Why Isn’t My iPhone Charging? 6 Things to Try Before You Panic

If you’ve plugged in your iPhone and nothing’s happening, you’re probably wondering: why isn’t my iPhone charging?

There are a few common causes — and many of them can be fixed quickly. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you troubleshoot the issue.

1. Check your cable and plug first

Before blaming the phone, test your Lightning or USB-C cable with another device. Cables wear out over time — especially cheaper or non-official ones.

Also check the plug itself, and try another wall socket just to rule out power issues.

2. Look inside the charging port

The most common issue we see is dust or fluff inside the charging port, stopping the cable from connecting properly.

Use a torch to look inside. If you see debris, gently clean it out with a plastic toothpick or soft brush — never use metal tools, as they can damage the internal pins.

3. Restart your iPhone

It sounds simple, but restarting your phone can fix temporary software glitches that stop charging from working properly — especially after an iOS update.

4. Try wireless charging (if supported)

If your phone supports it, place it on a known working wireless charger. If it works, your dock connector may be the issue — not the battery.

That tells us a charging port repair is likely needed.

5. Check your battery health

Go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging. If it says “Service” or the health is below 80%, your battery might be too degraded to charge properly or hold power.

If your battery is still in good condition but your phone won’t charge, it’s more likely a port issue.

6. Still no luck? It’s time to call a pro

If you’ve tried everything above and your iPhone still won’t charge, it’s likely a hardware issue — most commonly:

• A faulty charging port

• A loose connector inside the phone

• A worn-out battery or failed charging IC chip

At Kent iPhone Repair, we’ll come to you, diagnose the issue, and repair it on the spot. Most charging faults take less than 30 minutes to fix.

We cover the whole of Kent

Wherever you are — Ashford, Canterbury, Herne Bay, Maidstone — we’re just a message away.

Explore our charging port repair page or get in touch here.

No fix, no fee. Mobile iPhone repair that works around you.