iPhone Not Charging — 6 Fixes That Work

Before You Start

Confirm the charging icon (lightning bolt) is absent and battery percentage is not increasing. Also confirm the cable is fully inserted.

Fix 1: Clean the Charging Port

Use a wooden toothpick or plastic pick (not metal) to gently remove lint from the port. Pocket lint compressing over time is the #1 cause of intermittent iPhone charging failures.

Fix 2: Try a Different Cable and Charger

Test with an Apple-certified (MFi) cable and a known-working power adapter. Non-certified cables may fit but fail to complete the handshake.

Fix 3: Restart Your iPhone

Hold Volume Down + Side button until the Apple logo appears (iPhone 8 and later). A software glitch can prevent the charging circuit from being recognized.

Fix 4: Update iOS

Settings → General → Software Update. Some iOS versions had charging-related bugs fixed in point releases.

Fix 5: Check for Water Damage Alert

If you see “Charging Not Available — Liquid Detected,” wait 30 minutes for the port to dry. Use MagSafe wireless charging in the meantime.

Fix 6: Try Wireless Charging

iPhone 8 and later support Qi wireless charging. If wireless works but wired does not, the port is damaged — book a Genius Bar appointment.