If your iPhone SE suddenly takes forever to charge after installing iOS 11.3.1, you’re not alone. The SE isn’t a fast-charging device to begin with, but if it’s now charging even slower than usual — something’s likely off. This guide walks you through all the steps you can take to fix slow charging that started after a software update.
Use the Original Charger (and Try Another One)
Start simple: make sure you’re using Apple’s original 5W charger. Knockoff or damaged accessories can slow charging to a crawl — or stop it entirely.
What to do:
- Use the original Apple charger and cable that came with your iPhone SE.
- If available, try another Apple charger to compare charging speed.
- Plug into a wall outlet (not a computer or power strip) for best results.
If your iPhone still charges slowly with both chargers, move on to software fixes.
Restart or Force Restart Your iPhone
A post-update glitch could be slowing things down. Restarting your iPhone can clear that up.
Soft restart (if your battery still has power):
- Press and hold the Power button.
- Slide to power off.
- After 30 seconds, press and hold Power again until the Apple logo shows up.
Force restart (for unresponsive or glitchy behavior):
- Hold the Home and Power buttons at the same time.
- Keep holding for about 20 seconds until you see the Apple logo.
After your phone restarts, plug it back in and check the charging speed.
Reset All Settings
The update might’ve messed with background features (like location services or display settings) that drain power and make charging appear slower.
To reset all settings (no data loss):
- Go to Settings > General > Reset.
- Tap Reset All Settings.
- Enter your passcode if asked.
- Confirm the reset.
This puts your settings back to default — but doesn’t delete your photos or data.
Factory Reset via Settings or iTunes
Still no improvement? A clean reset might help by wiping out any bugs introduced during the update.
To reset directly from your iPhone:
- Go to Settings > General > Reset.
- Tap Erase All Content and Settings.
- Enter your passcode.
- Confirm the reset.
Or reset using iTunes (if your battery’s low):
- Connect your iPhone SE to your computer with a Lightning cable.
- Open iTunes.
- Tap Trust This Computer on your phone if prompted.
- Click your iPhone icon in iTunes.
- Under Summary, click Restore iPhone.
- Click Restore again to confirm.
After setup, try charging again to see if it’s back to normal.
Try a Recovery Mode or DFU Restore (Advanced)
If a full reset didn’t help, you can try deeper restore options using iTunes.
- Recovery Mode Restore reinstalls iOS without wiping all your data.
- DFU Mode Restore erases and reloads everything — it’s the most complete reset you can do without Apple’s help.
You’ll find step-by-step instructions for both in the iPhone SE section of our [Troubleshooting Page].
Still Charging Slowly? Time for a Hardware Check
If software fixes don’t work, there could be damage to your iPhone’s charging port, battery, or even the charger itself. Bring your iPhone SE and its charger to an Apple Store or authorized repair center for inspection. It’s possible the timing with the update was just a coincidence.