How to fix an Apple iPhone XS Max that is not charging or charging but intermittently [Troubleshooting Guide]

Charging problems in mobile devices can be attributed to either software problems or hardware damage. In most cases though, software-related errors are to blame. This is usually the case in new smartphones that suddenly refuse to charge or may charge but intermittently. The good thing is, there are workarounds to use as remedy.

Highlighted below are suggested workarounds to deal with charging problems on the new iPhone XS Max handset. Read on to figure out what to do if your new iPhone suddenly refuses to charge or doesn’t charge completely.

Now, before anything else, if you have other issues with your phone, make sure you drop by our troubleshooting page for we have already provided solutions to hundreds of problems reported by our readers. Odds are that we may have already provided a solution to the problem you currently have so try to find issues that are similar with yours on that page and feel free to use the solutions we suggested. If they don’t work or if you need further assistance, fill up our iPhone issues questionnaire and hit submit to contact us.

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How to troubleshoot iPhone XS Max that’s not charging?

Before troubleshooting software problems that may be preventing your iPhone XS Max from carrying out its charging routine, check and ensure that all your charging equipment are working. Start with the charger you are using. Make sure you are using the Apple-supplied charger that comes with your phone. The use of other chargers may cause such problems as they may not render the same amount of power as the original Apple charger does. As a result, intermittent charging or no charging symptom occurs. Also care to check the charging cables and charging ports in use. It is but recommended to charge from the a wall outlet than from portable power sources and laptop computers. Charging from computer USB ports, power banks and other portable power sources may not be as fast and stable than wall outlets. Furthermore, ensure no damage to any of the charging equipment in use from the adapter, charging cable and charging ports in use. If you’ve got all that checked and found no issues, then most likely you’re dealing with software problems on the phone. And here are the possible solutions for you to try on.

First solution: Disconnect iPhone from the charger then plug in again.

Your iPhone may not be able to charge because the charger isn’t securely plugged in. To rule this out, unplug and then plug the charger back in and make sure both ends of the charger are properly connected and secured. You can also try plugging the charger into a different outlet to make sure the outlet isn’t to blame. If that doesn’t work either, then try other workarounds.

Second solution: Force restart iPhone XS Max while charging.

Performing a force restart while your iPhone is plugged into the charger can also do some wonders. It’s possible that some rogue apps caused your iPhone to get stuck on black screen or abruptly shut down and fail to execute its charging routine. In this case, clearing the rogue apps would be necessary. And the best way to do this is by performing a force restart while your iPhone is plugged into the charger. Here’s how it works:

  1. Press the quickly release the Volume Up button.
  2. Then press and quickly release the Volume Down button.
  3. Finally, press and hold the Power button on the side of the phone until the phone reboots.

Let your iPhone finish charging and then proceed to the subsequent workarounds. If it’s still not charging, then you need to take your phone to an Apple-authorized service center for further hardware assessments. Also bring the charging with you so it can also be scrutinized for possible damages.

If your iPhone XS Max is able to charge but still unstable, then performing the following workarounds will help rule out software problems that may be preventing the phone’s charging system to fail and cause intermittent charging symptom.

Third workaround: Install pending app updates and iOS update available.

Software updates are often the key to fixing device issues that are tied to system bugs. And this could be a potential solution to the problem if system bugs are preventing your iPhone from charging properly.  So here’s what you can try doing next.

To check for and install pending app updates on your iPhone XS Max, follow these steps:

  1. Open the App Store.
  2. Navigate to the Updates section. A list of apps with pending updates will then pop up.
  3. To update individual apps, tap the Update button next to the name of the app. Otherwise, tap the Update All button on the upper right side of the screen.

Doing so will update all apps simultaneously. This option however is only visible if multiple updates are available.

Reboot your iPhone when all apps are done updating. Doing so will ensure that all new app changes from the recently installed updates are properly implemented.

Installing the latest iOS version available for your iPhone is also recommended. Like app updates, iOS updates also offer fix patches to address existing issues caused by random bugs and software errors on the phone. To manually check for over-the-air (OTA) updates on your iPhone XS Max, connect your device to Wi-Fi internet then follow these steps:

  1. Go to Settings.
  2. Tap General.
  3. Select Software Update.

A new update notification will show up if an update is available. Read and review the details then follow the onscreen instructions to download and install new update to iOS when ready. Again, don’t forget to restart/soft reset your iPhone after installing the new iOS update to ensure all new system changes are properly applied.

Then try and see if that fixes the charging problem on your iPhone XS Max.

Fourth workaround: Reset all settings on your iPhone XS Max.

Invalid customizations on the relevant settings may also affect the phone’s charging system and eventually cause these charging symptoms. If you happen to make some changes on your iPhone settings before the problem occurs, then that could be the root cause. In that case, you can try reverting the changes you’ve made back to how they were previously configured. Otherwise, restore the default configuration with these steps:

  1. Open the Settings app from Home.
  2. Tap General.
  3. Scroll down to and tap Reset.
  4. Select the option to Reset all settings.
  5. If prompted, enter your device passcode.
  6. Then tap the option to confirm all settings reset.

Performing this reset won’t affect data on the phone so you won’t lose any personal information from doing so. All it does is to wipe all customized settings made on the phone and then restores the default options.

Fifth workaround: Reset and restore your iPhone XS Max to factory defaults.

A factory reset/master reset can be regarded among the last options and possible solutions to try if the problem persists after applying the previous workarounds. Your iPhone is likely going through a major system issue that subjugates its charging functions. But before you go for this reset, back up all your important files to iCloud or iTunes because they will also be wiped out along with other data on the phone. Once you’re all set, follow these steps to reset and restore factory default settings on the phone:

  1. Tap Settings from the Home screen.
  2. Tap General.
  3. Select Reset from the menu options.
  4. Tap to select the option to Erase all content and settings.
  5. Enter your device passcode, prompted.

Allow your iPhone to finish the reset and then restores the factory defaults or original settings. Then try if that fixes the problem.

Other options

You may also opt to restoring your iPhone to a previous iOS version (downgrade) if the symptoms you’re dealing with are post-update issues. To restore your iPhone XS Max, you will need to use iTunes on a computer.

Persistent problems inflicted by new updates usually need a fix patch embedded into the next software update Apple rolls out. To make this happen, reporting the problem to Apple Support is recommended. This will let them know that such problems occur and likewise will prompt them to conduct further assessments on their end.

Otherwise, you can just take your iPhone and charger straight to the nearest Apple Genius bar in your area and have then thoroughly diagnosed by an authorized technician instead. Hardware damage may also be the main reason why your iPhone XS Max suddenly stops charging and in that case, service is needed. You can always avail for warranty if your device is still eligible for one. Just ask your device carrier for more details.

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If you need more help with the use of certain functions and features of the Apple iPhone XS Max smartphone, feel free to visit our Tutorial Page. There you can find a list of how-to contents, step-by-step tutorials, as well as answers to FAQs regarding iPhone XS Max. If you have other concerns or encountered some troubles while using the phone, you can reach us through this form. Just be sure to tell us more details of the problem or device issue(s) you may have and we will be more than happy to assist you further.

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