If your iPhone 7 or 7 Plus suddenly stops charging, it can be incredibly frustrating—especially when there’s no obvious reason why. The good news? You can fix most charging issues at home by narrowing down the cause. Whether it’s a software glitch, a dirty port, or a faulty cable, here’s exactly what to do to get your iPhone charging again.
1. Do a Forced Restart (Just in Case It Froze)
Sometimes your phone is actually on—but the screen is black and unresponsive due to a crash. Try this first:
How to force restart:
- Press and hold Volume Down and Power (Side) buttons at the same time
- Keep holding for about 10 seconds, until the Apple logo appears
If your phone restarts and starts charging normally, you’re good to go!
2. Check the Power Adapter
Your wall plug might be the issue—especially if it’s damaged or overheating.
Try this:
- Plug the adapter into a different outlet
- Test it with another device (like another iPhone or iPad)
- Check for signs of liquid damage or bent metal prongs
If other devices also won’t charge, the adapter is likely bad and needs replacing.
3. Inspect the Charging Cable
Cables are fragile—especially around the ends—and often the root cause of charging problems.
Do this:
- Look for frays, kinks, or bent connectors
- Try another Lightning cable, ideally an Apple-certified one
- Plug your iPhone into a computer using the cable—if it doesn’t show up in iTunes or Finder, the cable may be bad
Pro tip: Use a cotton swab and a bit of rubbing alcohol to gently clean the connectors on the cable.
4. Check the Charging Port on Your iPhone
Lint, dust, or even slight corrosion can block proper contact between your phone and the cable.
Inspect it carefully:
- Shine a flashlight into the port
- Use a toothpick or anti-static brush to remove lint or debris (be gentle!)
- Look for signs of moisture or corrosion—if it’s wet, leave it to dry for 24–48 hours
5. Try a Different Charging Combo
Test different combinations:
- Your iPhone + different adapter + different cable
- Different iPhone + your cable + your adapter
If your iPhone charges with other accessories, you’ve found the faulty part. If none work, the issue might be internal.
6. Still Not Charging? Book a Genius Bar Appointment
If all else fails, it’s time to let a professional take a look—especially if:
- The phone doesn’t respond at all
- You recently dropped it or got it wet
- The port looks damaged or corroded
Apple may replace your phone or repair it under warranty, as long as there’s no visible physical or liquid damage.
I have very very bad charging. Most of the time it stops charging out of no where!! I hate iPhone 7plus it sucks with the charger!! I have bought way too many chargers and won’t buy anymore!! ITS the damn phone that stops the charging !!! This happeneds every damn day!! I’m done with iPhone !!!
Hiya…my IPhone 7+ will not charge.I know the cable etc is fine.I have not had it very long ,only a few months and was supplied within a BT package. Please can you advise me what to do.? I am not very technically minded and am an old lady.I am currently staying for a time with friends in Herne Bay ( I live in Essex)..so is there a local Apple store where they will sort my problem out? I am certainly not satisfied with the phone having problems after such a short time,as it is being paid for in my package.
I thank you for your help
Valerie Bates
My iPhone 7 plus is not charging when plugged in to both USB charger or with the wall power brick. It is a fully updated iPhone 7 plus purchased. The battery stays stuck at 68%, doesn’t go up. The phone recognizes there’s a charger plugged in and shows it to be charging but the battery icon or percentage never changes.
Regards
Yash Doshi
8879851520
My iphone 7+ doesn’t charge after updating to 11.02, last night I put it on the the charger with 48% showing and when I got up it was at 12%, third time this has happened. The lightning bolt was there saying it was charging all three times. WTH? I have to reset it every time to get it to charge.
Hi there
I got a new iPhone 7 earlier this year and everything was fine up until about two weeks ago.
It stopped recognising the headphone jack (original iPhone buds). Then two days ago, it didn’t recognise the power cable when I had it plugged in to my alarm clock. I then plugged it into the wall adapter and it charged fine.
Next time I tried to charge, it won’t recognise the cable either from Mac or wall plug. WTF?
I’ve tried everything above but to no avail. Looks like it’s off to the Apple shop or otherwise my contract provider, as I did pay for insurance.
Fingers crossed for a quick turnaround time… But not holding my breath.
Dropped my I-Phone 7 in a bucket of water for a second, dried it out out, put it in rice for a couple of hours. Powered back up, it works except the power charger connection doesn’t connect to the device to charge. any ideas?