iPhone XS Not Charging? Try These Fixes

If your iPhone XS suddenly won’t charge, don’t panic just yet. Charging issues are common — and in many cases, they’re fixable with a few basic steps. Before you book a repair, try the following troubleshooting tips to get your iPhone XS charging again.

1. Force Restart Your iPhone

Sometimes a simple bug is all it takes to stop charging from working. Try force restarting your device:

Quickly press and release the Volume Up button.
Quickly press and release the Volume Down button.
Press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears.

This won’t erase anything — it just refreshes the system.

2. Update iOS and All Apps

If you haven’t updated your phone in a while, you might be dealing with a known iOS bug. A previous iOS release caused charging issues while the phone was in sleep mode — Apple later patched it.

Go to Settings → General → Software Update and install any available updates.
Also update all apps in the App Store.

3. Try a Different Cable and Adapter

Your cable or power brick might be the problem.

Borrow an Apple-certified charger from a friend or try one at an Apple Store.
If your iPhone charges normally with another setup, your original cable or adapter is likely bad.

4. Flip the Lightning Cable

It sounds weird, but flipping the Lightning cable sometimes helps.

Both sides of the Lightning connector are reversible, but they don’t always charge equally, especially if one side has worn-out pins.

Give it a try — it’s worked for others before.

5. Try Charging Through a Computer

Some users have had luck charging their iPhones via a laptop or desktop USB port.

Plug your phone into a USB port instead of a wall outlet.
The lower power output may help “kickstart” charging if a power management glitch is involved.

6. Inspect the Charging Port

Shine a flashlight into the Lightning port.
Look for dust, lint, or debris that might block the connection.
Use compressed air to gently blow it out. Never insert anything like a toothpick or pin.

7. Check for Moisture or Liquid

Your iPhone XS won’t charge if the charging port is wet — it’s a built-in safety feature.

If your phone recently got wet, leave it powered off and let it dry for several hours.
You can gently pat it dry with a soft cloth and let it air dry completely.
Don’t try to force-charge it until you’re sure it’s dry.

If you’re unsure, bring it to a technician to be dried professionally — but avoid third-party repair if your warranty is still valid.

8. Perform a DFU Mode Restore

If the issue is caused by corrupted firmware, a full DFU restore might help.

Important: This will erase your phone and reinstall iOS from scratch.

Here’s how:

Connect your iPhone to a computer and open iTunes (or Finder on macOS Catalina and later).
Turn off your iPhone.
Press and hold the Side button for 3 seconds.
While still holding the Side button, press and hold the Volume Down button.
Hold both for 10 seconds, then release the Side button but keep holding Volume Down.
If the screen stays black and iTunes/Finder detects your phone, you’re in DFU mode.
Follow the prompts in iTunes/Finder to Restore iPhone.

9. Try a Wireless Charger

If nothing else is working and you need a temporary solution:

Use a Qi-compatible wireless charger to charge your iPhone XS.
This will bypass the Lightning port entirely.

Just make sure it’s Apple-certified to avoid overheating or damage.

10. Contact Apple Support

If none of the above works, it’s time to get professional help. Your charging port or power IC may be damaged.

Visit an Apple Store or use Apple Support online to book a repair or replacement.
If your device is still under warranty or covered by AppleCare+, don’t let a third-party repair void it.