Apple’s new flagship smartphone the iPhone 8 has just been rolled out since the middle of September this year. While many of the first few owners are able to achieve better iPhone experience in the first few weeks of using the phone, others were not lucky enough as they ended up facing early problems with their new iOS device. Among the most common concerns raised online aside from unusual battery life draining is on charging issues.
Some have it that the iPhone 8 takes too long to get fully charged while others couldn’t get their device to charge at all. What could be the reasons as to why such a new powerful iPhone won’t charge and what must be done in order to fix it? Read on to find the answers to these questions and if necessary, feel free to refer to the troubleshooting methods highlighted below this page to get some insights on what to do first the moment you experience the same problem on your iPhone 8.
Before we move any further, if you are looking for a solution to a different problem, them drop by our iPhone 8 troubleshooting page for we have already addressed some of the most common problems with this device. Odds are that there are already existing solutions to your problem. Try to find issues that are similar with yours and use the solutions we suggested. If they don’t work or if you need more help, fill up our iPhone issues questionnaire and we’ll help you with you problem.
Possible reasons as to why your iPhone 8 won’t charge
Charging issues such as slow or not charging in mobile devices like the new iPhone 8 are usually associated with four main factors including the power source (wall adapter), USB cable (Lightning cable or charger), charging port, and the iPhone software (apps or iOS). As much as possible, try to examine each of these four things beforehand for any of them is most likely involved in the main problem.
Contrary to what many people think that the battery is most likely at fault whenever the phone doesn’t charge, many cases of charging issues transpiring in various iPhone variants are software-related. This is sensible considering the fact that it is your iPhone software that decides when to charge the phone. Why did I say so? Because every hardware component on your iPhone carries out a specific task because they’re programmed to do so. If something goes wrong with the program or software, then most likely the hardware won’t be able to do its work. The same thing can happen if the hardware is damaged. A damaged component is no longer able to respond to the software, which then results to some failed actions on the iPhone. So if the software or program responsible to initiate charging command gets corrupted or suddenly malfunctions, the device won’t charge. This is how systems work. A bad app for instance can prevent your phone from charging. So if your iPhone 8 dies and the screen remains black even when you plug it into the wall or your computer, it doesn’t always mean that it’s not charging. Something within the system structure is likely preventing your iPhone to charge. If it is not the software, it could be due to a damaged charging cable, defective charging port, or the power source or wall adapter is not working.
How to fix your iPhone 8 that doesn’t charge or charging slowly?
Outlined below are some applicable workarounds and potential solutions to charging problems. But before you go ahead and perform any of these procedures, try to rule out the possibility of a software glitch that’s preventing the iPhone from charging. So here are your options:
First solution: Force restart or hard reset.
Since the usual reboot won’t be applicable in this case since your iPhone has been dead, you can do the alternative which is a force restart otherwise known as hard reset on the iPhone 8. A force restart or hard reset can help eliminate broken files or corrupted contents from your iPhone system thus give your device a fresh start. No data will be affected in the process so it’s safe. Apple has changed the method to force restart or hard reset an iPhone 8. Here’s how it’s done:
- Press and quickly release the Volume Up button.
- Then press and quickly release the Volume Down button.
- Finally, press and hold the Side button (Power button) for at least 20 seconds, until the Apple logo appears on screen.
Note: The Power or Sleep/Wake button is now called Side button on the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iphone x.
Second solution: Use a computer to restore iPhone 8.
Performing this method will help you determine whether or not your iPhone 8 system is still working. In order to proceed, you need to secure a computer (Windows or Mac) with the latest version of iTunes software installed. When you’re all set to start, follow these steps:
- Connect your iPhone 8 to the computer.
- Open iTunes on the computer.
- While your iPhone 8 is connected to the computer, do a force restart or hard reset with these steps:
- Press and quickly releases the Volume Up button. Then press and quickly release the Volume Down button. Finally, press and hold the Side button until the Recovery Mode screen appears. Do not release the Side button when the Apple logo appears, instead wait until the Recovery Mode screen to access your device in Recovery Mode.
- If you’re lucky and able to see the option to Restore or Update, select Update to reinstall iOS without erasing your data. Otherwise, select Restore to restore your device from a previous iOS backup (if available).
- Wait until the update or restore completes then set up your iPhone 8.
If that won’t work either, then it’s time to work on the charging components. Consider the next options and workarounds as outlined below.
Helpful Suggestions and iPhone 8 Charging Tips
First option: Observe proper charging on your iPhone.
If you are attempting to charge your iPhone 8 wirelessly, be sure to use Qi-certified chargers or other WPC wireless chargers compatible with your iPhone. Many Qi chargers are available in the market nowadays. These include two new wireless charging mats from Mophie and Belkin, representing the best Qi standard implementation. You can get these chargers at Apple.com and Apple retail stores. For iOS newbies, here’s a quick guide on how to properly charge your iPhone 8 with wireless charger:
- Connect your charger to a power source. As much as possible, use the power adapter that came with your accessory or power adapter recommended by the manufacturer (OEM power adapter).
- Place the charger on an even (level) surface or other location that is recommended by the manufacturer.
- Place your iPhone 8 on the charger with the display facing up. Be sure to place it in the center of the charger to ensure best performance.
- Allow your iPhone to instigate charging. It usually takes a few seconds after placing it on your wireless charger.
A charging icon (lightning bolt) shown in the status bar indicates that the phone is charging. If your iPhone is not charging or slowing charging with a wireless charger and it has a thick case, metal case, or battery case in it, try to remove the case and charge it again.
Also note that your iPhone 8 won’t charge wirelessly when it is connected to your computer with USB or USB power adapter. Instead, it will charge using the USB connection.
Second option: Check your Lightning cable or USB cable.
Take a closer look at both ends of the USB cable or Lightning cable you use to charge your iPhone. Apple’s Lightning cables are susceptible to damage particularly fraying at the end that connect to your iPhone. If you see some visible signs of wear, it could be the main issue. If you see no signs of damage to the outside of the cable, try to plug your iPhone into a USB port on your computer instead. Or if you are already using your computer to charge your iPhone 8, try to use the wall adapter. You can eliminate the possibility of a cable issue like bad cable if your iPhone charges in one place and not the other.
If you have confirmed that the cable is damaged, then you may available for cable replacement if your iPhone is still under warranty. Otherwise, you can look for other less expensive, high quality cable that is compatible with your iPhone.
Third option: Try a different iPhone charger or try to use the iPad or Mac power adapter, if available.
Aside from the supplied charging equipment, you can use Apple USB power adapters for iPad and Mac notebooks to charge your iPhone 8. If available, then give it a try and see if it works. To do so, just connect your iPhone 8 to the power adapter with the Lightning to USB cable 30-pin to USB cable or Apple Watch charger that come with your device.
Your iPhone 8 charges faster using an Apple 29W, 61W, or 87W USB-C power adapter and Apple USB-C to Lightning cable. If you are not sure which adapter came with your iPad or Mac notebook, look at the bottom of the power adapter or identify its model to view the information.
Fourth option: Clean the charging port on your iPhone.
Examine the charging port at the bottom of your iPhone. You can use a flashlight to check the inner port for any debris. Dust, dirt, or debris can block the charging port of your iPhone so you need to brush it out. You can use something, like an unused toothbrush or other anti-static brushes that won’t conduct an electric charge to prevent causing damage to the electronic components in the bottom of your iPhone. Gently brush the charging port of your iPhone.
Another possible reason as to why the iPhone’s charging port may not work is due to liquid damage. This can be the culprit if the iPhone got wet or exposed to liquid previously The connections in the charging port of your iPhone might have been short out from liquid damage, thus causing all sorts of problems with your device. In this case, your best possible option is an iPhone repair.
Fifth option: Let your iPhone 8 charge for an hour or two.
Sometimes it will take longer for the charging indicator to show on your iPhone screen especially when the battery was completely drained prior to charging. So plug your iPhone 8 to the power source (wall power outlet, computer, or power accessory) then give it some more time to process charging request.
Seek More Help
If it still won’t charge or power on, take your iPhone, charging adapter, and charging cable to an Apple Retail Store or Apple Authorized Service Provider for further evaluation. Or you can contact Apple Support for other recommendations.
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.