Why won’t my iPhone charge?

As it’s common to use an iPhone as a primary communication device it can be quite frustrating to deal with an iPhone not charging. Fortunately, in many instances you may be able to solve this problem quickly and easily yourself.

Let’s take a look at the most common issues preventing an iPhone from charging and what you can do right now to fix it.

Clean out your Lightning port

During daily use as our iPhones go in and out of pockets, purses, bags, etc. it’s easy for dust, lint, and more to build up in the Lightning port and prevent your iPhone from charging.

It’s typically best to use a non-metal utensil to gently remove any build up in your Lightning port. A plastic toothpick or dental pick both work well.

There are 8 pins in the Lightning port, make sure to avoid touching them. Also having someone shine a flashlight into the port can help. If you carry your iPhone in a pocket making sure the Lightning port is facing up can help reduce lint build up.

If you notice you have build up in your port but would rather not try to remove it yourself, or notice that there is pin damage, get in touch with Apple Support or an authorized service provider.

Try another Lightning cable

A faulty or damaged cable is another common cause for an iPhone not charging. Always use an official Apple or a certified MFi (made for iPhone) Lightning cable.

Typically Lightning cables wear out at the Lightning end and you may notice some discoloration like this:

New Lightning cable in good condition on the left next to a failed Lightning cable with discoloration on the right.

Try charging with a different Lightning cable. If you don’t have another one, Amazon offers an Apple Certified option in various lengths starting at $6.49, Anker has an Apple certified 3-pack for $19.99, and official Apple Lightning cables are about $20 each.

Try another charging brick or power source

A failed charging brick is less common but if you’re still not able to charge your iPhone try a different one and also try multiple outlets.

You can also plug your Lightning cable into your computer or another power source like a portable power bank or your vehicle. Apple recommends leaving your iPhone plugged in for 30 minutes as it may take some time turn back on.

Other possibilities

Give a shot to force restarting your iPhone:

• For iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus press and hold both the Sleep/Wake and Volume Down buttons for at least ten seconds, until you see the Apple logo.
• For iPhone 6s and earlier press and hold both the Sleep/Wake and Home buttons for at least ten seconds, until you see the Apple logo.

If you’re still not able to get your iPhone to charge, there may be battery, logic board, or other hardware problems and you’ll want to get in touch with Apple Support.

Check out our how to guide for more helpful articles and to get the most out of your Apple devices.