There’s nothing more frustrating than when your iPhone won’t charge. You may be starting to notice that your iPhone is starting to get low battery earlier and earlier throughout the day, or dying completely even if it’s showing that you have battery percentage left. You may also leave your phone on its cable all night, only to wake up in the morning to a lower percentage than when you started. Sometimes, the iPhone will only charge a few percent in a long period of time, or it might not work at all unless it is connected to a power source. There are tons of reasons why your iPhone might not be charging - we go through all of them right here, including all the possible ways to fix it.
If your iPhone won’t turn on or charge, there could be many things wrong with it. These can include such things as:
This might seem like a no-brainer, but there could be some damage to your charging cable or it’s plugin. Try charging your phone using a different cord, plugin or outlet. If this fixes the issue, it is likely that your iPhone is absolutely fine and there are no issues with it.
If switching up your charging cord, plugin or outlets haven’t done the trick, unplug your iPhone and check the charging port. There might be some dust or other buildup inside, which gets in the way of charging cords being able to properly perform their job. Grab a toothbrush, get inside there and clear it out. You can also try using Q-Tips or giving a hearty blow, circa the Nintendo game era.
If your iPhone won’t charge even at this point, it is time to perform a hard reset. Your iPhone’s software is what performs the charge, not the hardware. Checking your phone for software issues by performing a hard reset usually does the trick. Here’s how you do it:
iPhone 8, 8 Plus, X or higher
iPhone 7 or 7 Plus
If performing a hard reset still hasn’t fixed the fact that your iPhone won’t charge, then it’s time to fix any battery issues you may have. These fixes are simple, easy and extremely inexpensive. You can save a lot of money by trying one of these fixes instead of purchasing an entirely new phone. You can fix your iPhone’s battery issues by:
For more on how to perform these fixes, check out our step-by-step guide here.
Resetting your phone to factory settings is a sure way to clear your phone of all it’s software and start fresh, just as if you picked it up from the Apple store. Performing a factory reset will completely erase your phone, so make sure you perform a backup just in case you might need anything important. To perform a factory reset, follow these steps:
If you are a business owner selling used iPhones at a high volume, it would be in your best interest to use a diagnostics software to help fix any battery issues with your iPhone that won’t charge. Running a diagnostic through Phonecheck will let you see exactly what is wrong with the battery, allowing you the opportunity to fix it before you sell it and get a better return on your investment. Phonecheck will print you a certificate to show you not only what might be wrong with the battery, but it will also include over 60 more diagnostics. These include such things as WiFi signal strength, camera functionality, Bluetooth strength and much more. Not only this, it will perform a full data erasure as well as reset it back to factory settings - all in under 2 minutes.
iPhone users might find that their phone just won’t start. To find the answer, they turn to Google. Here are all the answers to the most commonly Googled terms related to questions concerning why an iPhone won’t start. Questions and queries might be typed frantically—thus, Google searches aren’t always grammatically correct.
Here are the answers to all those Google queries that can help reboot that phone.
An iPhone might be plugged into the charger, yet it simply won’t charge. What is wrong? Why won’t the battery charge? To troubleshoot this issue, owners need to consider a few possibilities. There could be an issue with the cable or the charging station/port/plug. In addition, the phone also could have a loose or faulty port (the section where the cable is inserted).
Try using another charging cable or purchase a new one (they can be found at reasonable prices). Check the current cable for any issues, too. For the charging port (or plug), make sure everything is properly secured. Sometimes the plug is slightly pulled from the outlet, and this simple issue means that no electricity is getting to the phone.
If the issue is definitely not related to the charging station or the cable, the issue could be related to the phone’s battery or other components or parts. Owners also can shutdown the phone and then restart it to see if the issue is resolved.
If restarting the phone doesn’t help, it might be time to reach out to Apple’s tech support online or via phone for troubleshooting guidance. If they can’t solve the problem, they will probably suggest an appointment with the team at a local Apple Store.
If the iPhone won’t turn on or charge, there could be a few issues. One, the phone is dead and the charger or cable connected to the charger is not working. In this case, the dead phone won’t charge.
However, if the charger and cable are working for other devices and the phone still won’t charge, the owner can try to manually reboot it. This is known as a hard-start or a “force restart.” To do this, Apple instructs iPhone users to manipulate both the up and down volume buttons while pressing the side button. The screen should show the Apple logo and the phone should restart.
If a ‘force restart’ fails to work, the owner needs a pro. Since the phone won’t restart manually, online or phone tech support probably won’t be helpful. Instead, make an appointment at either an Apple Store or a store affiliated with the cell phone provider (Verizon, AT&T, etc.).
There also is a possibility that extreme damage led to the issues. For example, if the phone was submerged in water and won’t turn on, the water could have warped and shorted out the interior mechanics of the phone.
If the phone is submerged, immediately remove it from the water and place it in a bowl or sandwich bag filled with rice. Leave the phone in the rice overnight. The rice helps dry out the phone. Sometimes the phone is salvaged using this method.
Google searches aren’t always grammatically correct. For iPhone owners who are typing so fast that the forget the apostrophe on ‘won’t,’ a few reasons that the iPhone might not charge include:
To determine if the issue is related to the cord or charger, try using the charger on another Apple device. If it works, then the problem isn’t the cord or charger. However, if the other device won’t charge, it’s time to rule out if the charger or the cord is the problem.
Many iPhone users own other Apple products. Swap out the charger for another one to determine if the charger is compromised. If the new charger is regenerating the phone, then the issue is resolved. If not, then it is likely the cord.
In addition, a specific outlet might be the issue. Try plugging another device into the outlet to test it. Again, if the device doesn’t work in the outlet, the issue is solved.
If the iPhone owner determines that the charger, cord and outlet are all working, then the problem is due to an issue with the phone. The port where the cord attaches could be broken or damaged. There also could be other issues.
Try performing a “force restart.” If the phone restarts, try charging it. If it still won’t charge, it’s time to call tech support or take the phone for diagnostics (at the Apple Store).
Many individuals take their phone everywhere, even in the car. A phone can be used on the drive to provide directions via GPS, but it also provides peace of mind in the event of an emergency. However, iPhone owners might find that their phone suddenly won’t charge in their car.
If the iPhone is charging at home, then the issue isn’t related to the phone. Instead, the problem could be related to the cord used in the car or even the charging port. Try using a different cord; if the new cord doesn’t work, the car might need to be taken to the dealership or an auto shop to have the port repaired or diagnosed.
Sometimes a phone needs to be charged during the day and the owner doesn’t have their charger with them. Maybe they are at a friend’s house or visiting a relative. The friend or relative also has a smartphone. Are all chargers compatible with every device?
Apple devices like the iPhone typically use the lightning cord. This means that all iPhone chargers should charge all iPhones (regardless of the generation). However, not all smartphone chargers work with iPhones. Unfortunately, a friend’s charger might be designed for a different phone and won’t work with an iPhone.
If the friend or family member has an iPhone and their charger won’t work, try troubleshooting using the previously mentioned tips.
When charging an iPhone, the owner might hear the familiar sound that alerts them when the phone starts to charge. However, the owner might notice that the sound keeps returning. When the ‘charging’ alert goes on and off, the charger or the cable might be slightly disconnected from either the phone or the outlet.
Check the outlet to determine if the ‘plug’ is slightly removed. If the plug is firmly placed, check the cable. It might be loose, or the cable might need to be replaced.
Remember that using too many apps at once could suck the life out of the battery. If the phone won't charge, try closing out any apps. Then charge the phone.
If the phone still won’t charge, check the cable and the charger. If the cable and charger are fine, then try restarting the phone. If nothing works, it might be time to reach out to tech support.
If an iPhone freezes up and won’t work, try manually restarting the phone. Typically, rebooting an iPhone requires holding down both the screen button and the side button, although each model might restart a bit differently. If this doesn’t work, then a hard restart could be necessary.
When the phone fails to reboot, the owner needs to schedule an appointment to check the diagnostics of the device. In addition, dropping the phone in water also could severely damage the phone resulting in device failure.
If an iPhone won’t charge and it won’t turn on, contacting tech support by phone or online won’t help. Try rebooting the phone manually. If the reboot fails, then attempt to do a hard restart (see the instructions above). When nothing works, the iPhone needs a diagnostic appointment; the owner can make an appointment at a store with their service provider or schedule a maintenance appointment at a local Apple Store.
Again, Google searches are not always grammatically correct. When iPhone owners need to reset their phone (if it isn’t starting), try rebooting the phone by pushing the home screen button and the side button at the same time. If this fails to solve the issue, the owner also can attempt to do a hard restart.
However, if restarting the phone doesn’t solve the issue and the phone still won’t charge, the owner can contact Apple support online or via phone. Tech support might be able to help troubleshoot the issue.
Charging problems could be a common Google search for iPhone owners. A bad cable or charger could be the culprit if the phone isn’t charging. In addition, if the owner hears the ‘charging’ noise go on and off, this can indicate that the charger isn’t properly plugged into the outlet. Rebooting the phone or conducting a ‘hard restart’ also could reset the phone and resolve the charging issues. However, if nothing helps, reach out to Apple’s tech support or schedule a service appointment at a local Apple Store.
