iPhone Won’t Charge: Pro Troubleshooting Solutions to Get your iPhone Back to 100%

|Updated at May 13, 2025

With smartphones being an essential part of your daily life, nothing is more irritating than plugging your iPhone in the morning and noticing that it is not charging anymore. 

Buying a new phone or getting it fixed from the store can be a panicked decision. Instead, considering the common reasons why the iPhone won’t charge and trying out the easy troubleshooting solutions might solve your issues before assuming the worst. Let’s look at easy fixes that can reinstate your iPhone’s charging smoothly.

Why is my iPhone not Charging? Common Reasons Behind it

Understanding the root cause of why the iPhone is not charging can help you address the same concern and troubleshoot it smoothly. Ahead, check out the numerous culprits outlined below: 

1. Dirty and Blocked Charging Port

With time, your iPhone collects dirt and debris, leaving your charging port and speakers clogged. This might hamper the connection between the charging cable and the port. Consequently, it may slow down your charging or stop it altogether.

2. Faulty Charger, Cable, or Source 

One of the common issues that iPhone users face is the uninvited cable and charger damage. Over time, the cable can chip out, fray or get damaged from the USB ends, and in most cases, the adapter becomes faulty or breaks down.

3. Overheating 

When directly exposing the phone to sunlight or is continuously used while charging can result in overheating. An overheated iPhone can limit or stop charging to prevent further damage to the device and battery. 

Suggested Read: iPhone Unable To Activate? Try These 9 Troubleshooting Ways to Fix the Error

4. Software Issues 

Outdated softwares possesses slow performance and glitches in the overall devices, and of course, can reduce the charging speed or cause no charging at all. The latest updates are rolled out to improve the overall performance of the device and remove the software’s bugs.

5. Hardware Issues

Without your notice, the reason behind why wont my iPhone Charge can be the hardware issues. Those include a damaged charging port, a broken phone, logic board issues and more.

6. Water Detection 

Under a few circumstances, if your iPhone detects water or liquid in the lightning or USB-C in your phone, it stops charging to prevent any further damage. This is the built-in feature in Apple devices to protect both the phone and external connected accessories.

7. Optimized Battery Charging Halt

With the launch of iOS 13, the team added a new feature named Optimized Battery Charging, which works to increase the battery life span by halting the charging temporarily when it reaches 80%. So, this is one of the reasons why iPhone wont charge, which many of the users are probably not aware of. 

Now that you know the possible reasons that have led to the iPhone won’t charge issues. Take into consideration the easy and quick preventive measures in the section ahead.

Troubleshooting Solutions to Resolve iPhone Won’t Charge Issues (Hardware and Software)

Wondering how to fix my iPhone not charging issue by yourself and avoid the overwhelming appointment waits and charges of the service centre. 

Here are the workable troubleshooting solutions that can instantly revive your iPhone’s charging. 

1. Inspect your Cable and Adapter 

Start with the basic steps of troubleshooting, and the first thing to do is to check for the faulty adapters and broken, exposed or frayed wires. If you found something fishy, then consider using a different charger and USB cable (USB-C or Lightning) and observe the movements. 

Luckily, if your phone starts charging, that means the charger is the culprit, and if not, move on to the next fix.

2. Check the Power Source

While blaming your charger and cable, sometimes the problem could be with the power source or outlet. Giving a second thought, before purchasing the new charger, connect your charger to a different power outlet or socket and see if it works.

3. Clean the Charging Port

The dirt and debris collected all over and inside your charging port can stop the charging altogether. Before assuming the worst scenarios, consider cleaning iPhone charging port inside and out with the help of the soft brush, toothpick, and tissues. For a better performance, consider cleaning the iPhone speakers also.

Other than that, avoid using metal and iron things that can damage your internal components. After the process, plug in your charger and check whether the battery percentage goes up.

4. Force Restart the Phone 

The minor glitches and technical errors of your iPhone can be fixed by force restarting your iPhone. The process to force restart the iPhone may differ from model to model. Check out the instructions mentioned below: 

For iPhone 8 or later

Quickly press and release the Volume Up and then the Volume Down button>> Long-press and hold the Power button until the Apple logo appears.

For iPhone 7 or 7 Plus: 

Press and hold the Volume down and power button together until the Apple logo appears.

For iPhone 6 and earlier: 

Tap and hold the Home button and the Power button (located on the side or top) simultaneously until the Apple logo appears.

5. Disable Optimized Battery Charging

If your phone stops charging at 80%, then this is not the issue with the charging; it is due to the optimized battery charging being enabled. 

By observing your charging habits and daily phone usage, this built-in feature automatically delays the charging after 80% to ensure a healthy battery health and life. 

But, if you wish to charge your phone above 80%, disable the optimized battery charging, follow the steps mentioned below. 

  • Navigate to Settings
    Tap on Settings
  • Head over to Battery.
    Tap on Battery
  • Tap on Battery Health & Charging
    Tap on Battery Health and Charging
  • Toggle off the Optimised Battery Charging
    Toggle off the Optimised Battery Charging
  • Hit Turn Off from the confirmation dialog box. 
    Select Turn Off

But remember, this feature prevents your battery from overstressing and delays battery ageing. 

6. Update iOS 

The outdated software welcomes technical glitches and bugs that reduce the overall performance of the device and might also affect the battery charging. To make sure that your device is running the latest version, check out the steps mentioned below to update the software. 

Go to the Settings>> General>> Software Update>> Tap and Download (if the update is available). 

7. Consider the Liquid Damage 

Another possible reason your iPhone won’t power on or charge that you might not have paid attention to is that your phone has suffered liquid damage. 

Inspect for moisture or water droplets around your device, or connect your phone to the charger and see if you are getting any liquid detected in lightning connector warnings

Liquid Detection Warning in iPhone

Under such conditions, try to dry your phone by leaving the device in a dry area with airflow or use air pressure to dry the internal mechanism of the charging port. 

Note: Avoid Emergency Override to prevent further dangerous damage to your device. 

8. Restrict the Operations While Charging

Generally, it is safe to use the phone while charging, but under a few circumstances, it might overheat and degrade the battery life. 

So if you notice that your iPhone is repelling from taking charge, avoid using the phone for some time and let it charge uninterrupted, and notice if it fixes the issue.

9. Reset and Restore your iPhone 

Again, if you are facing charging issues, and none of the above troubleshooting fixes are resolving your “my iPhone won’t charge” concern, then try resetting your phone. 

The steps are outlined below that can help you to reset your iPhone in minutes. 

  • Go to Settings
    Tap on Settings
  • Tap on General.
    Tap on General
  • Choose Transfer or Reset iPhone
    Transfer or Reset iPhone
  • Hit the Erase All Content and Settings option.
    Erase All Content and Settings

10. Maintain the Phone’s Temperature 

The overheated phone can halt the charging temporarily, resulting in slow performance. Practice cooling down your phone if you find it overheated. Keep it aside and restrict the usage for some time. Make sure you remove the cover and keep it in a cool and dry place that helps to cool down the heated body of the device.

11. Test the Wireless Charging

If you are in the habit of using wireless charging to fulfil your device’s daily charging needs, and suddenly it stops working, then try the same after removing the device case. Make sure your wireless charger is charged and does not have any external damage.

NOTE: Wireless charging is available in iPhone 8 or later models.

12. Contact Apple Support

Last but not least, if none of the 11 troubleshooting fixes work, then take into consideration that there is something worse you weren’t even expecting. 

When nothing works, then Apple’s support and service centre takes charge. Without any further delays, contact Apple support online or schedule an appointment with the nearest licensed service centre and narrate your issue and get feedback. 

Remember, do not get trapped or lured by the local third-party dealers, as it can cause some serious threats to your device.

And this is the end! Try all the troubleshooting fixes one by one and bookmark the one that worked in your case. 

Conclusion 

Ranging from simple cable issues to hardcore hardware damages, there are many possible reasons for why won’t my iPhone Charge. But this won’t be concerning as we have mentioned all the workable troubleshooting solutions that can resolve these issues from the root. 

Therefore, if this issue is arising on a regular basis, it is advised to seek the assistance of the service centre and get a full-fledged report of the cause that is escalating it.

FAQs

Ans: There are many reasons why your iPhone won’t charge. Some main issues are, torn or damaged charging cable, a clogged charging port with dirt and debris, a broken power source and more.

Ans: If you notice visible debris and dirt in the charging port, use a soft brush or toothpick and gently scratch the dirt and clean it with the help of a cotton cloth to avoid any damage and scratches. 

Ans: No, it is advised not to charge the iPhone ahead when you get the liquid detection warnings, as it can damage your device. 

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