iPhone not charging? Try a different cable and power adapter, plug straight into a wall outlet, and gently clear any lint out of the charging port. Then restart the iPhone and leave it on the charger for 30 minutes.
If it charges but stops at 80%, nothing is broken. That’s Optimized Battery Charging or a Charge Limit, and you can change it in Settings → Battery.
Most charging problems come down to a worn cable, a dirty port or a setting that pauses charging on purpose. Work through these fixes in order. Each one takes a couple of minutes, and the first few solve most cases without a trip to a repair shop.
Why is my iPhone not charging?
Start by matching what you see to the likely cause. It saves you from trying fixes that don’t apply.
| What you see | Likely cause | Try |
|---|---|---|
| No charging at all | Cable, adapter, outlet or a blocked port | Fixes 1, 2 and 6 |
| Stops at 80% | Optimized Battery Charging, a Charge Limit or heat | Fix 3 |
| “Liquid Detected” or “Charging Not Available” | Moisture in the connector | Fix 4 |
| Works with a cable but not on a pad | Case, position or charger | Fix 5 |
| “Accessory may not be supported” | Damaged or uncertified accessory, dirty port | Fixes 1, 2 and 7 |
| Charges, but the battery drains fast | Aging battery | Fix 8 |
1. Check the cable, adapter and outlet
- Look closely at both ends of the cable and at the power adapter. Apple says to stop using any accessory that’s damaged.
- Plug the adapter into a wall outlet rather than a computer or power strip, and make sure every connection is firm.
- Try a different outlet, then a different cable and adapter if you have them.
- Leave the iPhone connected for half an hour before deciding it isn’t working.
A computer USB port or a busy multi-port charger can supply less power. Apple notes that chargers giving 7.5 watts or less charge slowly, and that iPhone 15 and later charge faster with a USB-C Power Delivery adapter.
2. Clean lint out of the charging port
Pocket lint packs into the port over time and stops the cable from seating fully. A common sign is a plug that feels loose or only works at an angle. Apple’s troubleshooting guide says to remove any debris from the charging port on the bottom of the iPhone, then plug the cable in firmly.
Use a light touch. Turn the iPhone off first and don’t push anything metal or sharp into the port, because you can bend or scratch the contacts.
3. Stuck at 80%? Check Optimized Battery Charging and Charge Limit
Optimized Battery Charging reduces battery wear by limiting the time your iPhone spends fully charged. It learns your routine and may pause at 80%, then finish closer to the time you usually unplug. It needs at least 14 days of learning, and at least 9 charges of 5 hours or more in one place, before it switches on.
- iPhone 15 and later: go to Settings → Battery → Charging. You can set a Charge Limit from 80% to 100% in 5% steps. Optimized Battery Charging is available when the limit is 100%.
- iPhone 14 and earlier: go to Settings → Battery → Battery Health & Charging.
- Need a full charge right now? When charging is delayed, a notification appears on the Lock Screen. Touch and hold it, then tap Charge Now.
Heat also holds charging at 80%. Apple says a warm iPhone may charge more slowly or pause, and that moving it somewhere cooler lets normal charging resume. Take it out of a thick case and off a sunny dashboard.
4. Fix a liquid detection alert
On iPhone XS, XR and later, the phone checks the port for moisture. If it finds any, you’ll see an alert such as Charging Not Available or Liquid Detected in USB-C Connector, and charging is blocked until everything is dry.
- Unplug the cable.
- Tap the iPhone gently against your hand with the port facing down to shake out excess liquid.
- Leave it in a dry spot with some airflow.
- After at least 30 minutes, try charging again.
- If the alert comes back, leave it to dry for up to a day. Apple says it can take up to 24 hours.
If the alert appears every time you connect an Apple cable or accessory, even when the phone has been dry for days, Apple says it might need service.
5. MagSafe and wireless charging problems
Every iPhone from iPhone 8 onward can charge on a Qi-certified pad. Apple recommends a MagSafe Charger or a Qi2-certified charger for faster wireless charging. If your iPhone isn’t charging on a pad, check these points:
- Unplug the USB cable. Apple says iPhone won’t charge wirelessly while it’s connected to USB.
- Take off a thick case, metal case or battery case, and remove anything between the phone and the charger, such as magnetic mounts or cards.
- Place the iPhone face up in the center of the pad.
- For MagSafe, connect the charger to power before you put the iPhone on it.
- Turn on Do Not Disturb at night. Vibrations from notifications can shift the phone off the charging spot.
6. Restart or force restart your iPhone
A restart clears software glitches that can stop charging. If the screen is black or shows only a battery icon, Apple suggests a force restart on iPhone 8 or later:
- Press and quickly release the volume up button.
- Press and quickly release the volume down button.
- Press and hold the side button until the Apple logo appears.
- Put it back on the charger for another 30 minutes.
7. Update iOS
Apple lists updating iOS as a fix for the “accessory may not be supported” alert. Go to Settings → General → Software Update and tap Download and Install if an update is available. Plug in and use Wi-Fi while it installs. If your iPhone won’t charge enough to update, try the update after the steps above have given you some battery.
8. Check Battery Health
A battery that charges fine but empties quickly is aging, not broken. Open Settings → Battery. On iPhone 15 and later, tap Battery Health; on earlier models, tap Battery Health & Charging. Look at Maximum Capacity, which compares your battery with when it was new.
Apple says iPhone 14 and earlier batteries are designed to keep 80% of their original capacity at 500 complete charge cycles, and iPhone 15 models at 1,000 cycles, under ideal conditions. Want to know what your number means in hours of use? Try our battery health calculator.
Runs in your browser: nothing you enter or choose is uploaded.
Your battery health appears here: a percentage, the wear, and whether it is time to replace it.
Example A laptop that shipped with 57,000 mWh
| Full charge now | 45,600 mWh |
|---|---|
| Battery health | 80% |
| Wear | 20%: fine for now |
9. When your iPhone needs a repair
If you’ve tried a known-good cable and adapter, cleaned the port, restarted and updated, and the iPhone still won’t charge, it may need service. Apple’s options in the US:
- In person: book the Genius Bar at an Apple Store or visit an Apple Authorized Service Provider.
- By mail: Apple can send a prepaid box to mail your iPhone in.
- AppleCare+: Apple replaces the battery at no extra charge if its capacity drops below 80%.
Apple’s repair page gives an estimate when you pick your model, though it says a technician has to inspect the phone for a final price. Back up first; see our iCloud storage full guide if the backup won’t fit.
Buying a used iPhone? Check Battery Health and test charging with your own cable before you pay. Our used phone checklist covers the rest.
More iPhone fixes are in our iPhone section.
FAQ
Why does my iPhone stop charging at 80%?
Usually Optimized Battery Charging or a Charge Limit, which protect the battery. Heat can also pause charging at 80%. Check Settings → Battery.
Why is my iPhone charging slowly?
A low-power adapter, a computer USB port, heat, or heavy use while charging (games, video streaming) all slow it down. Try a USB-C Power Delivery wall adapter.
Is it safe to put my iPhone in rice?
Apple’s liquid alert guidance is simply to tap out excess liquid and leave the iPhone in a dry area with airflow for up to a day.
Can I charge my iPhone with a non-Apple cable?
Yes, but a damaged or uncertified accessory can trigger the “accessory may not be supported” alert. If you see it, try a different cable or charger.
How do I know if my iPhone battery needs replacing?
Check Maximum Capacity in Settings → Battery → Battery Health. With AppleCare+, Apple replaces the battery at no extra charge below 80%.
Sources
- If your iPhone or iPod touch won't charge (Apple Support)
- About Charge Limit and Optimized Battery Charging on iPhone (Apple Support)
- If you see a liquid-detection alert on your iPhone (Apple Support)
- How to wirelessly charge your iPhone (Apple Support)
- About iPhone charge speeds (Apple Support)
- iPhone battery and performance (Apple Support)
- Apple Service and Repair for iPhone (Apple Support)
