16 or an iPhone with a home button, check out this guide from Apple.
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