Why is my iPhone not charging?

Short answer

What is really going on

The four causes that matter

Everything below unpacks these. If you only remember four things, make it these four.

Step by step

How do I fix an iPhone that is not charging?

Ten fixes, easiest and most likely first. Start at the top and stop the moment it charges again.

iPhones share the same troubleshooting order whether yours uses Lightning or USB-C. The menus are the same from iOS 16 onward, and the underlying causes have not changed for years.

First, rule out the obvious

Plug straight into a wall outlet, reseat the cable at both ends, and give it 30 minutes before you worry. A laptop USB port, a car socket or a cheap hub often cannot supply enough power, so go straight to the wall, and try a second outlet in case the first is dead.

Apple’s first recommendation is to check the cable, adapter and outlet, and to test with another cable or adapter if you have one. Then watch the status bar, because sometimes it is charging slowly and you could not tell.

Check and clean the charging port

Lint packed into the Lightning or USB-C port is the single most common reason an iPhone stops charging. Pockets and bags work fluff deep into the port, and once it compacts the cable cannot make proper contact.

Apple says to remove any debris from the charging port and to avoid metal or compressed air. The safe way is to power the iPhone off, then lift the lint out with a dry soft brush or a wooden or plastic toothpick. Never use a metal pin, compressed air or any liquid. If the port is loose, corroded or visibly damaged, stop and get it looked at.

Try a different cable

Swap to a cable you know is good, because a frayed, kinked or cheap charge-only cable is one of the most frequent causes and the easiest to overlook. Cables fail from the inside, usually near the connector where they bend most, so the damage is often invisible.

Apple recommends trying a different cable and adapter if the iPhone will not charge. If a known-good cable brings your iPhone back, the old one is done.

If yours turns out to be the culprit, our roundup of the best USB-C cables covers ones built to last, and the best USB-C cable for iPhone guide pairs the right cable to modern iPhones.

Use a proper charger

A tiny 5W plug, a laptop port or a powered hub may be too weak, so use a proper USB-C wall charger. Modern iPhones fast-charge from USB-C Power Delivery, and a real wall charger gives a clean, adequate supply.

If you have been topping up from a laptop or an old 5W plug, a decent wall charger often fixes it outright. A good GaN charger is small, runs cool, and has the headroom to charge at full speed.

Restart, then force restart

A software hang can stop charging dead, so restart, then force restart. A normal restart clears most glitches.

If the screen is frozen, Apple’s force-restart steps depend on the iPhone model: press and quickly release Volume Up, press and quickly release Volume Down, then press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears on Face ID models. On older models with a Home button, press and hold the Home and Sleep/Wake buttons together.

Once it is back, install any pending iOS update, since charging fixes ship in them.

It stops at 80 percent? That can be normal

If the iPhone charges fine to about 80 percent and then crawls, that is usually Optimized Battery Charging, not a fault. Apple designed the feature to learn your daily charging routine and pause at 80 percent, finishing the last 20 percent just before you usually unplug.

If you need a full charge right now, you can temporarily turn it off. Go to Settings, Battery, Battery Health & Charging, and toggle Optimized Battery Charging. The setting will turn itself back on later if you do not change it.

Check the battery health

If the iPhone is a few years old, drains quickly and charges oddly, the battery itself may be worn.

Apple’s battery-health guidance says to check Settings, Battery, Battery Health & Charging. Maximum Capacity below about 80 percent means the battery can no longer deliver peak performance, and a service or replacement restores the runtime. A swollen battery is a fire risk, so stop using the iPhone and get it serviced.

MagSafe or wireless charging not working

Line the charger up centrally, plug the pad into power before you place the iPhone, and take off any thick or metal case. Apple says MagSafe and Qi chargers are easily interrupted by poor placement or a foreign object. A magnet, a metal ring, a card holder or a thick case between the iPhone and the pad will block or slow it.

Liquid detected, or a water warning

A liquid-detection alert means the iPhone has paused charging on purpose to protect the port, and that is a safety stop, not a fault. Apple’s guidance says to unplug, gently tap the iPhone with the connector facing down to remove excess liquid, and leave it somewhere airy before trying again.

Do not force wired charging while the warning is up, and skip the rice and the hairdryer. Retry once the port is dry, and allow up to a day. A wireless charger still works once the back is dry.

Accessory not supported

If the iPhone says “This accessory may not be supported,” the cable, adapter or dock is either damaged, dirty or not MFi-certified. Apple’s support page says to disconnect, inspect the connector for damage or debris, and try a different cable or adapter.

Third-party Lightning cables that are not MFi-certified can trigger this alert even when they look fine. A known-good Apple or certified cable usually clears it.

When to get it serviced

If you have worked through everything above and it still will not charge, the port or the battery may have failed, and that is a repair job. A physically damaged or corroded port, or a swollen battery, needs proper service.

Contact Apple or an authorised provider, and back up your data first if the iPhone still powers on.

The cable changed

Which cable does my iPhone need now?

Every iPhone from the 15 onwards charges through USB-C, not Lightning. That changes which cable and charger you reach for.

USB-C iPhones use the same Power Delivery chargers and cables as iPads and most laptops, so one good charger can cover several devices. The phone still negotiates its own speed, so a bigger charger does not force the iPhone to charge faster; it just leaves headroom for the rest of your kit.

If you are unsure whether your cable is the problem, our USB-C cables explained guide walks through what to look for, and the best USB-C cable for iPhone roundup lists cables we have checked.

Find your fix

Why is my iPhone not charging? Find your fix

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Habits

Do this, not that

The habits that keep an iPhone charging reliably, and the shortcuts that break one.

Keep reading

Where this page’s readers usually go next

Want to get ahead of the next problem? Browse all our charging guides and fixes.

Steps on this page follow Apple Support guidance, linked where each is first mentioned. See how we test and score.

Quick answers

iPhone not charging: your questions, answered

The questions readers ask most, with the direct answer first.