iPhone or iPad Not Charging?: Here’s What You Do

Apple sold more than 217 million iPhones in 2018, the fourth year in a row they had exceeded 200 million units in sales. iPad sales are less, at around 40 million per year, but that’s still an impressive number of units in operation.

The good side of having so many users is that when you have a problem with your device there’s usually someone who has experienced the same issue before, and they’ll be willing to share their fixes.

One common problem Apple users find is their iPhone or iPad not charging. If that’s the problem you’re facing, here are some solutions to try.

Is Your iPad Not Charging?

Before you get too concerned, the first thing to check is if there really is a charging problem. Begin with the basics – is the charging cable connected securely at both ends? If you’ve connected it to an adaptor, is the power turned on?

Can you see the lightning symbol next to the battery on the display? That indicates that the phone thinks it is charging. If you’re using the phone or iPad, it could be that you’re draining charge faster than it can recharge it. Stop using it for a while and see if that helps.

Your devices may just be charging more slowly than usual if you are using a Mac or laptop, as they don’t have the same output as a socket charger.

It’s also worth checking that you are using the right adaptor. Apple makes two different types: a 5W model, shipped with iPhones and Apple watches, and a 12W model for iPads. If you’re using a 5W to charge your iPad, it will charge more slowly.

Assuming that your device still has some charge, try performing a hard reset. You can do this by holding down the power button and the home button at the same time until you see the Apple logo flash, this can take as long as 30 seconds so be patient. You might find charging starts again after the restart, if not move to step two.

Wireless Charging

Newer models of the iPhone and iPad use a wireless charger. If your device isn’t charging this way, try taking off any cases and see if that helps.

Your phone may move on the surface of the charger as alerts come in, and that could shift them away from the charging zone. Apple has provided some troubleshooting information on its website for wireless charging.

If the charger is new, check that you have bought a Qi-enabled model. If it isn’t, then it won’t work to charge your iPhone or iPad.

Check the Cables

Charging cables can get quite easily broken, so the next step would be to look for obvious damage to the cables. This most frequently happens near the ends, where the cable bends as it comes out of the device or charger. Even if you can’t see obvious damage, it’s worth trying another iPhone charger cable.

If the display on your iPad says not charging, or you get a message saying the USB device is not recognized, it could be a quality issue with your cable. If you’ve bought a cable that isn’t MFi certified, it may not operate correctly as it hasn’t been manufactured to the same high standards as certified products.

These cables can also cause your phone to overheat, so it’s advisable to use certified products.

Fluff in the Lightning Port

If you have your phone in your pocket, or inside your handbag, then dust and dirt can make their way into the lightning port. If there’s enough of it, it can cause a problem with charging.

The best way to clean out the port is to use a static free brush, however, if you don’t have one at hand you could use a new toothbrush or toothpick to clean out the port. Hopefully, once you have a tiny ball of lint recovered, your phone will charge again.

Software Issues

Does your device have the latest version of the iOS installed? If not, then take the time to install the update now. An issue with the software is one reason an iPhone won’t charge.

If you are up to date, then you could consider restoring your iPhone or iPad from a backup. You can do this from iTunes or the iCloud, but be aware you will lose any data on your phone since you last backed up.

Our advice would be to restore from iTunes because it does a more thorough job as all data is transferred from your device and then restored back onto it. Using iCloud your phone or tablet has to manage all that single-handedly which means bad data might get missed.

Repair

If you’ve got this far and you’re still asking, ‘Why is my iPad not charging?’ the answer is because it is need of repair. It could be that a connection has come loose in the lightning port, or that you have an issue with your battery. Either way, you need to speak to a professional to get the device looked at and the fault diagnosed.

Check if your iPhone or iPad is still covered under its original warranty or any extended guarantee that you may have taken out. If it is, then repairs will be covered by Apple or should be arranged through your policy.

If your phone is out of warranty, then you will need to find a reliable repairer who can take on the job for you. On our website, we offer you the option of getting a free quote. Let us know the problem, ‘my iPhone won’t charge,’ for example, and we will give you an idea what it will cost you to get it back to working order.

Back to You in an Hour

We all rely on our smartphones and tablets; we feel lost without them. That’s why we want to make sure that you have you have your device back as soon as possible.

If you’re having problems with your iPhone or iPad not charging, we could have the repairs completed in as little as one hour. Get in touch today to discuss your repair.