Table of Contents
Initial Troubleshooting Steps
Begin by going through a list of general fixes that might solve the issue. These are less complex solutions that anyone can try at home before diving into further troubleshooting. They include:
Restart the Device
If you have not already, try giving your iPhone a simple restart. Sometimes, this step can easily solve minor software issues that were previously preventing your phone from charging properly such as unresponsive applications or uncompleted updates.
Shut Down Your iPhone Before Charging
In some cases, a complete shutdown of your iPhone before you charge it can indeed fix the problem. This might be helpful as it allows all running applications to completely stop, potentially fixing any application causing the battery not to charge.
Check Battery Health
Your iPhone's battery health can also influence its charging process. To check this, navigate to Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging. Here you will be able to see if your battery is at peak performance capability.
Check for Software Update
Lastly, you may want to check if there's an available software update. Sometimes, the not charging issue might be due to an iOS glitch that can be resolved by updating the software on your device. Simply go to Settings > General > Software Update. If you see a pending update, download and install it.
Hard Reboot iPhone
If the initial troubleshooting steps do not work, it may be necessary to force your phone to restart, or hard reboot. This can resolve more complex software or operating system issues that may be preventing your iPhone from charging. Follow the steps below depending on your iPhone model:
For iPhone 8 and Later
Press and release the Volume Up button, followed by the Volume Down button. Then, press and hold the Power button until the Apple logo pops up on screen. Once you see the Apple logo, release the power button.
For iPhone 6s or Older and iPhone 7
If you have an iPhone 6s or older, press and hold the Home button together with the Power button until the Apple logo is shown. For the iPhone 7, use the Volume Down button instead of the Home button. After the Apple logo appears, let go of the buttons, and try charging your iPhone again.
Cables and Adapters
If you're still experiencing charging issues, the problem may lie not with your iPhone's software or operating system but instead with its hardware. In this case, you'll need to consider the following:
Check Cables and Adapter for Damage
Give your cables and USB adapter a thorough look to identify any signs of damage such as fraying or bent prongs. Damaged accessories may not offer a reliable connection, which could be the reason behind the 'not charging' problem. Make sure to use undamaged accessories for charging your iPhone.
Use Apple-Matched Chargers
Quality matters when it comes to your iPhone. It's always best to use official Apple-matched chargers for your iPhone to ensure the optimal charging of the device. Cheap chargers from unreliable sources may not only cause charging issues but can also harm the long-term health of your battery.
Battery Replacement If Needed
If all else fails, and your iPhone still can't charge, you may have to consider getting a battery replacement. Though it can be a bit pricey, it is a more definitive solution to your charging problem if it is indeed a hardware issue. Plan a visit to the Apple Store or an Apple Authorised Service Provider for evaluation and possible battery replacement.
Dealing with a Slow or Non-Charging Device
When all other measures have been exhausted, and you're still dealing with an unresponsive or slow charging device, follow these steps:
Inspect the Charging Port for Debris
One possible cause of charging issues is blocked or dirty charging ports. Use a soft brush to gently remove any debris from the charging port on the bottom of your device. Plug your charging cable firmly into your device.
Force Restart
If your device continues to be unresponsive, try a force restart. This process differs depending on the iPhone model you have, but generally, it involves pressing and quickly releasing the volume buttons and then holding the side or home button until you see the Apple logo.
Contact Apple Support
Finally, if your device still won't turn on or charge after trying all the suggested solutions, take your device, charging cable, and charging adapter to an Apple Store or Apple Authorised Service Provider for evaluation. You can also contact Apple Support for further assistance.
Special Features in iOS 17
iOS 17 has specific features aimed at battery health and efficient charging. However, during troubleshooting, you may need to disable these features to ascertain if they might be causing the charging issue with your iPhone.
Disable Optimized Battery Charging and Clean Energy Charging
To disable Optimized Battery Charging and Clean Energy Charging features, head to Settings, tap on Battery, then Battery Health and Charging. Here, ensure that both Optimized Battery Charging and Clean Energy Charging are switched off. These features, while designed to optimize your phone's battery health, may occasionally interfere with normal charging.
Re-enable These Features If No Improvement Is Observed
Having disabled the aforementioned features, if you notice no improvement in the device's charging capability, it would be best to re-enable them. The features are designed to improve overall battery health and longevity, so unless they are definitively causing an issue with charging, it's best to keep them enabled.
Additional Tweaks
There are other tweaks you can also consider in order to improve power efficiency, hence indirectly addressing the charging issue.
Screen Brightness and Wi-fi Assist
Lowering your screen brightness or disabling Wi-fi Assist (a feature using cellular data when your Wi-fi connection is weak), may significantly help with battery life. Wi-fi Assist can be disabled by going to Settings > Cellular, and scrolling down to the button to turn off Wi-fi Assist.
Reset Network Settings
Another tweak that could help is resetting your network settings. While it may not be immediately clear how this benefits battery life, it could indirectly resolve charging issues if they are linked to any network-related complications. Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings.
Use Dark Mode
Lastly, consider using Dark Mode. It is a simple change that has been found to make a huge difference in power consumption, hence indirectly helping with charging issues.
Advanced Troubleshooting Methods
If you've tried all of the above and your phone is still not charging, consider exploring some advanced troubleshooting methods. They involve a more in-depth approach to resolving the charging issue, such as resetting your phone to factory settings and monitoring individual apps for battery drain.
Reset Phone to Factory Settings
Occasionally, the only way to fix charging issues could be resetting your phone to its original factory settings. Before proceeding with this step, make sure to back up all essential data because this process will erase everything on your iPhone. Navigate to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone and then select Reset. Tap on 'Erase all content and settings' to start the factory reset process.
Restoring iPhone from a Backup
After resetting your phone, you can typically restore your data from a previous backup. This step allows you to keep all your valuable data while also enabling a fresh start for your iPhone's system. Remember to use a backup created before the charging issue started to avoid reintroducing the same problem.
Consider if Any Application is Affecting Battery Life
Another potential cause of charging issues could be a rogue app that significantly drains the battery. Track down misbehaving apps by going to Settings > Battery. Here, you will see a list of apps and their corresponding battery usage data. Tapping on an app also reveals its on-screen and background power usage.
Watch out for apps with significant background activity compared to screen activity. These could be draining your battery faster than it charges. If this is the case, consider disabling the app's background activity. Also, look out for any rapidly falling battery charge, which could indicate poor battery performance.
