How to fix an iPhone 7 that is charging very slowly after installing an iOS update (easy steps)

Charging problems like slow charging appeared to be among the widespread issues transpiring in different iPhone variants. The problem can be attributed to many different factors including bad charger, faulty charging cable, damaged charging port or busted power source.

The rest of the underlying causes are software-related. But what appears to be a common trigger is faulty update. Just like what some iPhone 7 users who have ended up dealing with slow charging problem after updating iOS to the latest version. Read on to find out how to deal with this issue with some workarounds.

Before going any further though, if you have other concerns with your new iPhone, make sure you drop by our iPhone 7 troubleshooting page for we have already started supporting the device. Moreover, if you need further assistance, you can always contact us by completing our iPhone issues questionnaire and providing us with sufficient information about the problem.

How to troubleshoot your iPhone 7 that’s not charging anymore

Before you begin troubleshooting, verify and ensure that your charging equipment is working and has no signs of damage. Also make sure that you are using the original charger and Lightning cable for your iPhone 7. Try using different power sources or outlets. If possible, charge your iPhone through a wall socket to make sure it’s getting the right amount of power and charge up faster. Other charging ports like computer USB ports or power banks don’t emit the same amount of power than that from a wall outlet so your iPhone charges slowly when using them. If none of that helps, then you may now proceed and try any of these solutions.

First solution: Restart your iPhone (soft reset).

A soft reset or device restart might be all you need to make things work properly again especially if minor software glitches are to blame. If this is the first time your iPhone is charging very slowly, then most likely it’s just a random glitch that can be rectified by a reboot. So, if you haven’t restarted your iPhone yet, then do so with these steps:

  1. Press the Power button until the Slide to Power off prompt is displayed.
  2. Drag the slider to turn your phone off completely.
  3. After 30 seconds, press and hold the Power button until the Apple logo appears.

Wait for it to finish booting up and then plug it back into the charger. See if it’s charging pace has improved.

Second solution: Force restart your iPhone while charging.

Forcing your iPhone to restart while charging can also help quit any errant apps from running and draining power while your device is charging. And it’s done this way:

  1. Plug your iPhone into the wall outlet and charge for about 10 minutes.
  2. While it’s charging, press and hold down the Power button and the Volume Down button simultaneously for about 20 to 30 seconds.
  3. Release both buttons when the Apple logo appears.

Any rogue apps running in the background might have triggered the processor to continuously work until it’s revved up. Performing a force restart can put an end to it.

Third solution: Enable Airplane Mode while charging.

Your iPhone has a lot of sensors that drain power faster so keeping these sensors activated can slow down the charging pace. As remedy, you can enable Airplane Mode whenever your phone is plugged into a charger. Here’s how:

  1. Bring up the Control Center.
  2. Tap the Airplane mode icon to turn the feature on.

All wireless connectivity features including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and other relevant functions. You can turn Airplane mode off again once your iPhone is fully charged.

Fourth solution: Check and install new update available.

Post update issues are usually addressed by a fix patch from the next update. The latest iOS version rolled out by Apple as of April 24th is iOS 11.3.1. Aside from new enhanced features, this update also brings in security enhancements or fixt patches to address existing bugs transpiring in various iOS device. This could be the key to fixing the problem. To check if that update is already available on your device, follow these steps:

  1. Tap Settings from the Home screen.
  2. Tap General.
  3. Tap Software Update.
  4. Wait until your device is done searching for available software updates.
  5. If an update is available, you will be prompted with an update notification. Before you start downloading the update, back up all your important data for safekeeping.
  6. Then tap Download option to instigate update file downloading. Your phone must be connected to Wi-Fi Internet to complete the process.
  7. When the download is finished, tap Install to implement the new software update on your device.
  8. Wait until the update is completely installed.
  9. Reboot your iPhone to implement the new changes and refresh the system.

Also check if there are any available updates for your apps then update your apps too. Doing so will ensure that your apps are up-to-date and compatible with the new platform your iPhone is running on.

Fifth solution: Restore your iPhone in iTunes.

You may opt to restore your iPhone to the previous iOS backup if the problem continues and that there are no new updates to install. And you’ve got to restore options to go for, including recovery mode restore and DFU mode restore. Both these methods are done through iTunes so you will need to secure a computer, Mac or Windows PC with the latest version of iTunes software installed. And whenever you’re all set, follow these steps to perform a recovery mode restore through iTunes:

  1. Connect your iPhone to your computer using the supplied USB connector or Lightning cable.
  2. Open iTunes on your computer.
  3. With your iPhone connected, force it to restart with these steps:
    • Press and hold the Side/Power button and Volume Down button simultaneously until you see the Connect to iTunes screen. Do not release the buttons when the Apple logo appears since you will need to enter recovery mode first.
  4. When you see the option to Update or Restore, select Update to command iTunes to reinstall iOS without erasing your data. Otherwise, select Restore and follow the onscreen instructions to restore from a previous iOS backup.
  5. Wait until iTunes is finished downloading the software for your iPhone. If the download takes over 15 minutes and your iPhone exits the Connect to iTunes screen, just let the download finish and then go back to the previous step to re-enter recovery mode.
  6. When the Update or Restore is finished, set up your iPhone according to your preference.

If the recovery mode restore doesn’t help either and your iPhone 7 is still charging very slowly, then you may resort to the deepest type of system restore you can do on your iPhone, that is a DFU mode restore. A more detailed walkthrough on how to carry out a DFU mode restore on an iPhone 7 is available on our Tutorials section. If you need to know the steps and how DFU mode restore works, feel free to visit our Troubleshooting page for iPhone 7 then navigate to the Tutorials section.

Other options

  • Try new compatible charger. If you can secure a new compatible iPhone charger, try to use a new charger to see if there are any changes on the charging pace. Your charger might have already depreciated from regular usage and therefore needs to be replaced. If you want you can also try using fast charging equipment for iPhone 7 sold online. You can invest in a faster charger and better cable from trusted brands.
  • Take your iPhone to the service center. If nothing works and your iPhone 7 is still charging very slowly, then you may consider seeking aid from an Apple technician already. That said, take your iPhone to the nearest Genius bar in your place and have it diagnosed properly by a technician. It may require some service to charge faster again.

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