Experiencing your phone refusing to charge can be incredibly frustrating. If your iPhone or iPod touch isn’t charging, is charging slowly, or you’re seeing a warning message, you’re in the right place. This guide will walk you through the common reasons why your phone might not be charging and provide step-by-step solutions to get you powered up again.
Basic Steps to Charge Your Phone
Before diving into troubleshooting, let’s ensure you’re using the correct method to charge your device:
- Connect with the USB Cable: Use the USB cable that came with your iPhone or iPod touch.
- Choose a Power Source: Plug the other end of the cable into one of these reliable power sources:
Wall Power Outlet
For the fastest and most reliable charging, use a wall power outlet. Connect your USB charging cable to a USB power adapter and then plug the adapter firmly into a working wall socket. This method generally provides the most consistent power delivery for charging your phone.
Computer USB Port
You can also charge your phone by connecting it to a USB 2.0 or 3.0 port on a computer that is turned on and not in sleep mode. Make sure to avoid using USB ports found on keyboards, as these often provide insufficient power for charging.
Certified Power Accessories
Utilizing powered USB hubs, docking stations, or other accessories that are officially Apple-certified ensures compatibility and safe charging. Using non-certified accessories can sometimes lead to charging issues or even damage your device.
If you are attempting to charge an iPhone 8 or later model wirelessly, first verify that charging works with a USB cable. If cable charging is successful, then you can explore troubleshooting steps for wireless charging issues. Always ensure any third-party wireless chargers are also Apple certified for optimal performance and safety.
When your phone is successfully charging, you should see a lightning bolt icon appear within the battery icon in the status bar at the top of your screen. Alternatively, on the Lock Screen, a large battery icon will be displayed, visually confirming that your device is receiving power.
My Phone Still Won’t Charge – Troubleshooting Steps
If your phone isn’t charging even when plugged in, follow these troubleshooting steps, trying to charge again after each step:
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Restart Your Device: A simple restart can often resolve minor software glitches that might be preventing charging. Restart your iPhone or iPod touch.
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Inspect Charging Cable and Adapter for Damage: Carefully examine your charging cable and USB adapter for any visible signs of damage. Look for fraying, breakage, bent prongs, or any other irregularities. Damaged accessories can be hazardous and should not be used.
Image of a USB-C to Lightning cable and a USB-C power adapter, showing typical charging components. -
Check Power Outlet and Connections: Ensure you are using a working wall power outlet. Test the outlet with another device if possible. Also, double-check that all connections are firm and secure – between the charging cable and the USB wall adapter, and between the adapter and the wall outlet or AC power cable. Trying a different wall outlet can also help rule out any issues with the power source itself.
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Clean the Charging Port: Debris, lint, or dust can accumulate in the charging port at the bottom of your phone, preventing a proper connection. Carefully inspect the port and remove any visible debris. You can use a non-metallic, anti-static tool or a can of compressed air to gently clean the port. After cleaning, firmly plug your charging cable into your device again.
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Allow Sufficient Charging Time: Sometimes a phone battery can be deeply discharged. Let your device charge for at least half an hour to see if it begins to power on.
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Force Restart Your Device: If your phone remains unresponsive or only displays a battery icon, try force restarting it while it’s still plugged in. The force restart process varies depending on your iPhone or iPod touch model:
- iPhone 8 or later and iPhone SE (2nd generation and later): Press and quickly release the Volume Up button, then press and quickly release the Volume Down button. Finally, press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears.
- iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, and iPod touch (7th generation): Press and hold both the Side (or Top) button and the Volume Down button simultaneously until you see the Apple logo.
- iPhone 6s or earlier, iPhone SE (1st generation), and iPod touch (6th generation) or earlier: Press and hold both the Side (or Top) button and the Home button at the same time until the Apple logo appears.
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Charge for Another Half Hour: After force restarting, allow your device to charge for another 30 minutes to see if it starts to gain power.
If, after trying all these steps, your phone still won’t power on or charge, it may indicate a more serious hardware issue. In this case, you might need to seek professional service. Get support from Apple.
Why Does My Phone Stop Charging at 80%?
If you notice your iPhone charging up to 80 percent and then stopping, this is likely due to Optimized Battery Charging, a feature introduced in iOS 13 and later. This intelligent feature is designed to prolong the lifespan of your battery by reducing the time your iPhone spends fully charged.
Your iPhone learns your daily charging habits using on-device machine learning. It predicts when you’ll need to use your phone and intelligently waits to complete charging past 80 percent until closer to that time. Optimized Battery Charging is only active when your iPhone anticipates being connected to a charger for an extended period, typically overnight.
Additionally, your iPhone battery might get slightly warm while charging. If the battery temperature rises too high, the software might temporarily limit charging above 80% to protect the battery’s health and lifespan. Charging will resume once the temperature decreases. Try moving your iPhone and charger to a cooler environment to facilitate charging beyond 80% if this occurs.
For iPhone 15 models and later, there’s also a charge limit feature that allows you to set a maximum charging level, which might be set to 80%. If you want your iPhone 15 or later model to charge beyond 80%, you will need to adjust or disable this charging limit in your battery settings.
Learn more about charge limit on iPhone 15 models and later.
“Accessory Not Supported or Certified” Alert
Seeing an “Accessory Not Supported” or “Accessory Not Certified” alert message can be caused by several factors:
- Dirty or Damaged Charging Port: As mentioned earlier, debris in the charging port can cause connection issues and trigger this alert.
- Defective, Damaged, or Non-Apple Certified Accessory: Your charging cable, adapter, or accessory might be faulty, damaged, or not officially certified by Apple. Non-certified accessories may not meet Apple’s quality and safety standards, leading to compatibility issues.
- Incompatible USB Charger: The USB charger you are using might not be designed to provide adequate power for charging your iPhone or iPod touch.
To troubleshoot this alert:
- Clean the Charging Port: Begin by carefully cleaning any lint or debris from the charging port on the bottom of your device, as described in the previous section.
- Restart Your Device: Restarting your iPhone or iPod touch can sometimes clear temporary software glitches causing accessory detection problems.
- Try a Different USB Cable and Charger: Test with a different USB cable and charger, preferably ones that you know are working correctly and are Apple certified. This will help determine if the issue lies with your original accessories.
- Update iOS to the Latest Version: Ensure your iPhone or iPod touch is running the latest version of iOS. Software updates often include improvements to accessory compatibility and charging system stability.
Further Information
* Note that information about your Optimized Battery Charging routine is stored solely on your iPhone. This data is not included in device backups and is not shared with Apple, ensuring your privacy.
