iPhone won't charge anymore? Here's how to find the cause and fix it

Does your iPhone no longer charge, or does charging only work now and then? Often the cause lies in the charging cable, the adapter or the charging port, and you can fix the problem yourself. Sometimes it runs deeper — in the battery or in moisture. Below you'll read why your iPhone or phone no longer charges, what you can try yourself, and when it's better to have your device checked. The tips apply to any Apple phone.

Why won't your iPhone charge? The most common causes

If your iPhone isn't charging, there are several possible causes. Each cause needs its own solution. These are the most common:

• Faulty cable or adapter — a damaged charging cable or an adapter that no longer supplies power is the most common cause. If your iPhone shows that it's charging but won't turn on, that's often due to a poor-quality cable or power supply.
• A counterfeit charger — use only an original charger. A fake or non-original charger may charge weakly or not at all, and can damage your device. If your iPhone charges very slowly, replace the charger first.
• Software glitch — when charging starts, the charging chip is first controlled by software, and only then does power flow to the battery. A software glitch can block that process; a restart often solves this.
• Dirty charging port — dirt that collects in the charging port disrupts the connection between the cable and the device. This is one of the most common causes.
• Worn battery or faulty charging chip — if the problem lies in the battery itself or in the chip that sends power to the battery, professional inspection is needed.
• Moisture damage — if your iPhone has come into contact with moisture, the charging port or the logic board can get damaged and charging stops.

What can you do yourself if your iPhone no longer charges?

Work through the steps below one by one. In many cases, your iPhone will simply charge again afterwards.

1. Check the cable and the adapter

First test the charger and the power supply: they may have given out and no longer supply power.

• Visual inspection — check the cable for visible damage, such as tears or breaks.
• Test with a different set — try a different cable and adapter to see if the problem disappears.
• Use an original charger — avoid counterfeit chargers; they can damage your iPhone.

2. Clean the charging port

Carefully remove dirt from the charging port. The connector holds important contacts, so proceed as carefully as possible: use a dry toothpick or another soft, non-metal object and then gently blow out the port. If you're unsure, or afraid of causing damage, leave the cleaning to a repair technician.

3. Restart your iPhone

If your iPhone isn't charging due to a software glitch, a restart often helps. Turn the device off, wait a few seconds and turn it back on. Then try charging again.

4. Find the cause and act on it

If none of the steps above solve the problem, the cause is likely deeper — in the battery, the charging port or the logic board. In that case, a full diagnosis is needed to find the main problem; there may be several issues at once.

Still no charging? FIXNOW is here to help

If these steps don't help, everything points to a hardware problem — usually a worn battery, a faulty charging port or moisture damage. FIXNOW's technicians identify the cause and fix it, whether it's an iPhone 11, 12, 13, 14 or 15.

• Is the battery worn out? Check the price for your model at iPhone battery replacement — for example for the iPhone 11, iPhone 13 or iPhone 13 Pro.
• Has your iPhone come into contact with moisture? Check out iPhone water damage repair.
• Not sure about the cause? An overview of all repairs is on iPhone repair.
• Book an appointment at our store in Antwerp or Wolvertem.
• Prefer not to come by? You can also mail in your device; you'll find the shipping terms there.

Frequently asked questions

Why won't my iPhone charge anymore?

The most common causes are a faulty charging cable or adapter, a counterfeit charger, a dirty charging port or a software glitch. Work through the steps above to find the cause: test a different cable and adapter, use an original charger, clean the charging port and restart the device. If that doesn't help, the problem is probably in the battery, the charging port or the logic board.

My iPhone is completely dead and won't turn on — what now?

A fully drained battery sometimes needs a little time before the device responds again. Connect the iPhone to a working charger and wait for the charging symbol to appear. If nothing happens after that, test a different cable and adapter and clean the charging port. If the screen stays black, the battery or the charging port is probably faulty, and you should have the device checked.

My iPhone charges very slowly — why is that?

If your iPhone charges noticeably slowly, too little power is coming in. This is often due to a worn or non-original cable or adapter, or a dirty charging port. First replace the charger with an original one and clean the port. If nothing changes, the battery may be worn or the charging chip damaged.

My iPhone says it's charging but won't turn on — what does that mean?

If your iPhone shows that it's charging while it won't turn on, this is often caused by a poor-quality cable or power supply. First test a different, original cable and adapter. If the device stays off, the battery is probably too depleted or faulty, and professional inspection is recommended.

When should I have my iPhone's battery replaced?

If your iPhone still doesn't charge properly after all the steps above, or barely holds a charge, the battery usually needs replacing. FIXNOW replaces iPhone batteries on older to recent models. Check the price for your model at iPhone battery replacement.