The most common reasons your iPhone stops charging
Your iPhone won't charge because of one of five things: the cable or adapter is damaged, the charging port is blocked or corroded, the battery itself has failed, your phone is too hot or too cold to charge safely, or a software problem is preventing the charging circuit from working. Most of the time it is the cable — Apple Lightning cables fray and fail faster than people expect, and a frayed cable looks fine from a distance but does not make good contact inside the port.
The second most common culprit is lint, dust, or corrosion in the charging port itself. If you have ever charged your phone in a pocket or a dusty bag, or if the port has been exposed to moisture, debris builds up inside and blocks the metal contacts from touching the adapter pins. This looks like nothing is wrong with the phone, but the connection never completes.
Less often, the battery has straightforward worn out — lithium batteries degrade over time, and if your iPhone is more than three or four years old, the battery may no longer hold a charge or accept one. You can check this yourself by going to Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging and looking at the Maximum Capacity number. If it is below 80 percent, the battery is degraded.
Key Takeaways
- Before you do anything else, try a different Lightning cable and a different power adapter, because the cable fails far more often than the phone does.
- If the phone still will not charge, look inside the charging port with a flashlight for lint, dust, or green corrosion, and clean it gently with a dry cotton swab or a wooden toothpick — never metal.
- Check your battery health in Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging; if Maximum Capacity is below 80 percent, the battery needs replacement.
- If your phone is very hot or very cold, let it reach room temperature before charging, because iPhones refuse to charge outside their safe operating range.
- If none of these steps work, the charging circuit inside the phone may be damaged, and you will need service from Apple or an authorized repair shop.
Test with a different cable and adapter first
Start here because this solves the problem about half the time. Use a Lightning cable and power adapter you know work with another device — ideally an iPad or another iPhone. Plug the cable into the adapter, plug the adapter into the wall, and connect the cable to your phone. Wait two minutes. If the phone charges, your original cable or adapter is the problem, and you need a replacement.
If you do not have another cable and adapter to test with, borrow one from a friend or family member. Do not buy a replacement yet — you need to know which part is broken before you spend money. If the borrowed cable and adapter work, the problem was your original equipment. If they do not work, the problem is your phone.
Clean the charging port if you see debris
Use a flashlight and look straight into the charging port at the bottom of your phone. You are looking for lint, dust, or a green or white crusty coating. If you see any of these, the port is blocked and needs cleaning.
Turn off your phone completely. Use a dry cotton swab or a wooden toothpick — never a metal object, because metal conducts electricity and can damage the port or short-circuit the phone. Gently scrape or swab the inside of the port, working slowly and carefully. Do this for about 30 seconds, then try charging again with a cable you know works.
If you see green or white corrosion, the port has been exposed to moisture. Cleaning may help, but corrosion often means the port contacts are permanently damaged. If cleaning does not work, the phone needs professional service.
Check your battery health and temperature
Go to Settings, tap Battery, then tap Battery Health & Charging. Look at the Maximum Capacity number. This tells you what percentage of the battery's original capacity remains. If it is 80 percent or higher, the battery is still healthy. If it is below 80 percent, the battery is degraded and no longer holds a full charge — this is normal wear, not a defect, but it means the battery should be replaced.
Also check the Charging section on the same screen. If you see a message saying "Charging Unavailable" or "This accessory is not supported," your phone is either too hot, too cold, or detecting a problem with the charger. If your phone feels hot to the touch, let it cool down to room temperature before trying again. If it is cold — for example, if you just brought it in from outside in winter — let it warm up for 15 to 20 minutes before charging.
Force restart your phone to clear software problems
Sometimes the charging circuit gets stuck in a bad state and a restart fixes it. The method depends on which iPhone model you have. On iPhone 8 and newer, quickly press and release the Volume Up button, then quickly press and release the Volume Down button, then press and hold the Side button until the phone powers off and the Apple logo appears. This takes about 10 seconds. Let go and let the phone restart.
On iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, press and hold the Volume Down button and the Side button together until the power-off slider appears, then drag it to power off. Wait 30 seconds, then press the Side button to turn it back on. On iPhone 6s and earlier, press and hold the Top (or Side) button and the Home button together until the Apple logo appears.
After the restart, try charging with a cable and adapter you know work. If the phone charges, the problem was a software glitch.
When to seek professional repair
If you have tried a different cable and adapter, cleaned the port, checked your battery health, let the phone reach room temperature, and done a force restart, and the phone still will not charge, the problem is inside the phone. This could be a failed charging circuit, a damaged battery that cannot be reset, or corrosion on the internal charging components.
Contact Apple Support or visit an Apple Store to set up a repair. If your phone is under warranty or covered by AppleCare+, the repair may be free or low-cost. If not, battery replacement usually costs between $50 and $70, and charging circuit repair costs more. An authorized third-party repair shop may charge less, but verify they use genuine or high-quality parts before you agree.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I charge my iPhone with a non-Apple cable?
Yes. Any cable with a Lightning connector will work, and many third-party cables are reliable. The problem is that cheap cables fail quickly and can damage the port. If you buy a third-party cable, choose one from a brand with good reviews and avoid the cheapest options.
Is it bad to charge my iPhone overnight?
No. Modern iPhones stop charging once they reach 100 percent and switch to a trickle charge to maintain the level. Overnight charging does not damage the battery. However, keeping the phone plugged in all the time, every day, does wear the battery faster than normal use. If you want to extend battery life, unplug the phone once it reaches 100 percent.
Why does my iPhone say "Charging Unavailable" even with a working cable?
This message means the phone is too hot, too cold, or detecting a problem with the charger. Let the phone cool or warm to room temperature first. If the message persists with a cable you know works on other devices, the charging circuit may be damaged and needs professional service.
Can I replace the battery myself?
You can, but it is difficult and risky. Opening the phone requires special tools, and if you damage the battery during removal, it can catch fire. Apple and authorized repair shops have the right tools and training. Unless you have done phone repairs before, professional service is safer and often not much more expensive.