You're using an iPhone, and you plug it in. You wait for the familiar chime. Nothing happens. Your lock screen still shows that 5% battery, and panic starts creeping in. Whether you're holding an iPhone 8 or the latest model, the moment when your iPhone isn't charging when plugged in can feel like a disaster waiting to happen.
But here's the good news: in most cases, your phone is perfectly fine. You won't need to spend €1000 on a replacement. The reality is that iPhone not charging when plugged in is usually caused by common charging issues with simple solutions. In this guide, we'll walk you through exactly why your iPhone won't charge and show you how to get it working again.
Why Your iPhone Won't Charge
When your iPhone that won't charge sits plugged in without responding, one of these common culprits is almost always responsible.
Your charging cable or charger is damaged. This is one of the most common charging issues. If your cable is frayed, your connector is bent, or your power adapter is broken, electricity simply won't reach your phone. Non-certified third-party chargers can also prevent your iPhone from charging effectively — you're better off sticking with quality cables or official Apple options.
Lint and debris block your iPhone's charging port. Pocket lint loves hiding in your iPhone's charging port. Over time, this buildup prevents your cable from fully seating into the phone's charging port, breaking the connection between your charger and phone. In fact, a blocked charging port causes one of the most common charging problems about 9 times out of 10. The fix? A simple cleaning often works wonders.
Software glitches are preventing charging. Sometimes the problem isn't hardware at all. A software glitch or iOS bug can prevent your iPhone from recognizing the charger. Your phone might not be charging because a background process hangs, or something could go wrong after an iOS update. Have you ever needed to restart your iPhone to get charging working again? You're definitely not alone.
Temperature issues are pausing your charge. iPhones are smart about protecting their batteries. If your device gets too hot, it will stop charging to prevent damage. Your iPhone might pause charging at 80% — that's actually Optimized Battery Charging doing its job. Charging in freezing temperatures can also cause your phone's charging to pause temporarily.
Your battery is degrading. An aging battery won't charge like it used to. If your iPhone's battery health has dropped significantly, your device might charge very slowly, hold a charge poorly, or charge only intermittently. We'll talk more about battery health in just a moment.
Water damage or physical damage prevents charging. Think back — was your iPhone exposed to water recently, or did it take a hard fall? Water damage or a bent phone's charging port can absolutely stop the charging process. iPhones are designed to detect liquid and will refuse to charge until everything is dry. It's a smart safety feature that prevents corrosion and damage to your phone.
The takeaway? Most faulty charging issues are fixable. Don't panic. Your iPhone is probably still fine.
How to Get Your iPhone Charging Again
Ready to fix your iPhone charging problems? Start with the simplest solutions and work your way up. In most cases, you'll get your battery icon showing that lightning bolt sooner than you think. Let's try to get your iPhone to start charging today.
Step 1: Try a Different Cable and Charger
This is the most obvious step, but it's crucial. Your iPhone charger cable and adapter have rough lives — they get bent, stepped on, left in hot cars. Try a different cable and see if your iPhone to start charging resumes.
Grab a cable and charger you know work (borrow a friend's official Apple charger if needed) and plug in your iPhone. If your iPhone still won't charge with the original cable but charges with a different one, you've found your problem — your old cable is damaged.
If the problem persists with the same cable but disappears with a different charger adapter, your original power adapter is faulty. Always rule out cable or charger issues first before assuming there's deeper damage to your phone.
Step 2: Clean the Charging Port
Grab a flashlight and look inside your iPhone's charging port. See any fluff or dirt buildup? Pocket lint accumulates until your lightning or USB-C cable won't click in properly, preventing your iPhone battery from charging.
Here's how to clean the phone's charging port safely:
Power off your iPhone completely. Take a wooden or plastic toothpick (never use metal — it can damage your device). Gently and carefully dislodge any lint or debris from your iPhone's charging port. Work slowly and don't force anything. After cleaning, try plugging in your cable and see if it seats fully. Push the connector all the way in until you feel that snug click.
You might be surprised by how much lint comes out. And you'll likely be even more surprised when your iPhone to charge resumes normally. Cleaning your charging port can prevent your iPhone from charging issues before they start.
Step 3: Restart Your iPhone
When in doubt, restart. A software glitch could be preventing your device from recognizing the charger. Do a quick reboot to clear any minor software crash that might stop charging.
For newer iPhones, try a force restart: press Volume Up, then press Volume Down, then hold the side button until the Apple logo appears on your lock screen.
For older models, hold the top button (or home button on iPhone 8 or older) until you see the power-off slider, then swipe to turn it off completely.
It sounds simple, but restarting fixes faulty charging issues regularly. If your battery was completely drained, you might need to leave your iPhone plugged in for a few minutes before it has enough power to boot up. Then restart and see if charging works normally again.
Step 4: Check For On-Screen Messages
Unplug your iPhone, then try plugging it back in while watching your lock screen carefully. Look for any warning messages that might explain why your iPhone isn't charging when plugged in.
"Accessory Not Supported"? This typically means your lightning or USB-C cable isn't MFi-certified or your phone's charging port might be damaged.
"Liquid Detected in Lightning Connector"? Your iPhone has found moisture. Disconnect immediately and let everything dry completely before trying again. Your phone might temporarily refuse to charge as a protection feature. Find a warm, dry place and wait — don't force it or try to charge while exposed to water.
Your iPhone's alerts are telling you exactly what's preventing your iPhone from charging. Pay attention to them.
Step 5: Test Charging Your iPhone Wirelessly
If you're using an iPhone 8 or later, you can try charging your iPhone wirelessly. Set your iPhone on a wireless charger pad. Does it start charging?
If yes, that's actually good news. It tells you your iPhone battery is working fine, but something is wrong with your charging port or cable. Some people with damage to your phone's charging port use wireless charging as a temporary solution while they arrange a professional repair.
Step 6: Update iOS and Check Battery Settings
If you've tried everything above and your iPhone still won't charge, dig deeper into software solutions.
First, make sure your iOS is completely up to date. Apple regularly releases updates that fix charging bugs. Some earlier iOS versions had issues where restarting was necessary to resume normal charging.
Next, go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging. Look at your battery settings carefully.
Optimized Battery Charging might be slowing your charge intentionally. Try turning it off temporarily to test if it's preventing normal charging. Clean Energy Charging might be delaying when your device charges to off-peak hours — turn this off too if it's enabled. These features are helpful for battery longevity, but sometimes they prevent your iPhone from charging when you need it most. You can always turn them back on after troubleshooting.
When It's Time to Call for Help
If your iPhone that won't charge remains unresponsive after all these steps, you likely have a deeper hardware problem. It's time to contact Apple Support or visit an Apple Store for professional diagnosis. They can run tests to confirm your phone's status and suggest repair or replacement options if needed.
Should You Replace Your Battery or Your iPhone?
You've worked through the troubleshooting, but your iPhone still might not be charging properly. Maybe it charges only sometimes, or maybe your iPhone battery not charging has become a constant problem. How do you know when it's time for a battery replacement or a new phone?
Check Your Battery Health First
Your iPhone actually tells you when your battery needs replacement. Go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging and look at the Maximum Capacity percentage.
A healthy, new battery sits close to 100%. Over years of use, this number drops — that's completely normal. But when it falls to 80% or below, that's Apple's own recommendation for replacing your battery. Below charging at 80% capacity, your battery might not reliably hold a charge or supply peak power when your iPhone needs it most.
Consider Your iPhone's Age and Usage
How old is your iPhone? If it's just one or two years old and won't charge properly, that's unusual. You might have a warranty case or a defective unit that's able to charge only with specific conditions.
But if your iPhone is four, five, or six years old? Your iPhone battery is probably just worn out. Most iPhone batteries are rated for about 500 full charge cycles on older models, or up to 1000 cycles on the newest models before they drop below 80% capacity. Heavy daily use speeds up this degradation process.
If you're using an iPhone that's been serving since the iPhone 6s or 7 era, a battery replacement could feel like getting a new device. Many people are amazed at how much better their old iPhone performs with a new battery. No more jumping from 15% straight to dead.
The Real Cost Comparison
Here's where the math gets interesting. Replacing an iPhone battery is far cheaper than buying a brand-new phone. A professional battery replacement typically costs around €65 for older models and up to €119 for the latest models. Compare that to €900+ for a brand-new device.
Spending roughly €100 on a new battery can extend your iPhone's life by another 2-3 years. That's a huge financial win and good for the environment too, since you're avoiding electronic waste from throwing away a functional phone.
If your iPhone is otherwise in good shape and you're happy with it, replacing the battery almost always makes financial sense.
When a New iPhone Makes More Sense
There are times when upgrading makes more sense than repairing. If your iPhone has multiple problems beyond just not charging — a cracked screen, a failing camera, or it's so old that iOS updates are ending — then you might want to upgrade instead.
An older model iPhone, like the iPhone 6 or 6s, is stuck on very old software. Even with a new battery installed, it won't gain 5G connectivity or a better camera. If the repair bill climbs to a significant fraction of what a newer phone costs, moving on might be smarter financially.
Consider a Refurbished iPhone
You don't need to buy the latest model at full price. A refurbished iPhone can be a smart, cost-effective option — and it solves your charging problems completely since you'll get a device with a fresh battery installed. A quality refurbished phone comes with a brand new battery, so you don't have to worry about battery health issues.
Refurbished iPhones on Remobile come with strong warranties and return windows, plus you're saving roughly 50% compared to buying new. If your current phone is five years old and struggling with common charging issues, upgrading to a slightly newer refurbished model might save you money long-term compared to multiple repairs on the aging device. You'll get your iPhone back into working condition without the premium price tag.
The Bottom Line
If your iPhone won't charge because of a simple issue like a faulty charging cable or a dirty phone's charging port, you can fix that today without spending much money. If it's not charging because the battery is worn out, that's also fixable — battery replacement is affordable and often fantastic compared to buying a new iPhone.
Replace your battery when health drops to around 80%, especially if you're experiencing unexpected shutdowns or dramatically faster battery drain. If your iPhone is very old or has several hardware problems, then it's time to shop for a newer model or a certified refurbished unit that won't break your budget.
The goal is keeping you connected without stress. Sometimes that means a quick DIY fix to get your iPhone charging, sometimes a visit to a repair shop, and sometimes an upgrade to a device that better fits your needs. Now you know what's likely causing your common charging issues — and you have real solutions to get the power flowing again.