Apple iPhone 8 Plus Charging Issues: What to do if your iPhone 8 Plus won’t charge or charges very slowly? [Troubleshooting Guide]

This post is aimed at helping iPhone 8 Plus owners who are dealing with charging issues including slow charging, not charging, and other charging errors. Read on to learn what could have possibly caused your new iPhone to stop charging or charge slowly and find out how to fix it.

The bigger iPhone flagship device recently released by Apple supports wireless charging technology along with the typical charging through USB adapter and Lightning cable that came with it. When charging your iPhone using the USB power adapter and USB cable, just connect your iPhone to its Lightning to USB cable and then plug it into a wall power outlet. You can also plug your charging cable into a USB 2.0 or 3.0 port on a computer that is turned on and not in sleep mode. Alternatively, you can charge your iPhone by plugging the cable into a powered USB hub, docking station, or other Apple-certified accessory.

Given that everything is okay with your iPhone 8 Plus and charging paraphernalia, you should not be having any issue recharging your device whenever needed. However, this may not always be the case to everyone as there are times when your device doesn’t charge as intended. You too may be into this same situation when you least expect it. And you’re probably already having trouble charging your iPhone as you’re reading this. If so, then this content might be able to help you. Feel free to use or refer to a few recommended solutions and workarounds highlighted in this post should you be dealing with charging problems on your iPhone 8 Plus.

Drop by our iPhone 8 Plus troubleshooting page if you have other issues with your phone as we’ve already addressed the most common problems. If you need more help, fill up our iPhone issues questionnaire and hit submit to contact us.

What could have possibly caused your iPhone to stop charging or charge very slowly?

Not all charging issues are inflicted by hardware damage like dysfunctional power outlet or charging port, faulty charger, or worst, physical or liquid damage on the iPhone itself. The latter is most likely not the case considering that what you’ve got is a new device. Each of these units are definitely scrutinized before rolling out for quality assurance purposes.

Something might have prevented your iPhone from charging and that something must be within the software structure. So it doesn’t really mean that the battery or charger is to blame. If there is a hardware problem that causes your iPhone battery to not charge, then it’s probably an issue with the charging port you are using and not the battery of your iPhone itself. As much as possible, try to determine whether your iPhone won’t charge due to a software issue. Some people would immediately jump into a conclusion that their iPhone won’t charge especially when they have made previous attempts plugging their device into the wall, computer, or other charging ports but only to end up having a black screen. Should this be the case, consider the following options for you to try on.

Possible solutions and workarounds to fix your iPhone 8 Plus that won’t charge or charge slowly

The following procedures are deemed generic solutions to charging issues transpiring on an iPhone. Be sure to test your device after performing each method to see whether that has fixed the problem. If not, try the next applicable solution.

• Check your charging cable and USB adapter. Make sure that there are no signs of damage like breakage or bent prongs. If you see any signs of possible damage to any of your charging accessories, do not use them. In the case where the charging port is damaged, your iPhone probably requires service. If you are using a Lightning cable, take a very close look at both ends of the cable. These cables are prone to fraying especially on the end part that connects to your iPhone. If you see any visible signs of wear, it’s likely the culprit and thus you need to secure a new cable.
• Try to use a wall power outlet and ensure that the charging cable, USB wall adapter, and wall outlet have firm connections. Otherwise, try a different outlet if you suspect that the outlet you are currently using is not working. Your iPhone software detects power fluctuations and will automatically prevent your iPhone from charging as a protective measure. In this case, you can try to find some other ways to charge your iPhone. If it won’t charge with the wall adapter, try plugging it into a USB port on your computer. If it still won’t charge, try to use a different USB port on the computer or try plugging it into the wall. If it charges with one adapter and not the other, then it is safe to say that the problem is with your charger.
• Check the power port of your device and remove any debris if necessary. Then firmly plug your charging cable into your iPhone. You can use a flashlight and take a close look at the charging port of your iPhone. Any debris or dirt can prevent the lightning cable from making a solid connection to your iPhone. You may use a gentle toothbrush (or anti-static brush) to remove any dirt of debris from your iPhone’s charging port.
• Allow your iPhone to charge for at least a half hour. Sometimes it will take longer for the charging indicator to show up especially if your device has been emptied or completely run out of power.

If none of these works, proceed with the subsequent solutions.

Generic Solutions

First Method: Force restart your iPhone 8 Plus

The steps in performing force restart on the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus are the same but slightly different from the usual methods done with the previous iPhone versions. Here’s how to force restart your iPhone 8 Plus:

1. Press and quickly release the Volume Up button.
2. Press and quickly release the Volume Down button.
3. Finally, press and hold the Side (Power) or previously called Sleep/Wake button until the Apple logo appears.

Try to charge your device again then see if it already does. If not, let your device charge for another half hour.

Second Method: Put your iPhone 8 Plus into DFU Mode and try to restore iOS

A DFU mode may still work even if your iPhone won’t charge. For as long as you have ensured that your charging accessories are all good, there is a higher chance that a DFU restore can resolve the underlying cause. It works by erasing everything from your iPhone system and restore it to factory settings. Thus, if a software glitch exists and in some way prevents your iPhone from charging, that should be rectified by a DFU restore. It won’t hurt to give it a try if you already ran out of options. Here’s how to enter DFU mode on your iPhone 8 Plus:

1. Connect your iPhone to a computer with a Lightning cable to USB cable. You can use either a Windows PC or Mac computer.
2. Press and release the Volume Up button, then quickly press and release the Volume Down button, and press and hold the Side button for 10 seconds until the screen turns black.
3. While you’re still holding the Side button, press and hold the Volume Down button for 5 seconds and then release the Side button. Continue to hold the Volume Down button for another 10 seconds. The screen should remain black by then.
4. Now, open iTunes on the computer. Make sure you are using the latest version of iTunes app.

You will then see a message saying that “iTunes has detected an iPhone in recovery mode. You must restore this iPhone before it can be used with iTunes.”

If the screen is black, it means that you have successfully entered DFU mode. You may then proceed to restore your iPhone to factory settings by select the Restore iPhone option under iPhone Recovery Mode in iTunes. Once your device has been successfully restored it will automatically exit DFU mode and boots up to its initial activation screen.

What to do if your iPhone 8 Plus stopped charging at 80 percent?

So you finally got your iPhone to charge but to your dismay it suddenly stopped charging at 80 percent. So now you’re wondering why this happens. There is no need to worry if you end up in the same situation as your iPhone is designed to work in that manner. You notice that your iPhone might get a little warmer while it charges as the battery gets warmer while being charged. When the battery gets too warm, the software would limit the charging above 80 percent in order to extend the lifespan of your battery. Once the temperature drops, your iPhone will charge again. So all you need to do if this happens is to remove your iPhone and charger from the power source or charge it to a cooler location.

What to do if your iPhone 8 Plus won’t charge and you’re prompted with an alert saying that your accessory is not support or certified?

The main reasons why you may be getting an alert or warning prompt while charging is that your iPhone might have a dirty or damaged charging port. It is also possible that the charging accessory you are using is defective, damaged, or not Apple-certified. Another possibility is that your USB charger is not designed to charge devices or not compatible with your iPhone. In this case, the following workarounds might be able to help you out:

• • Check the charging port on the bottom of your device and remove any debris from it.
  • Restart your iPhone 8 Plus, if possible.

• To do so, press and hold the Side or Power button until the slider appears. Then drag the slider to power off your device completely. After a few seconds, press and hold the Side button again until the Apple logo appears.

• Try to use a different USB cable or charger.

• Try to charge your iPhone 8 Plus wirelessly. This iPhone features integrated wireless charging technology for an easy and intuitive charging experience. By design, your iPhone 8 Plus works with Qi chargers. Qi is an open, universal charging standard designed by the WPC or Wireless Power Consortium. The iPhone does not come with wireless chargers so you need to procure one for that matter. These types of chargers are available at Apple.com and Apple retail stores.

Here’s how to charge your iPhone 8 Plus wirelessly:

• Secure a Qi-certified charger.
• Connect your charger to a power source. You can use the power adapter that came with your accessory or a power adapter recommended by the manufacturer (OEM).
• Then, place the charger on a flat or level surface or other location as recommended by the manufacturer.
• Once the charger is secured, place your iPhone 8 Plus on the charger with the display facing up. For maximum performance, place your device in the center of the charger or in the location specified by the manufacturer.
• Your iPhone should begin charging a few seconds after you placed it on your wireless charger. The charging indicator (lightning icon) should appear in the status bar.

If none of that works, contact your device carrier or Apple Support for other recommendations or to set up service. And don’t forget about your iPhone’s warranty. The USB cable and everything else in the iPhone box is covered by your iPhone’s warranty so you’ll get your lightning cable replaced for free.

Connect with Us

If you need more help with the use of certain functions and features of the new Apple iPhone 8 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 8. 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.